The Dark Knight Returns...Again?
Rumours Already Swirling About a Follow-Up to Current Batman Film
Jul 31, 2008
Director Christopher Nolan single-handedly - with the help of some wonderful acting and deft writing, of course - turned the Batman film franchise around when he released Batman Begins in 2005 and thrust it into the cinematic stratosphere when The Dark Knight hit theatres two weeks ago. The franchise that essentially died when Joel Schumacher decided the viewing public wanted the return of the campy Caped Crusader of the 1960s Adam West variety is alive and well and racking up raving reviews and ticket sales at a ridiculous pace. As Titanic watches The Dark Knight creep up in its rear-view mirror fans are wondering how Nolan will top this one, or if he'll try.
Batman and the Joker the Way They Were Intended
Late Australian actor Heath Ledger's mind-boggling portrayal of the Joker has fans and critics on their feet around the world. The performance is being hailed as worthy of at least an Oscar nomination but many are calling for a posthumous Oscar win. His diabolical Joker and the overall dark theme of the new Batman film fit perfectly with what creator Bob Kane conceived almost 70 years ago and what artists brought to life in "Batman: Year One," "The Dark Knight Returns," "Batman: The Long Halloween" and "Batman: The Killing Joke," comic books all said to have a heavy influence on the 21st century film revival of the Dark Knight. Nolan, along with the penmanship of his brother Jonathan and David S. Goyer, has returned Batman to the Gotham City of old, a place where crime runs rampant and Batman, while seeking to do good, is seen by many as nothing more than a menace. Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman starts to question his place in Gotham and almost begins to buy in to the psychotic mind games of the Joker. Throw Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face, into the equation and we've got one of, if not the best Batman storyline ever. And, aside from seeing The Dark Knight multiple times, fans seem to want the promise of seeing another Nolan-directed Batman film in the future.
What's Next
While The Dark Knight has already eclipsed the $300 million mark at the box office, rumours are beginning to circulate about the potential for another Batman film. Bale reportedly signed on for three films before Batman Begins but remains mum about a third installment, as does Nolan. Ledger's death may cause a slight derailment in the plans for a trilogy as his character in the film did not die. Despite the obvious challenges, many are talking about the villains in the next film and the actors that are suggested as possible candidates. There's Philip Seymour Hoffman playing the Penguin, a role that seemed fitting for Danny Devito in 1992's Batman Returns. Nolan has stated that he likely wouldn't consider using the Penguin character as he's too far-fetched. And, just this week reports have begun to surface that Johnny Depp is being courted for the role of the Riddler, Jim Carrey's character from 1995's Batman Forever. Whatever happens and whoever challenges the Dark Knight next, Ledger has set the acting bar very, very high. But no one can dispute the potential of two fine actors like Seymour Hoffman and Depp, or that with the franchise in Nolan's capable hands, anything and everything is possible in Gotham City.
