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Image property of Warner Bros.
As more and more Batman 3 news trickles in, it's sounding more and more likely that Christopher Nolan will be back behind the camera and involved in the writing process for the film. About two weeks ago, I posted an article discussing the difficulties Nolan is having with the possibility of a third film with the unlikely passing of Heath Ledger and Gary Oldman slipping up and saying that they'd start shooting next year. Inception seems to be garnishing all the Christopher Nolan buzz at the moment, especially since the teaser just hit the web this past Monday. Since Batman Begins followed a similar pattern with Christopher Nolan doing a film in between that and The Dark Knight (The Prestige), fans who were eagerly awaiting the third film were thinking that's what he had up his sleeve this time around with Inception being his next film after TDK. That was until news began to spread that Nolan was attached to direct a big-screen adaptation of the 60s TV series The Prisoner. Fans began to worry that the third Batman film would be a long ways away or, even worse, that the project was moving along without Christopher Nolan. The anxiety didn't last long, however, as it seems Nolan has left the project. People were quick to jump to the conclusion that Batman 3 was the reason that Nolan, "dropped out," of The Prisoner since he's usually very reliable when it comes to the projects that he signs on for.
Image property of Warner Bros.
Just yesterday it was announced that Batman 3 could fully be shot in IMAX. Harry Knowles from Ain't It Cool News posted an article on the topic:
“The THIRD chapter of Christopher Nolan’s Caped Crusader’s saga could very well be FULLY shot in IMAX, not IMAX Digital - but the beautiful, stunning IMAX that we saw pieces of THE DARK KNIGHT in.”
Knowles points out that while he does have trustworthy sources for this information, it isn't entirely confirmed. He also mentions that Nolan has taken a break between each Batman film usually to recharge his creative batteries, but the time away could be for making custom IMAX cameras this time around. The scenes that were shot in IMAX for The Dark Knight went over incredibly well and with the amount of money TDK was able to bring in, the next sequel would be a great choice for a full blown IMAX experience.
Black Mask, The Riddler, The Mad Hatter. Property of DC Comics.
ScreenRant also posted an incredible article discussing if Batman 3 should bring back Two-Face and The Joker or bring in entirely new villains. It's a well-written three page article, but I thought I'd throw in some possibilities on who the villains for the third film could be. There's no denying that Harvey Dent is now dead. We've heard it from just about everyone (and it was even posted in the original script), but nobody has gone on record saying anything about Two-Face not returning to the franchise. Even if that was the plan, what's to say plans can change? Aaron Eckhart did an incredible job as Harvey Dent/Two-Face in The Dark Knight and is often overlooked by Heath Ledger's scene stealing performance as The Joker. A full-length film with Two-Face as the main villain could really give him a chance to shine. As for The Joker, it's a touchy subject. He probably wouldn't have as big of a role in the third film, but it seems illogical for him to just be absent after he was just introduced. If another actor is brought in, won't they just be impersonating Ledger? Should they totally reinvent the character again? A smaller role or a cameo that only shows him briefly where they could possibly use a voiceover of Ledger's Joker dialogue and/or his iconic laugh seems like the best solution to me. If I had to recast him, I'd go with Daniel Day Lewis or maybe even Joseph Gordon-Levitt while possibly passing the torch to a villain who plays a larger role in the third film. Harley Quinn seems like the most logical solution. As for other villains, I'd love to see Scarecrow have a larger role. He's been in the previous two films and should be brought in to finish the trilogy. While being one of the major villains in Begins, he still wound up feeling a bit secondary to what was really going on. Why not make him a major player? Team up with Two-Face, maybe. Either way, I'd really like to see him have at least another cameo appearance since Cillian Murphy plays the role so well. Other than that, Black Mask, The Riddler, or possibly The Mad Hatter really seem like the only villains that would fit into Nolan's vision of Batman. Wasn't there an interview where Nolan mentioned wanting to stick to being more realistic and didn't want to bring in Robin or villains like Catwoman, Penguin, or Mr. Freeze? Those three are just hard to imagine in Nolan's world, at least for me. I, personally, would love to see The Mad Hatter even though it's probably incredibly unlikely. Nolan and his writing team are in quite a sticky situation though and everyone is eager to see where they go from here.
