Last month we learned Bronson and Inception star Tom Hardy was starring in The Dark Knight Rises, the third film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. While most of us Bat fans were ecstatic to hear that Hardy had joined the cast, we were also left wondering (and speculating) about who the actor would play.
Now Batman News is reporting a rumor (taken from a source who has proven to be reliable) that Hardy is actually playing the villain known as Hugo Strange. While fanboys know all about Strange, the average moviegoer may be wondering just who this character is. Thankfully, you have us here at Screen Rant to explain it.
Hugo Strange has had a long and, well, strange history in the Batman comic books. He was one of Batman’s first recurring villains (as far back as 1940), preceding more famous bat-foes like Catwoman or The Joker. Strange has appeared, been killed off, and since reappeared many times in the subsequent decades of Batman comics; his backstory has also undergone several revisions. For the purposes of discussing Hardy’s possible role in The Dark Knight Rises, we’ll stick to the stories of Hugo Strange most likely to fit in Chris Nolan’s Batman movie universe.
The version of Strange you’re most likely to see onscreen is the one where the character is a prominent (or celebrity) psychologist with mob ties. In the famous Batman storyline “Prey”, Hugo Strange is tapped by the Gotham P.D. to work up a profile on the Batman, in order to help the police catch the vigilante. Strange is said to have been raised in “Hell’s Crucible,” a tough Gotham neighborhood not far from “Crime Alley,” that infamous site where Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered. While brilliant, Strange is also violent and unstable – in one version of his origin he was suspended from his tenure at Gotham State University for conducting bizarre experiments that transformed people into mindless, destructive (and deformed) brutes.
Strange becomes increasingly obsessed with discovering who Batman is, and eventually with actually becoming Batman himself (which he eventually does, doing some terrible things in Batman’s name). The twisted villain eventually deduces through his psyche examinations that Bruce Wayne is likely Batman, and uses that knowledge to turn the police against the vigilante and lure Batman to his doom.
In another famous Batman storyline, “Terror”, Hugo Strange teams with The Scarecrow, using their mix of psychotropic drugs (basically fear and rage) to wreak havoc. In more recent storylines, Strange has been written as a doctor doing psyche evaluations at Wayne Enterprises (where he discovers the Batman/Wayne connection), and a villain possibly connected to the drug “Venom,” which fanboys know as the serum which powers the ruthless crime boss known as Bane.
From those small splinters of the Hugo Strange chronicles, I’m sure that hardcore and casual Batman fans alike can easily see why having this particular villain featured in The Dark Knight Rises would be good move for Nolan and Co. Hugo Strange is a time-tested Batman villain, and his various story archs have the added bonus of tying up a lot of the story that has been put forth by both Batman Begins and The Dark Knight – a goal we already know Nolan has firmly planted in mind.
We also know that Chris and Jonathan Nolan, along with screenwriter David Goyer, have already established a trend of borrowing elements of famous Batman stories for their movies. I personally expect that trend to continue with The Dark Knight Rises, and as you can read above, a lot of the most fitting story archs for this third Batman film fall squarely under the Hugo Strange banner.
Finally, Hardy seems like a perfect choice to play a character like Hugo Strange – a villain who has to be convincing as a brilliant but crazy doctor, and may even have to throw on a Batman costume and do some damage. If you’ve seen Hardy’s work in Bronson and Inception, you know that he has the necessary talent to convey equal parts charm and menace, and that he is also capable of handling some awesome action sequences. I would love to see him and Christian Bale throw down in their respective Batman outfits.
Bottom line: Using Hugo Strange as the villain would be a refreshing and original approach to a Batman film, and would offer loads of opportunity in terms of the direction this third Batman movie takes. It would even be great to see Bane as a possible secondary villain (created by Strange) or even have Cillian Murphy back one last time as the Scarecrow for a three-for-three run in Nolan’s Batman universe.
I for one am now totally rooting for Hardy to play Hugo Strange – how about you guys?
The Dark Knight Rises will be in theaters (IMAX and regular) on July 20, 2012.
Source: Batman News
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This was on Comicbookmovie yesterday. That instantly suggested to me it’s not true.
Not that it’s a bad idea. I’d just rather hear the truth from Nolan.
ComicBookMovie credited me for the story. Batman-News.com is only a couple of months old, but this rumor comes from someone who has sent me good information in the past. I’m not saying it’s confirmed, but I do think it’s likely, and that’s why I posted it.
I’m right there with you Kofi, I think Strange would be cool to see on screen.
