Update: A plethora of information is staring to pop up so I decided to edit this thread so its not just discussing the villain, but the movie as a whole.

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Christian Bale talk about which villain he'd like to see in the sequel to Batman Begins:

"I want to see the Joker, because I think it will be a very different kind of Joker than people have seen before," he said. "I think even the card that you see at the end of the movie shows that it is a darker, more sinister-looking Joker than anything I have seen depicted before. I think it would be a good adversary."

Bale also recently gave his thoughts about Robin possibly appearing in a new movie to the Chicago Sun-Times:

"Thank God, there was no Robin," Bale says. "You really don't need him because Robin makes it campy and not dark."

Agreed.

-Zavier

Quoted from Nixon "Thank God, there was no Robin," Bale says. "You really don't need him because Robin makes it campy and not dark."

Robin was created for the comic book for two reasons:  to lighten up the book a little bit, and to draw in a younger group of readers.

If Robin was done right, he'd be good for the movies.


Phil

I disagree; I think it would be impossible to bring Robin back to the big screen successfully and in the process it would destroy everything Nolan and Bale have created. The franchise just got back up; I don't want it see it knocked back down again.

What ruined the franchise before wasn't the introduction of Robin.  It was the introduction of Robin, Batgirl, and bringing in fifty villains at a time.  Turning the franchise into a comedy series also did it.

Robin was Batman's safety net.  He made sure that Batman didn't get too morose.  Bring in a fifteen year old Dick Grayson and keep him as a supporting character.  Don't use him in an active role (kind of like how Kitty Pride and Colossus are being used in the X-Men movies).


Phil

OK.  Somebody just needs to come out and say it.

The whole Robin thing is just too...let's just say "latent" and leave it at that.  (Not that there is anything wrong with that.)

Batman should be a solo act, man.  

One more thing to take into account is Robins age. This was Batman Begins, Dick Grayson is somewhere, still in diapers, sucking on his mothers t***, well its true.

-Zavier

Well I went strait to the source and found this.

Chris Nolan talked to a paper, The Lacenby News, and mentioned the Batman sequels.

He said he'll be around for another - if everyone else is - but says he probably won't be around the day they bring Robin into proceedings.

If given the opportunity to cast Robin now - which he says neither studio or him wanted - he said he'd go 'young' and mentioned Frankie Muniz as a potential. "If he doesn't age too quickly...you never know I guess", he said.

"This is a young Batman, so Robin's a few films....not for a few pictures anyway. Dick Grayson's still in a crib somewhere. I seriously doubt I will even be involved when Robin's in the franchise" says Nolan.

Frankie Muniz as Robin....any thoughts?



-Zavier

Frankie has yet to show me he can be in anything outside drama comedies, to me he has no giant future in the business if he doesn't get out of comedy now.

Here's my one problem with this, it just came out, give it some time before you're talking about sequels. (Not us but the film makers) We are supposed to chat about these types of things but the people in the business should know better.

In my opinion not knowing makes you more excited, different people have different views but for me personally I like the surprise.

I think maybe they should leave Robin in the old Batman films, Batman began again so let's just stick with the dark story, I enjoyed the old Batman films. I look forward to seeing this one on DVD some day.

back on topic to the villains... from what I've heard is that in Batman 2, the Joker will be the main villain and we'll see Harvey Dent join the Batman/Gordon duo and possibly see Selina Kyle as the new love interest (no word on Catwoman yet) and in Batman 3 will have both Two Face and Joker... but those are only rumors... I'd love to see that gruesome twosome though

-jason

Frankie Muniz as Robin... *Tisk tisk* I'm a fan of the show Malcolm in the Middle, and I have to say that he is a very good actor for his age, and he's got potential.. But... I don't know. He seems too.... too... I can't find the word

Ugly?  Geeky?  Whiney?

Those are three words.


Phil

Thanks Dogglebe

I agree with Dogglebe, Franky Muniz is the last person I would bring in to play Robin. If I had to bring in someone for Robin it would have to someone like Patrick Louis. He plays Russel Crowe's son in Cinderella Man. A bit young but very good acting for that age.

-Zavier

I want the REAL Batgirl - the Barbara Gordon in the comics - not the blonde Alicia Silverstone as Alfred's "niece" *ick* I want to see on the big screen when the Joker paralyzes her and she comes back as the crippled (but argumentively not so) Oracle (btw...talk about some character growth 'cause she has to deal with being put into a wheel chair after flying on rooftops with Gotham's hero). I think Christopher Nolan can bring Batgirl back from Batman and Robin. Oh well, I'm dreaming.

well, if there's not going to be a dick grayson/robin, then i definitely don't want to see batgirl... dick grayson is such a great character if done correctly... they should follow the "Dark Victory" version of Robin, only not having him be about 10 year old.

i think a good actor to play Robin would be Jeremy Sumpter, he was in "Frailty" and he was Peter Pan in the new live action "Peter Pan". I think he would do a good job with the role. He's better than Frankie Muniz.