So, what villain(s) would you want to see in the third Batman film? Could you imagine anyone replacing Christopher Nolan as writer or director? Can anyone fill the shoes of Heath Ledger as The Joker? Should they start from scratch?
Comments
I would like to see the Riddler, played by either Hugh Laurie or Edward Norton, or the Penguin, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Bob Hoskins, or James Woods.
Black Mask should be the secondary villain.
That would be simply amazing. Never thought about it till now, Hugh Laurie as riddler!
PLEASE go that direction
Can you imagine Daniel Day Lewis as The Joker..... to me the only who who could fill if not surpass Heath Ledger as The Joker...
why all the talk about having the joker in for the third film? nolan has sated that they've explored everything they wanted to with the joker,and having him as a major villain in the next film would be dull and uninteresting.the joker has made his mark in gotham. lets move on. and plz harley quinn.
When they finally decide to finish the series, the closing scene should be of Batman receiving some sort of phone-call from the Joker... showing that the job of Batman protecting Gotham never ends. Symbolically showing that Batman will continue...
I like the idea of Philip Seymour Hoffman playng the Penguin...
I think they should of left off the Dark Knight with everyone thinking Dent was blown up in the Hospital...
Batman 3 should of been Two Face taking his revenge on Gotham PD and Batman trying to use him to help against the Penguin or Riddler. Turing Harvey Dent good,....
I think that the joker should return and create a new villain, like he created two-face, and put him against Batman and just sit back. This villain should most probably be the Riddler. Even though I really want Two-Face to be in the third film, I can't see how they will bring him back alive. I wish there was a way.
I was just thinking about the Mad Hatter and how there were rumors of maybe Johnny Depp being in the third film. Has anyone seen the trailer for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland? Depp looks creepy as hell in that thing, it would be cool to incorporate the same character into both films maybe... just an idea.
ok first off, two face is alive Harvey dent is dead... i mean he fell two maybe three stories onto dirt, doesn't seem like a killing blow to me. secondly if they did replace the joker character i think that Charlie Hunnam should do it as he looks a lot like ledger you might remember him from undeclared the tv series. and as for a villian in the third movie i would love to see zsasz or killer croc as villians
It was co-writer David Goyer who said that he didn't want any villains who've been portrayed on the big screen:
""Batman has been published for 70 years. In the first movie, we used Ra's Al Ghul and the Scarecrow, who had not been in the movies before, and had not been in the '60s TV show before.
"There are dozens if not hundreds of other characters that fit that bill. Everyone says it's got to be the Penguin or Catwoman [in the next film]... well I completely disagree.""
I think they need to recast the joker. And have him in the crazy house where he meets harley quinn she then would help him escape. And then they should through in catwoman to replace rachael dawes.
The riddler should be played by either Leonardo Decaprio or Edward Norton. Joker should be played by James Franco. Catwoman should be played by someone close to bruce waynes age megan fox is 23 kind of young but very hot. angelina jolie, nicole kidman, or kate beckinsale would prob be better choices than megan fox.
Hugh Laurie is 2 old. he's a bad choice.
The Riddler sends a riddle to Batman. The riddle is written on the back of the Jokers severed face. Too R rated? lol It would definitely give the Riddler a very bad-ass edge. It would also take care of the Joker question without a corny end to his legacy. It doesn't have to be bloody, just realistic. As a matter of fact it should be the Jokers sick idea. I can also see the Penguin in the next one.
Harley Quinn would be awesome. It would be nice if they went that direction. Since ledger did such a good job as the joker I wouldn't want them to bring in another actor for a big role. I wouldn't mind some kind of cameo/voice over thing though.
i agree with chaim they should of held off two faces death a little longer. The Riddler should b in the third batman film . he could strt off as an investigator helping gpd get batman. but when he doesnt succeed @ first he starts to get really eccentric and starts to nget vicious. if they hadnt had killed harvey i would ve had his final act help batman stop the riddler by like sacrificing his life somehow.
