ReelzChannel | Christopher Nolan

January May Be Decision Time for Batman 3

RYAN GOWLAND — 18 Nov 2009 15:30:56 CDT

Ever since Christopher Nolan finished The Dark Knight, speculation has lingered over whether he will return for a third installment. Batman-on-Film reports that there is "scuttlebutt" that Warner Bros. may be finalizing their plans on Batman 3 in January of next year. Whether or not their announcement will include Nolan is unknown, but it appears that Warners wants kick off the year by clearing up the mystery over who will be directing the movie.

As the site points out, this may work in Nolan's favor, since it would quiet down the speculation about Nolan's participation in Batman 3 before he begins to do press for his upcoming feature Inception. However, the source providing the story also claims that Warner Bros. is planning to make the sequel with or without Nolan.

Michael Caine Says Batman 3 Might Not Happen

BRENTJS SPRECHER — 13 Nov 2009 21:51:11 CDT

Batman's faithful butler, Alfred, has dropped bad news ... again.

Batman fans everywhere have been furiously blogging and discussing the twists and turns in the will-they-or-won't-they debate over a third installment of Christopher Nolan's revamped Batman franchise. Early on it was announced that, although lead actor Christian Bale was contractually obligated to appear in Batman 3, Nolan had no such obligation and might decide not to direct another one.

Screenwriter David S. Goyer gave fans some hope when he said that he believed Nolan would return if he could "find the story that he's happy with." Then, Gary Oldman got everyone excited when he announced that filming would begin in 2010, only to recant his statement a couple days later.

Actor Cillian Murphy, who played The Scarecrow in the first two films, is hopeful that another film will be made, and Aaron Eckhart, said that he "would do anything" Nolan asked of him, including reprise his TDK role of Two-Face.

Michael Caine, who plays butler Alfred in both Batman films, initially gave fans some intriguing news when he announced that Johnny Depp and Philip Seymor Hoffman had been cast respectively as The Riddler and The Joker in Batman 3. However, a year later he retracted his statement saying that Depp was not involved and that there was "nobody ... no script, there's nothing."

Now, Caine is at it again, this time announcing that fans shouldn't hold their breath for another installment of bat-justice.

As for the future... if they ever make another Batman, I will be in, I will be the butler...
But I don't know if they are ever going to make another Batman. If they do it won't be for quite a while."

Dane Cook for The Riddler in Batman 3?

BRENTJS SPRECHER — 11 Nov 2009 09:41:38 CDT

It's still unclear whether director Christopher Nolan will be returning for a third chapter in the Batman revamp, let alone what villain(s) will square off against the Dark Knight. Still, there have been rumors for months now that The Riddler will make a return appearance some fifteen years after Jim Carrey portrayed the character in Batman Forever.

Everyone from Eddie Murphy, to Johnny Depp to Curb Your Enthusiasm funnyman Larry David have been mentioned in connection to the roll of Edward Nigma, the villain who compulsively confesses to his crimes in riddle form. So when MTV recently sat down with actor and comedian Dane Cook (My Best Friend's Girl), they asked him if he would be interested in the part.

If they brought back The Riddler — a new Riddler the way they did with The Joker — that would be badass. I would do that.
When they were making the new one and they were doing The Joker, I always thought it [should be] kind of like The Crow — having that dark element but still comedic. It would probably have to be something in that vein, even though I think what Heath Ledger did with the Joker was the greatest comic book villain ever.

Cook also said that he would like to star in "anything sci-fi or comic book related," but that he hasn't been auditioning because he has been on tour.