I think it would be good to bring Dick Grayson young as a supporting character and have him training to be Robin, but not become Robin until he is older (maybe after two movies).

BTW, there's a good movie short on ifilm.com called 'Grayson' that worth watching.

Phil

I agree with statements before, if there's going to be a teenage boy in the movie as Robin - it won't be as dark as Begins and dark and gritty like Begins is what we want.

Wot he said!!!

They definately need to establish Batman as a lone wolf before they even 'consider' bringing in a sidekick... 'Robin' was a huge mistake in the original movie series, one of many that started with the hiring of Schumacher.

Give Dick his own movie, skip the sidekick thing and make him Nightwing already, who agrees?  Nightwing is darker than Robin.  I want to see a Nightwing movie.  

I'd rather see Nightwing .. him growing out of Batman's shadow and make a name for himself.

Cillian Murphy(Scarecrow) on Batman Begins Sequels. While we may see Scarecrow again, it's not certain if it will be in the next film.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/batmannews.php?id=3375

-Zavier

Update.

The cast is signed on for a sequel, the script is in the works, new cast members are being discussed and the only delay is an OK by director Christopher Nolan.

http://www.superherohype.com/news/batmannews.php?id=3380

-Zavier

More on this here...

Seems a little more restrained.

Found this at movies dot com.

"The Joker's Not a Virgin Steve Carell put an end to rumors that he's the next Joker, which leaves the door open for the humorless Paul Bettany. Even worse, producers weren't so turned off by the TomKat fiasco to boot the one cast member who can't act: Katie Holmes will continue her Scientology-fueled Hollywood ladder-climbing."

-Zavier

the katie holmes rumor doesn't scare me... it's not like she's going to have a big part... there have already been rumors for a new love interested... isla fisher from wedding crashers was rumored once too, but that was apparently false.

There is a rumor that I'm the next joker. That's right, I'm Adrien Brody! No I'm just kiddding, but they need to get him in that movie.

i always thought sam rockwell could make a good joker... if not joker, then a good riddler

Brody would be a fantastic JOKER... he has a great look to him and an almost scary brilliance to him on screen. I've been a huge fan of all of his work... how ever big or small the role may be.

Roven Debunks Batman Begins Sequel Rumors

http://www.superherohype.com/news/batmannews.php?id=3422

-Zavier

Crispin Glover a Joker?
http://www.moviehole.net/news/6197.html

-Zavier

   
The title of the next Batman movie is... here

I'm not sure if this title will hold, Begins went through several changes.


-Zavier

Why not BATMAN STALKS THE NIGHT or something even more gay... Geezeeeeeeeee!!! I'm looking about as forward to this as I am being stuck in the head with multiple flying tool shed utensils.

Both of those are awful fucking titles.  I believe the perfect title would be "Batman Returns," but obviously that is not going to happen.  I hope they can think of something better, maybe playing up the Joker angle a bit.

Nolan Comments on Batman Begins Sequel here

-Zavier

Quoted from Balt Why not BATMAN STALKS THE NIGHT or something even more gay... Geezeeeeeeeee!!! I'm looking about as forward to this as I am being stuck in the head with multiple flying tool shed utensils.

Commando reference?  Obscure horror movie reference? Random exaggeration?

I can't believe you'd think of commando in all of that, but then as soon as you said it, I thought of the part when he got in the tool shed and cut that poor bastards arm off and then started using the tools as weapons and shit.

LOL!

Anyways, no, I can't fathom another Batman movie. The last 3 have sucked and this will be no different.

According to Dark Horizons, original “Batman” (1989) star Michael Keaton might be set to trade suits. Yep, according to a scooper, he’s being eyed for the role of ‘The Joker’ in the forthcoming “Batman Begins” sequel.

Keaton, whose expressed his love for the recent “Batman Begins” (mainly because a prequel idea is something he suggested back when they asked him to do the third film – which he consequently turned down), would play the clown prince of crime to Christian Bale’s Batman.

I could see that... He's got a crazy ass side to him.

Check out some of his movies where he plays the bad guy or just some crazy ass dude -- I don't know if he's the right age for the new look of BATMAN, though. It seemed to me they were going for a much younger look and that even LIAM was pushing screen time on this one.