I think...they should just quit while they're ahead. You wanna see all these 'dream cast' ideas fulfilled: Animate them in the movie motif. It can be done.
That way- we can relish TDK as the masterpiece it is without the inevitably disappointing sequel(s).
No one can replace Heath so don't.
Anyone trying anything new will only be compared to Heath (albeit unfairly, but hey- that's the geeks for ya.}
So ya- Get drawing or whatever.
I think that ras al gual should come back because of the lazurus pit also I think joker, two face , maybe harley quin , definatly the riddler , catwoman and the penguin.
Harley Quinn, the Joker's psychiatrist, is manipulated by the Joker into mimmicking his crimes. Joker is only shown from POV shots into Arkham (so that you know he is alive and well), but you never see him close-up, only voice-overs and glimpses. Harley convinces other criminals to execute Joker-Anarchy, as his pawn.
penguin would fit in easily in nolans vision hes basically just a fat short guy with a big nose hes nothing like he was in the burton film hes a crimelord
if there is to be a catwoman, i would like kate beckinsale to play her. i think she looks the part. however, this seems unlikely to happen. otherwise, i think a GREAT villain to introduce into the series is Hush as well as Talia Al Ghul. Hush is a little known villain who is not overused and could fit in Nolan's world. Talia would be a love interest for batman but also act as a tie in with the first movie. megan fox should play her, not catwoman.
Rhona Mitra plays catwoman.. you bring back aaron eckhart as dent and christain bale as batman. or Kate Beckinsale as catwoman and Johnny Depp at The Riddler.. i go with Rhona Mitra as catwoman
And don't forget to throw in Freddie Prince Jr as Robin... Hahaha
they'll probably use whatever they have left of heath ledgers joker, theyre bound to have something they cut from TDK in editing, and have that character finished
i think they'll bring back twoface, that whole thing with dent being dead, but twoface still out there is too much to just give up on, plus i dont think it would make sense, its not like the old batmans, nolan had scarecrow in TDK, although i dont see him in the next film
i've been saying black mask for ages after reading about him last year, i think he would be perfect, the character i think is more suited to Nolan's vision, than most suggested villains like penguin - i think it would follow the same structure as TDK, in that the dent/twoface story was the main story and joker was the subplot almost, i think twoface would be creating havoc as joker did in TDK, and the main story would be black mask - although i dont think thats enough, because that would just be a copy of TDK, they'd have to introduce another villain
I think I should come back to Batman films.
It would be an insult to Heath Ledger's memory for someone else to play the Joker in Batman 3, I say just do a voice-over. Two-Face is dead, so he's out of the question,(YES PEOPLE, he's dead, he wasn't wearing body armor when he fell off the building, and a memorial service was done for him, so he's dead!) I say the best villain to put is the Riddler, and have him team up with Scarecrow to conclude the series. If they get another actor to portray the Joker, I won't watch the movie and switch over to Marvel!!
i cant think of a better mad hatter then timothy spall
it would totally be cool if like the riddler or two face came back or id love to see others like bane killer moth or manbat
Let Frank Miller direct this one... then it will be a true rendition of the Dark Knight!
Frank Miller is an exellent idea. I would have Rachel Dawes secretly being alive somewhere held by Joker and somehow develop her into Harley Quinn. It would be a terrible blow to Batman. Also work in a crime lord Penguin (not a circus freak) use Phillip Seymore Hoffman or Robin Williams. Use Bane as Penguin's main muscle. Cast the guy that played in The Green Mile as the huge inmate. You could hint at a Riddler near the end of the film, similar to the spoiler for the Joker in Batman Begins. Have a riddle written in Bruce Waynes blood (stolen from a lab or blood bank) found on one of Jokers cards at a crime scene, further causing mayhem for Batman.
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