It kind of makes perfect sense. Batman is a fugitive and the authorities are after him at the end of The Dark Knight. It would be completely fitting to call in Strange to try and track him down and it would also fit well that he pretends to be Batman to do some terrible things, since everyone expects that of Batman now anyway. And Bruce Wayne’s road to redemption? Expose Strange and let him take the fall for Two-Face’s murders and return the Dark Knight back to his place as Gotham’s protector.
I’m hoping that Hardy plays Strange, but having said all that above, I’m hoping I’m either completely wrong about the story or that Nolan has some twists in store. Don’t get me wrong, I think that would make a great story, but it seems a little vanilla.
awesome!!! I hope there is truth to this rumor.
I think it would be cool, but I doubt there’s any truth to this. Nolan keeps details on his films more secret than nuclear launch codes, and the villain’s identity isn’t likely to be leaked. Only a Nolan, the writers, and a select few will actually know who it is.
I do hope that Batman’s identity being revealed plays a part in the movie. Remember Mr. Reese kind of figured it out, and it’s unlikely he’ll keep it to himself, especially with Batman now a fugitive.
Once production actually starts they simply won’t be able to keep it a secret.
It’s a fresh idea with a classic villain. This storyline could mesh towards a great ARKHAM ASYLUM setting, w/ scarecrow and maybe even Harley Quinn.
Maybe while Bats is in arkham Strange is being Batman, ruining his name. Whether this is just a rumor or not, its an intersting angle.
So how does this fit in with the bayou rumors?
The Bayou thing was never even a thing. The clarified news (which we reported) is that TDKR was going to shoot interior sets at the New Orleans studio where Warner Bros. shot Green Lantern.
It’s been since confirmed that Nolan will likely NOT be using that New Orleans set.
thanks for the clarity Kofi
I hope this is true. If not, that’s OK. I have a strong feeling that Nolan & Co. chose the right Batman villain to be featured in this film. We’ll see who.
@”
Once production actually starts they simply won’t be able to keep it a secret.”
Yes, but what I meant was that it’s not likely to be revealed until Nolan wants it to be revealed.
He’ll do it the same way they did with The Joker, that shot of Ledger in costume behind thick glass.
The difference is that we KNEW The Joker was gonna be the villain this time around. Batman Begins set that up perfectly. TDK didn’t set up any villains, and that leaves it more open. I heard (not sure if it’s true or not) that Nolan would make a big announcement about the film near the end of the year or early next year.
Dude, people have sources. The source for this rumor predicted that the Riddler was officially OUT before Nolan announced that, for instance.
We’re not confirming it but it is reasonable enough to report.
Hugo Strange sounds like a great villain actually i think it may work!!
Yeah. Go read some comics then comment LOL thanks
Go read a comic book!
I knew the HATE was approaching but i dont care lol
Umm the hate? We’re trying to get you EDUCATED on villians better. You need a prozac or something relax there Ricky.
lol educated on villians. Eh…
id like to see him be a part of this film but not the only adversary for most likely the final batman film for years to come throw one of the classics in as well like phehraps penguin or catwoman
I think catwoman is a given. He gave us a clue in TDK….just like he gave clues in BB that joker and 2 face were next.
Where was this “clue” in TDK? and where was this “clue” in Batman Begins that Two-face was in TDK?
There’s a rather clear reference to Catwoman. I’m still surprised that so many seemingly hardcore Dark Knight fans miss it.
I take the time to explain it, then most of them say, “Oh, blah, that’s nothing.”
So, I just tell them it’s in there if they want to find it.
As for Two-Face, I didn’t see any explicit reference to him in Dark Knight, but Bruce Wayne was wanting someone else to be Gotham’s hero so he would no longer have to be Batman, and come Dark Knight, he believed Harvey Dent to be that guy.
The clue in TDK was:
Wayne: Will it hold up to dogs?
Lucas: Dogs? No. Cats? Yes.
Now that isnt word for word what was said, but watch the scene of Wayne getting his new suit. Thats the hint, unless i’m wrong.
That doesn’t “hint” it anything. All it does is explain how durable his new Batman suit is. If it said that it would hold up well against vines, then would that mean Poison Ivy would be the next villain? People are reading way too into this just like when everyone thought Mr. Reese was hinting at “Mysteries” with The Riddler, and look how that turned out.
Ricky, clealy you’re seeing something that i think NO ONE has seen in the movies, stop reaching LOL.
It’s already guranteed he wouldn’t be the only villain with Nolan looking for an actress as a vallainess (please NOT Catwoman).
I really hope he doesn’t over do it with the Villians though, we all know how THAT worked out in S3. Muahahah
Little Monster
in BB bruce wayne says in the party to his guests “two faced” and he recieves the joker card.