I thought they gave too much attention to that fuck tard who played in 28 days later and too much screen time to even Morgan Freeman, that was just absurd. His role in the movie was crap!

I didn't like the movie as a whole, though, either.

I'd like to see Keaton get the role for Joker, but it won't happen. They'll give it to some cocksmeer from "That 70's show" or something.

Pacific Hights and Desperate Measures come to mind with Keaton as the creepy bad guy who you just want to see die but know when he dies it's over.

I thought all the original Batman's (Eventhough I like them all) were played stiff, dialogue and character wise.

I think they should have at least waited for the DVD to be released before anybody talked about a sequel already... Batman (The original, kinda) is getting a new DVD life with a special edition. Great news I think, finally some special features on a Batman film.

What the hell is this?  A Second series of Batman movies?  It's been done before, and "Batman vs. Batman" doesn't really sound too interesting.  Though I've also heard of a "Batman vs. Superman" that may be in the works as horrifying as that sounds.

I tell ya, Hollywood is screwing itself in the ass.

Have you been living under a bridge? Batman Begins has recieved a lot of praise (I have yet to see it) but it has still gained a lot of recognition in the new release than ever before.

It's been talked about ever since it came out and you're just learning of it now?

Hollywood is capitalizing on peoples love for films, by remaking old films and all of the unoriginal ideas they have they are making more money than most productions from around the world. (They will make crap as long as people are dumb enough to go see it)

It's simple to stop them and yet people seem to still go just to complain which gives them more money.

Of course I knew about Batman Begins, I just checked out the sequel thread and found out that it looks like they're making a second quadrilogy or whatever.  So long as the series makes money, sequels will keep coming out, but eventually money will stop coming in.

Batman will kill itself again because they aren't smart enough to write good films and not make it like everything else or cliche. In fact they have to do that stuff to sell it because certain studios have a reputation for ruining it's own films by not letting the director make his film.

I think Warner Bros. have learned from their previous mistakes with Batman and Robin. Part of the reason why these types of sequels end up flopping is because the studios are naive and think just because the previous film was successful, the sequel will undoubtedly follow suit. Because of this complacency, they tend to give directors too much slack and let them do whatever they want, and subsequently end up with something completely different than the first film, because new directors like to make these films "their own".

But Warner Bros. supervised the development of Batman Begins from the get-go; making sure they got the proper writer and director who would ultimately do the Batman series justice.

It looks like they are doing the same thing with Superman Returns, which I'm just dying to see!!! They got the proper director and writers who seem to be doing the series justice so far. But only time will tell if Warners can resurrect the Superman franchise as well.      

So far I've been unimpressed with the lack of originality in Hollywood and the world as of late.

Spiderman 2 was Spiderman 1 with a new villain, X Men 2 was a rip-off of another film with a similar CG style guy and so on down the list of reasonably good films with unoriginal bad plots.

When you're watching a movie you don't want to be thinking I've watched this before and I didn't like it the first time.

Batman hopefully is a different story (I enjoyed the originals eventhough the dialogue was always bland) I've yet to see the Begins one and will probably pick it up on Tuesday when it drops.

As for the sequel, still I honestly don't get why everybody disregards the original films and wants a new series. It's a disgrace to all who took part in them that they get no credit for making what are some enjoyable movies even if they weren't what you wanted.

Quoted from greg What the hell is this?  A Second series of Batman movies?  It's been done before, and "Batman vs. Batman" doesn't really sound too interesting.  Though I've also heard of a "Batman vs. Superman" that may be in the works as horrifying as that sounds. I tell ya, Hollywood is screwing itself in the ass.

Read the comic "The dark night returns" from the 80's batman and superman fight in it. pretty cool stuff, it's what got the oringal batman movie made in 1989.

See I liked Batman Forever and Batman & Robin as MOVIES, but in regards to their faithfulness to the Batman comics, they were terrible. I think that's the main reason why there was so much fuss over them.  

I must be the only person who didn't like The Dark Knight Returns

Jeremy Irons for The Joker! in BATMAN BEYOND (or whatever they're calling it!)

Hoffman confirms Batman rumours? here

-Zavier

They really shouldnt make another another one. Much less do another trilogy, i mean they made all them already back in the 90's they dont need to do it again, its beeen all done we dont need to see it all again.

Penguin??? Oh no. The Joker is ENOUGH! If they're going to do a series, don't have the duo-villians like the disastrous films before!

