The next Batman movie.

[Nadz1lla]

Votes on the bad guy!!!   :D

Catwoman is looking like the strongest possibility, closely followed by The Riddler. The Penguin would probably be a suitable candidate too.

I was hoping for Talia Al Ghul to make an appearance but that would mean bringing Ra's back from the dead, and although this happens in the comics (Ra's is supposedly immortal, regenerating himself in the Lazarus Pits) Chris Nolan wants to steer well clear of any "supernatural" stuff. I actually agree with his approach, I love the way he has made all these comic book characters "real" so far. I mean even the appearance of the other "bad guy" near the end of TDK was done very well as I wasn't sure how he would be portrayed. I was suitably impressed. (Obv not going into detail for people who haven't seen it yet, hehe.)

Another character I am kind of hoping for is Bane. He was the character who is known for breaking Batman's back. That would also mean bringing in Azrael and having that whole power struggle storyline brewing, which I think could make for an interesting film. I mean, Batman gets fairly beaten up in these films, showing that inside that suit is an otherwise fairly normal human being, the whole Bane breaking his back would really add more to that I think.

Thoughts? :)

[maverickf1jockey]

I wouldn't mind some of the less famous villains getting a look in such as Scarecrow or Clayface.

They would probably make for a less action-oriented film but would be a bit of a psychological thrill-ride (Scarecrow using horror clichés and Clayface being virtually anybody).

I think the use of the Penguin or Catwoman in the next one would be unlikely as it would parallel the Tim Burton films (which are excellent).

[Kilby]

The current rumours seem to be:

Johnny Depp as The Riddler
Phillip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin

Personally my favourite Batman stories where from the early 70s when along with the Scarecrow Batman was also fighting against Mexican immortals (very Vampire like) and the guy who could see via his fingertips.

Suitably creepy without going so far as having super powered villans

[WezV]

i think 'keeping it real' really does make it difficult to choose - but they have done pretty well so far.   I think they should avoid the riddler and penguin as its just following the old franchise if it does and there are so many more they could use and introduce people to... hmm, maybe we need arnie to revise his role as mr freeze - i only saw that film once and it still haunts me

havning said that i would like to see there take on catwoman

clayface would be awesome

[horsehead]

Hugo strange would be perfect in the 'real world' Batman

[Brow]

The main thing the film makers are up against as regards future villains is 'just how many of the lesser known villains do the average public know about?'

This is the main reason I think they're more likely to go with someone that's already been done (Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler etc) and 'spin it' a different way than to bring in a lesser known villain.

It may hurt their appeal if they bring in characters that people aren't too familiar with, and the last thing they want with a super hero/comic book film is to limit their appeal even more.

[WezV]

yeah but having done two new batman films so well i hope they will have more freedom to do it as they want.... we can hope!!

[Ratrod]

My vote is for the Riddler. Johnny Depp would be a good choise or maybe Anthony Hopkins.

As long as they make him highly intelligent, megalomaniac and ruthlesly sadistic.

And for gawd sakes design a new Batmobile.

[noodleplugerine]

My vote is for the Riddler. Johnny Depp would be a good choise or maybe Anthony Hopkins.

As long as they make him highly intelligent, megalomaniac and ruthlesly sadistic.

And for gawd sakes design a new Batmobile.

I disagree - Frank Miller's batmobile is a crucial part of the film.

It's alot more realistic and practical than the well known batmobile.

This film is hugely based on Frank Miller's batman, and to get rid of the batmobile, would be missing the point of the character Frank Miller created here, a dark, cruel, takes no shiteee, goes at them with everything batman.

[noodleplugerine]

Double post =/

But might aswell use it.

In relation to which villain to use, I say stay away from Mr Freeze, Poison Ivy, Clayman, etc, too supernatural.

Riddler would be absolutely PERFECT, with all the riddles and clues etc, could make a superbly clever film, like TDK was, and if anyone's watched the Prestige, will know, Christopher Nolan is damn good at that sort of thing, however, the approach could be a little too similar to the Joker? The evil genius characters are much better than the supernatural characters, so maybe even the Penguin? But perhaps without so many umbrella gadgets.

[badgermark]

Does it really need a supervillian? There is an interview with David S Goyer (who helped write the movies with the Nolans) who said they have an idea that doesn't need a central supervillian.

My big question is what's going down with the Joker? Unlikely to be recast, but will he feature at all in the next one? Unless there is a throw away line about him being executed or something...

[gwEm]

might be quite cool to have no supervillian in fact... unless the next film will be the last one in the nolan series, in which case i definately want to see the riddler.

[badgermark]

Just to be awesome- read the very last (bottom right) Gotham Times (TDK marketing page). A letter by Edward Nashton.

The first person who tells me who Edward Nashton is wins a prize.

[headtheball]

Ah, well, Nashton's not his real name, is it?

[Nadz1lla]

I think introducing lesser known villains would be good. The general public who don't know the comics will probably still appreciate it as a good movie.

The thing is, whilst parralleling the Tim Burton franchise isn't optimal for some of us, it makes sense, as all the villains he used seem to be the first main villains Batman encountered in the comics. If Nolan wants to be time-line accurate as far as the comics go then Catwoman would be a good next step, as would either Riddler or Penguin.

I think Penguin will be fairly easy to implement as a "real" character. They wouldn't have to go too far with the brolly gadgets, maybe have one gadget like a brolly sword, it would make sense (like a sword-cane type thing). I'm not sure if Penguin being deformed was a Tim Burton thing, I always remember him just being a "normal" person who dressed in those dapper suits who was particularly good at being a criminal. The suits and his pointy nose being the reason he was named the Penguin. Although I'm sure anyone here who has a better knowledge of the comics could confirm or put me straight, heh.

I'm still rooting for Bane though. Nolan made a good point of putting Wayne through his martial arts paces at the Monastery in "...Begins". It would be nice to have him come up against a seemingly physically superior fighter and having a rough time trying to defeat him. One of the things I missed in the last film was a really good ruck where you get to see him properly using those skills as a martial artist.