In TDK morgan freeman tells bruce that the suit “does well against cats”
True that
Thanks Darly
you see Ants! I know what im talking about!
CLearly sarcasm misses you yet again.
Yeap. You missed it this time ants,not I
Actually no, you missed it altogether pal. Sorry LOL
Watevs.
LOL
Now that i think of it i think this hugo guy is gonna be villian. In TDK ppl impersonate batman in the beginning! Holy crap..
I think you read too much into that lines. Heck you look at The Joker’s story about his wife as a means of setting up Harley Quinn too (very unlikely)
Mainly because Harley isnt his wife but his Doctor
That was a joke.
I agree. That was one problem that I had with TDK. None of the villains were complex aside from The Joker. Not even Two-Face (one of Batman’s most recognizable villains) was weak. Harvey Dent was PERFECT, but no Two-Face IMO.
If Nolan doesn’t put a great female villain in the TDKR I will tear down my shrine!!!
It Needs to Be Talia, she ties in to Begins, shes hot, deadly and intellectually smarter then catwoman, Not to mention she and he spawn a bat baby later on. Great Villian and a awesome easter egg, Not to mention she covers the vilian and lover role perfectly.
i could see harley quinn mayb introduce her with some arkham scenes that are completly in the dark with an uncredited voice actor imerpsonating heath’s joker voice?
NO.
I would LOVE harley as a villian but chances are low
I say, No Joker…no Harley.
At least we agree on that LOL
I agree with NO joker. But i want to see a version of harley in any batman film (not animated)
I want to see Harley as well, but I want to see The Joker seduce her, and turn her into a criminal. That would fitt soo well into Nolan’s film, but now that The Joker has been confirmed out, I don’t want Harley. Sure, he could introduce as if she was in the background in TDK, but that’s just weak.
The only way you can really do it justice is to have her sit in a room with The Joker.
Thats true,i agree
well i a gree a voice offscreen inst the best idea but u cant have harley w/o joker and that would be an effective way to do it as ledger wouldnt relly be begin replaced
*sigh*
C’mon! You don’t know Nolan if you think he won’t put Harley in it.
Exactly! I mean Nolan CAN put Harley in! You never know..
Nobody is saying that he can’t, but they don’t WANT him too.
I want him to. Harley can be a stand alone character IMO, she ha stand alone episodes in the animated series.
But a 30-minute animated series is completely different from a 2 1/2 hour (most likely) movie.
Consider this: Hugo Strange is said to have worked at Arkham (one of the higher ups, in fact). There could be a nice cameo scene involving Harley Quinn before she becomes the villain (another fact is that she worked in psychiatry before the Joker made her evil) while insinuating that she’s overlooking the Joker’s case-file. That would certainly appease fans wanting to know about the Joker afterward, and provide a good offshoot if/when they do another movie (or for the TV show WB is rumored to be planning).
Thats a good idea.
Thanks for posting this! It’s not a given yet, it’s just a rumor. But it comes from someone who has sent me solid information in the past, so I wanted to post it for the sake of discussion. I really hope it turns out to be true, Strange would fit perfectly into Nolan’s world!
No thanks to YOU batman News!! Im hoping these rumors are true as well
Also: http://uroom.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/batman_3_poster___harley_quinn_by_joshwmc.jpg – have these posters been denounced as fake? Cuz Kristen Bell would be a cool Harley Quinn (I hope)
Yeah, that’s fake (but cool). There’s also a sweet one with David Tennant as The Riddler too. Both of which were made YEARS ago when TDK was released.
Damn
tennant as riddler thats one ive not heard before how did i miss that lol
That looks 100% fake! Also we need a Harley that has a little more up top. And I hands down agree that Harley would be great, but it needs the Joker to help set up that story arc and warp her mind……….
I said earlier, that i want penguin/riddler/harley/catwoman/black mask in this movie, but strange? I dont like it much, but i trust nolan…
Im sure this will be good… nolan can make anything good…
at the end of TDK, Joker does reference Hugo Strange when he says “what doesn’t kill you, makes you STRANGER”
The end of TDK really justifies the inclusion of Hugo Strange; Batman’s a fugitive, Hugo becomes Batman and does horrible things, thus making Batman look more worse, etc.
Jeremy YOU are CORRECT!!
The joker says that in the beginning. when he puts that smoke grenade or whatever it was in the bankmans mouth. something like “what do you believe in?” joker answers “i believe, whatever doesnt kill you, simply makes you..*pause and thinks* stranger”
again im not sure but i tihnk so..
cant remember he says it in the end.