Quoted from Impulse Penguin??? Oh no. The Joker is ENOUGH! If they're going to do a series, don't have the duo-villians like the disastrous films before!

No Danny DeVito!!!!!!!!!!

No Arnold!!!!!

Quoted from TC Taylor No Danny DeVito!!!!!!!!!! No Arnold!!!!!

Amen. Plus, Hoffman is SO good already, he doesn't need to do this movie. I'm sure he can pull it off, but.... Anyway, the Penguin wasn't that good of a villain in the comics either.

Quoted from Impulse Penguin??? Oh no. The Joker is ENOUGH! If they're going to do a series, don't have the duo-villians like the disastrous films before!

I don't think the joker will be in the next one, even though it would rule. the ending i belive was to set up the first oringal tim burton batman in the chance that this one failed and no sequel would be made.

I am up for a Remake, even if the first Batman was an ok one, I want to see Bale put up a fight with the Joker.

I'd even like to see this in fact
http://www.2flashgames.com/viewlink.php?url=http://www.lookatentertainment.com/v/v-1734.htm&id=1958

Check that one Out!

people don't seem to get that these AREN'T remakes. they are individual films in a completely different franchise. they have NOTHING to do with Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin.

Still stupid to make 3 more movies about him. We all know how he became BAtman, i dont care about seeing it again him saving Gotham City, seen it before, seen the love intresets before all old and done.

Quoted from Jdawg2006 people don't seem to get that these AREN'T remakes. they are individual films in a completely different franchise. they have NOTHING to do with Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin.

I know they're not remakes. I'm just nervous that this new series is going to be just like the old series. Bad. Sure, when I was twelve I loved the campy Batman flicks .. but now, only the 1989 Tim Burton's Batman can be compared to Batman Begins.

Brody and Lucas on Batman 2 here

-Zavier

Quoted from greg Of course I knew about Batman Begins, I just checked out the sequel thread and found out that it looks like they're making a second quadrilogy or whatever.  So long as the series makes money, sequels will keep coming out, but eventually money will stop coming in.

My money's on Batman....

Frank Miller showed it in The Dark Knight Returns that, Superman has all his powers, Batman is just more resourceful and smarter.  John Byrne did the same thing when he resuurected Superman.  When written properly, the two are great opposite sides of the same coin.  This was established in the World's Finest series.


Phil

New rumors regarding The Joker and his sidekick in the next film. Info here

-Zavier

Is Black Mask a hero or a villain? Either way if they pack the film with villains it will turn into the others which some people don't like and sacrifice character building.

I feel they only used Katie Holmes to get a few more asses in the cinema, otherwise she served as pointless filler.

I was a huge fan of "Birds of Prey," the last appearance of Harley Quinn. Mia Sara was HQ in that one, and she completely badass, not the crazy eight-year-old-like fangirl in the comics and cartoon series. Watson? Okay, sure.

Just to clear up and add to the last post. Jeff Robinov from Warner Bros. announced today that title for the next film will be The Dark Knight, it was written by Jonathan Nolan, and was based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer.

Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker.

-Zavier

Ledger as the Joker? I don't think anybody will upstage Nicholson. I don't see the point of redoing all the movies? I liked Batman Begins, but only Batman and Robin and Batman Forever were the weak ones. Why mess with all of them?

I really don't know what you mean by "redoing all the movies". Batman Begins started the franchise over. Just because the sequel has a villian that was already in a movie, that doesn't mean they are redoing that movie.

Nolan knows how to get great performances out of his actors.... Heath Ledger will do fine.

Nolan's been searching for the right actor for this role for a while..

i think Heath will knock it out of the ballpark

Quoted from Steve-Dave Ledger as the Joker? I don't think anybody will upstage Nicholson. I don't see the point of redoing all the movies? I liked Batman Begins, but only Batman and Robin and Batman Forever were the weak ones. Why mess with all of them?

because the franchise only made 1 great movie...1 okay movie and the rest sucked major ass....

this franchise deserves a second chance.. nolans adding his own fresh take on the series so i think hes right to start all over...

Well Katie Holmes if officially off of this project. She's doing something else instead. Can't remember what it's called, but it doesn't sound very good. Anyway, Christopher Nolan and his producers are now looking for a replacement for her. Anyone have any ideas on who should take over the role of Rachel Dawes?


Cheers, Chismeister.

How about adding Azrael (aka Jean-Paul Valley) story line to the movie, I hate Bale's potrayel as Batman, get a new actor for the role or introduce an alternate for batman like Azrael .. it would be great. Azrael Vs Joker

I agree with Agent Smith. I loved Batman Begins but I think Christian Bale's performance of Batman/Bruce Wayne was a little overrated. He done a good job, but I liked Michael Keaton's performance best.

I couldn't disagree more. I think Bale's performance was like the best thing in that movie. It rocked and so does he. I can't wait to see what he's going to do next. It's a shame that Katie Holmes has departed. She did a good job with her role and I think she and Bale worked really well off each other.


Cheers, Chismeister.

Rumors are surfacing that Aaron Eckhart is the front runner for Harvey Dent and Maggie Gyllenhaal is the front runner to take Rachel Dawes (the role Katie Holmes originated).

Other rumored candidates for Rachel Dawes include Emily Blunt and Rachel McAdams who has been rumored for an unspecified Batman role for a while... so Rachel Dawes is the most likely role she's up for... or maybe Catwoman is returning...?

[information taken from rottentomatoes.com and batman-on-film.com]

Maggie Gyllenhaal is quickly becoming one of my favourite actors. Since I saw her in Donnie Darko. She was brilliant in Stranger Than Fiction and World Trade Center. If she joins the cast I will be very, very pleased indeed.

Aaron Eckhart I don't really know about. Even if he is just Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight, it the next one he'll presumably be Two-Face. Do we like Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face?


Cheers, Chismeister.

I really haven't seen Aaron Eckhart in anything. I heard he was great as the anti-hero of "Thank You For Smoking," and every Bat-site I visit (every single day, might I add... sigh... I am a Bat-geek) is pretty thrilled with this rumor.

I know he's a pretty dark actor, so that'll work well for the role.

Don't get me wrong, I think Eckhart is a really good actor. He was absolutely fantastic in Erin Brockovich. He was passable in The Core as well, but you really can't expect too much out of those types of movies performance-wise, most of the time anyway. I think he's a really good actor, I had no idea that Bat-geeks were happy with this rumour. Well, there you go I suppose.


Cheers, Chismeister.

I heard on a bat site who got their information from a very reliable source that the Dent battle is unofficially between Aaron Eckhart and Mark Wahlberg. One of the them will for sure get it.

Oh it should so be Wahlberg. He's an amazing actor, I enjoy his work so much more than Eckhart. His Oscar nomination was really unexpected, but well deserved. He would be so good as Dent, and as Two-Face. Chismeister supports Wahlberg!


Cheers, Chismeister.

As rumored for the last few weeks, Aaron Eckhart appears to be in final negotiations to play Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight, which most likely means we can expect to see him appear as Two-Face in whatever the Batman film after that is called.

The Hollywood Reporter was the first trade to confirm the story.

-Zavier

There could have been worse news. Eckhart is a fine actor (well, what work of his I've seen has been pretty good anyway), and I have complete faith in Christopher Nolan, seeming how he did such a brilliant job with Batman Begins and his other films as well. I think Whalberg would've been a better fit, but that's probably just because I'm such a huge fan of his. We'll see how it goes next summer.


Cheers, Chismeister.

New Gotham City resident, Aaron Eckhart, recently talked with MTV about the role he's just snagged in the forthcoming "The Dark Knight".

-Zavier

The following is from Variety:

Quoted Text Maggie Gyllenhaal is in final talks to star opposite Christian Bale in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," the next installment in the revitalized Batman franchise. She'll play the role of Rachel Dawes, played by Katie Holmes in "Batman Begins." Holmes dropped out of the project earlier in the year. Nolan is set to begin lensing in the late spring or early summer. Pic is eying a summer 2008 release. Producers are Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Nolan. Legendary Pictures and Warners are co-financing partners on the project. Gyllenhaal, a new mother, was most recently in theaters with "Stranger than Fiction" and "World Trade Center." Gyllenhaal is repped by Creative Artists Agency and Benderspink.

Holy mother of God. That's perfect. Maggie Gyllenhaal is amazing. It's actually better than Katie Holmes coming back. She should've been in Batman Begins. This is awesome news. Awesome!


Cheers, Chismeister.

I fully support Ms. Gyllenhaal as Holmes replacement. She is a terrific actress, better than Holmes for sure, and the two actually bare a faint resemblance. Maybe anti-actor-replacement fans can stomach the switch. I personally have no problem with actors replacing other actors in roles. If the film is solid and the actor/ress is solid, who cares?

Pics of the joker, looks cool, more like the crow and I like that

That's the Joker?  Looks more like one of a hundred goth kids you'd run into at the mall.