You’re correct
That was the beginning of TDK, not the end. The Joker was referring to why he was strange, not Hugo Strange.
We know that but that may bea clue!
Don’t care as long as Nolan puts a GREAT ASS KICKING WOMAN in it!!! Harley, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Oracle, Batgirl, Lady Shiva, Huntress.. FEMALES!
Lady Shiva would be AWESOME
dont forget talia she is the most likely i think
strange seems a great choice now i think back to it( i thought he would be hush or black mask but i think he will do this part really well he is a quality actor) im really looking forward to this film but then id watch anything wi batman in it i even enjoy the clooney version in some strange adam west type way lol
If he puts in a female Villian this movie will contain 3 villians.
Strange has to be developed during the film.
The movie needs a villian as a reason the city needs Batman to come from exhile, or is no longer a villian.
Strange would be more a problem for Batman, not really a problem for Gotham with the way TDK left things.
Catwoman, is not evil,
Talia would be a villian similar to Strange but requires the story to reveal her plan, and have the love twist.
Ivy = “No idea how nolan could do her, other than an eco terroist” Not happening with the political ramifications.
Harley could work, but not doign her back story would be a crime to all of us.
So Nethier Talia, or Catwoman would cause desperation to the city.
So with Strange being the villian its safe to say we will have 3 characters appear on this film.
Or Baby Doll!!!
Ben S wrote: Consider this: Hugo Strange is said to have worked at Arkham (one of the higher ups, in fact). There could be a nice cameo scene involving Harley Quinn before she becomes the villain (another fact is that she worked in psychiatry before the Joker made her evil) while insinuating that she’s overlooking the Joker’s case-file. That would certainly appease fans wanting to know about the Joker afterward, and provide a good offshoot if/when they do another movie (or for the TV show WB is rumored to be planning).
LOVE IT!!!
And we haven’t had any definitive proof that the Joker ISN’T gonna be in it, just that Nolan doesn’t seem to want to talk about it, so the female villain Nolan’s shopping around for could still be Harley. Really makes you think about stuff like that.
No proof? He’s confirmed it TWICE. http://www.killerfilm.com/articles/read/nolan-reiterates-the-joker-wont-return-for-batman-3-39169
Ah. I stand corrected. But my point about Harley appearing (in any form) still stands.
hugo who? never heard of him. anyways they are saying that one of the villain roles is a female. so i say either poison ivey, or harley quinne either or both would be awesome. and i think hugo strange will act like he’s batman, and batman will be able to return to a normal life as hugo is locked up and everyone believes batman is nomore.
No Jermy and Ricky Ticky are wrong lol the line “What doesn’t kill you makes you stranger” is in the bank and he tells that to the guy before putting that smoke bomb in his mouth….. Please before we go “reading between the lines” lets make sure we know what we are talking about. In BB he calls the ppl at his party “Two-Faced” IMO not a lead in to the foe Two-face, the card he gets at the end of BB is the Set up. What alot of ppl dont understand about Nolan’s 2 face was that he was not meant to be this evil bad guy he was the driving force for Wayne/Bats to come full circle and totaly embrace being Batman knowing he will and always will be Batman and that was the role for two face in TDK NOT to be a so called “Bad Guy”. Now to address this “Rumor” Strange does fit and his arcs in the books do flow quite nice in the “Nolanverse” i do not see him being the only foe but Hardy will make it the one to remember.
thats an Incendiary Grenade thats why it blows up when the Joker jumps in the bus
By “blows up” presumably you mean “emits smoke as Fichtner refuses to spit it out of his mouth like any normal human being would”.
neva heard of him
i do think that Hugo would be a perfect foil for Bale’s Batman, however I could also see Hush filling alot of the same holes left from the first two movies as well. I happen to think personally that Nolan will go with Strange due to the History that character has with the Batman. However please please please , leave Bane out of it, and if you must add him in please make him the intelligent killing machine that he is in the books( all be it lame) Im sorry but Bane is lame
Hush needs a huge backstory so that wont work.
Bane lame? Read Knightfall. He is far from lame, he broke the Bat.
Another one that doesn’t read the comics?
Having Hugo as a villain would be a pretty good idea and Hardy looks like he can play the part.
I’m on board with this idea 100%. Great article, Kofi.
At least it’s someone new to the batman movies. I’d still like to see Blackmask though…
I would have rather seen The Riddler as the villain, but I do think Strange fits well into Nolan’s version of Batman. Hopefully he’ll be working with Scarecrow in some way. I think they should feature Talia Al Ghul as either a love interest or as a secondary villain, maybe both.