Phil

Quoted from The boy who could fly Pics of the joker, looks cool, more like the crow and I like that

To clarify, these pics have not been confirmed as genuine. If they are actually real, keep in mind that they’re just a make-up test and a proof of concept photoshop job that'd would be up on a casting director or production office wall.

looks like Nolan is going for a more realistic look for the joke...

Quoted from Nixon If they are actually real, keep in mind that they’re just a make-up test and a proof of concept photoshop job that'd would be up on a casting director or production office wall.

You would think that photoshop could do the concept without any makeup at all.

Quoted from SwapJack looks like Nolan is going for a more realistic look for the joke...

The 'joker smile' is hard to do realistically.  They did it nicely in the first movie but it looked a little cartoony.

I don't understand why they have to make the Joker (much like the Scarecrow) the same age as Batman.


Phil

So it looks like the images are not real. The guy who made the second one, comes clean here(scroll down), and shows the samples he used to make the image.

I am sort of relieved.

For you interested in the script.  There are purportedly leaked bits of the script here and here

Don

Don, you da man! Thanks a bunch. Pretty awesome pages.


Cheers, Chismeister.

Warner Bros. Pictures has brought online a teaser page for The Dark Knight.

The site currently has a photo of the Batman signal.

Click here to check it out.

AintItCoolNews has the description of a possible teaser trailer for The Dark Knight, rumored to be hitting theatres with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in July:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32663

The description sounds like it's a pretty cool teaser, if it's even real.


Cheers, Chismeister.

Quoted from chism AintItCoolNews has the description of a possible teaser trailer for The Dark Knight, rumored to be hitting theatres with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in July: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32663 The description sounds like it's a pretty cool teaser, if it's even real. Cheers, Chismeister.

According to this source it's unfortunately completely untrue.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/05/15/not-true-the-dark-knight-trailer-attached-to-harry-potter/

Damn. Would've been a cool teaser.

Batman Begins got a teaser out pretty early as well, as I recall.

Oh well. Just have to keep on waiting.


Cheers, Chismeister.

According to Comicbookmovie.com, Sarah Michelle Gellar is supposed to be playing Harley Quinn in the Dark Night movie.  I think she'd be perfect for the role.  She's pint-sized, cute and can do action roles pretty well.


Phil

Oh no, that doesn't sit well with me. She may be a physical actress that can do fight-scenes and she might even kinda look the part, but does she have the acting chops?

I mean, she's in a film with some of the best actors of their generation, and I think her shortcomings are gonna show, tha same way Katie Holmes' did.

I would've loved to see Zooey Deschanel or  Allison Lohman for the part. Perhaps especially Deschanel.

I think SMG would do well.  She can play her bubbly Buffy persona, only play it a little more maniacal.  She did study martial arts while playing Buffy.  Hopefully, she kept it up.

Does anyone remember a website where people would photoshop actors and actresses in superhero attire?  I use to visit it but stopped.  It was a cool site.


Phil

Sarah Michelle Gellar has the acting chops. She was phenomenal in certain episodes of Buffy. If you would like proof I suggest the episode "The Body". She did a remarkable job in that episode, Emmy worthy I've always thought, but of course the Emmy's wouldn't recognise a horror/action show, although it did get nominated for writing one year.

If SMG is in The Dark Knight, then that's awesome. She's a fantastic actor and a good little mover, she pulls of the physical stuff convincingly enough to make me keep watching Buffy for seven seasons. If anything being around these fantastic actors (Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman) will bring her game up, rather than make her shortcomings stand out. Support for SMG!


Cheers, Chism.

I gotta say I still see her as a very TV actress. She has a very limited plaette of mannerisms and expressions, kinda like George Clooney was on ER. He got better, so perhaps she can too, but I've never seen her in a film where I didn't think "hey that's Sarah Michelle Gellar" every time she spoke.

I've seen quite my share of Buffy episodes, and I've seen her in movies as well. Like Katie Holmes I think she should stick to TV.

Like Phil suggests she would probably play Harley Quinn as a varierty of Buffy, which it seems like to me is what she does in every role. I wouldn't like that at all.

But nothing's confirmed yet, and I've even heard people shoot down this as nothing but rumor, so let's wait and see.

An early marketing ploy. Linked directly off of the Warner Bros. Batman webpage (click here to see that and then click on the logo.)

Eckhart is going to play a great Harvey and (eventually) an even better Two-Face.

A lot of movie news today.

In addition to the official website launching with a link to IBelieveinHarveyDent.com, the studio has also brought online a site made by the Joker.

At IBelieveinHarveyDentToo.com, fans get a look at a defaced Harvey Dent image. But the cool thing is that you can enter your e-mail and a code. You'll receive an e-mail with a link and X and Y coordinates that will reveal one pixel from an image underneath.

What will the image be? Only one way to find out.

I tried it but haven't received the e-mail.

The joke's on me.


Phil

Don't work for me neither.

But the graffitied up Aaron Eckhart looks efficiently creepy.

The Dark Knight sure has some good market people working on it.


Cheers, Chism.

There's a pic of the joker out.



A.W.E.S.O.M.E.

is that real? if it is... cool.

Much more realistic than the Jack Nicholson Joker.  The scarring looks like he stitched it up himself and he applied the makeup (as opposed to the chemical bleaching).  He'll fit nicely with the gritty Batman mythos.


Phil

Looks a little like Marilyn Manson. Still pretty cool though. I like the scars. Where'd you find this pic? I'd like to have some idea whether or not it's authentic.

Oh sorry.

I got it from here:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news07/070520k.php

in turn from here:

http://www.batman-on-film.com/TDK_I-believe-in-harvey-dent-too_5-18-07.html

This joker seems much better than the last one...this one makes him seem more real...

-Rubix

Oh man. I loved Jack Nicholson's joker, but this is some seriously twisted shit!

Love the scaring and stitching around the lips. Sick.

They weren't joking around putting the word "dark" in the title, huh?


Matthew the Chism has spoken.

Finally, someone has taken the big step and actually adapted the source material to film! The new Joker looks brilliant, far more realistic and sinister than the character in the comic books and in the Tim Burton film, which is just what the franchise needs! Looks like Nolan and his team are keeping the originality and freshness of Batman Begins alive. Show them how it's done Chris!

I can't wait for this film.  

The new image of Heath Ledger as The Joker has now been removed from IBelieveinHarveyDentToo.com. It's been replaced with red text that gives the error, "Page not found." If you highlight the entire page, however, you'll see a ton of Ha Ha Ha's with some letters here and there that don't belong. String those letters together and  you get - "See you in December."

Looks like you'll get a first look at The Joker in a trailer for the sequel at that time. Warner Bros. has both Nicole Kidman's The Golden Compass and Will Smith's I Am Legend opening in December, to which the teaser could be attached to.

Alot of people seem to be really into this, so when I saw this on another site, I thought I would toss it up.

True or not, I have no idea, but it is allegedly another look at the Joker.





[Edit:  OK, D.M. (below) tells me this is trash haha.  That's why I do this so seldom -- cuz I'm a sucker.  Come to think of it, it does look like they may have started from a still in the crappy religious horror movie he made.  I forget the title...]

That's a fake fan-poster. It was debunked some time ago. But it does have a cool look.

A couple production stills were released along with the news that Chris Nolan is filming four of the big action sequences in The Dark Knight with the Imax 70mm cameras including the introduction of the Joker. Check out the pics below and click here to check out an interesting article over at USA Today.

They look pretty interesting. The bottom one is a little hard to see.

Haha, those guys look awesome.

Joker's goons in Burton's Batman were just normal people.

Glad to see Nolan going in another direction.


Matt.

Hit the following link for the first pics of the new Batman suit!

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=21042

There's also a brief interview with the costume designer, Lindy Hemming.


Matt.

Mod edit: better picture now available.

Did they need a new one? At least this one doesn't have 'pecs' as ornaments.

Hahaha. I read somewhere that the new suit is a must, because there's a huge character change in there, and the new suit represents that. Can't remember where I read that, but I know I did.


Matt.

Quoted from chism I read somewhere that the new suit is a must, because there's a huge character change in there, and the new suit represents that. Can't remember where I read that, but I know I did.

Ain't It Cool News. According to the site's source, Batman "changes his suit halfway through the film - and its a major plot point as to the how and why this happens."

"From what I've heard Batman's costume will be altered in an attempt to mimic the changes Bruce Wayne would make as time evolved. The new suit is supposed to look more like heavyweight fabric and armor than rubber."

Click the link above for more.

The first on set spy photos of Heath Ledger as The Joker have made it online.

Excellent snaps. Ledger looks freaking awesome!

And with a teaser coming out with The Simpsons Movie, this is just excellent.

Thanks for the heads up.


Matt.

New Dark Knight Viral Site?

Check out WhySoSerious.com, which appears to be another viral site for The Dark Knight. It looks like the Joker is recruiting people for his gang. Also the page includes coordinates in San Diego and that the clock is counting down to approximately when the Warner Bros. panel takes place at Comic-Con.

WhySoSerious.com has been updated with some pretty cool pics and the absolutely awesome teaser trailer. Check it out!


Matt.

I kinda wish the trailer showed a bit more... also, the Joker sounded nothing like Heath Ledger.

~Zack~

Go here now. Before it's too late.

The shots are down...again.

If they keep this up, it's eventually going to bite them on the ass.  People are going to get tired of chasing down pictures that aren't there.


Phil

From Perez Hilton - http://img.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/batman-balenw1.jpg


You can see two more at http://perezhilton.com/?p=3817

You can check out all of them over at Dark Horizons. It's strange that the studios haven't asked them to pull the pics yet.

I think that Heath Ledger will be to Jack Nicholson as Jack was to Caesar Romero.

Batman Begins was much more realistic, dark and gritty than the other Batman movies.  This will have a great impact in dealing with the Joker.  Hopefully, the movie will have the same Batman/Joker relationship shown in The Dark Knight mini series and in The Killing Joke graphic novel.


Phil

Oh nice. Some awesome looking snaps there.
Thanks for the heads up.


Matt.

I wonder what storyling are they going to be using for the Joker. The pics look good Can't wait for the film.

Gabe  

They've also confirmed Cillian Murphy making a brief cameo in this film, probably as the deranged Scarecrow, being killed off.  But regardless or not, I wonder where they are going with Joker, he's obviously going to be more deranged then the Jack Nicholson Joker, I only hope Heath Ledger doesn't overdo it.  Afterall, Batman Begins was without a doubt, my all time favorite among Batman films, and I don't want The Dark Knight to kill that experience for me, nor do I think it will.

However, one thing that does irritate me is that they are playing the trailer in theaters and saying coming Summer 2008.  It feels like such a rip-off, having to wait another year for the film to come out, know what I'm saying?

An interesting pic from the set of The Dark Knight has found its way online.


Owen Wilson is playing Batman?

Quoted from Nixon Owen Wilson is playing Batman?

Hahaha! He's really serious aout this suicide thing, isn't he!

~Zack~

The brand new, absolutely kick ass trailer for The Dark Knight is now live in either flash or glorious QuickTime format here.

Enjoy.


Matt.

Hey,

It's looking pretty good.

I was kind of hesitant about Ledger as the Joker but he looks like he's shaping up pretty well. I think he looks great. My only criticism really is that I was hoping his performance would be a little more insane and maniacal, based on what was in the trailer he kind of seemed a little tame to me.

Well, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

sheepwalker  

The trailer looks amazing. I'm actually glad they didn't opt for a Nicholson type OTT joker. I don't want him to turn into a pastiche.

The showdown looks promosing too.

When Ledger laughed, he reminded me of Nicholson.  But he's far less cartoony than Nicholson was (much less Caesar Romero).


Phil

It looks like it'll be a worthy follow up. I'll see it opening night.

~Zack~

Trailer #3 is live in beautiful HD Quicktime or in Flash. Check it out here.

Looks pretty goddamn sweet  ;D

Also, the LA Times has posted an interview with Aaron Eckhart, in which he discusses the film and playing Harvey Dent/Two Face. That can be found here.


Matt.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing this one. It starts on Wednesday and I reckon I’ll be there if not on opening day then close to it. At first it was because I wanted to see Heath Ledger's final performance, but now I'm starting to feel like this will be a genuinely good movie. I'm convinced that the blockbuster is finally evolving and beginning to realize its full potential and the Bourne franchise is the series that took the big leap. IMO. People wanted something more than just: car chases, explosions and fights. Today's audiences want that but they also want characters with a few layers and a decent storyline. I reckon the Bond and Batman franchises have followed the Bourne example and have taken the blockbuster to the next level. I'd forsaken blockbusters for independent and foreign films but they're drawing me back.

The Dark Knight should be a ripper.

I think they finally got it right with this movie. They had a plan of not to go campy with this series, and hopefully it will prevail. They are showing the darker side of Batman which is what the real fans wanted to see. I think Batman - The Animated Series were the ones to get it right first. That Batman extended on to the Justice League Batman personality is what the movies are aiming for now. Robin could be done correctly if the write it right. The Batman and Robin film with Val Kilmer in it was the worst Batman I've ever seen.

My only concern is merchendising. When I first saw batman riding that bike, I was like "Here we go again". The last Batman series was written just for the toys for kids, and it kills the story. I hope they don't let any merchendising deal ruin this series. It looks tight, and I can't wait to see it! I hope Heath is as good as they say he is, cause the Joker can be campy if done wrong, but from the looks of things, he looks to be a perfect Joker. Only time will tell...