A Question, Doctor

Well folks, the rumor mill is a-churning. This time it's about an interview in which Warner Bros. has reportedly asked Christopher Nolan, director of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight (amongst other great films) to oversee and mentor the re-launch of Superman. Apparently Superman Returns wasn't doing it for them, and since the hastening of Marvel comic-book to film characters brought about by Disney's acquisition of the brand, WB is feeling the pressure to have some successful competition in the Superhero vein. Coupled with the suggestion that WB also stand to lose the rights to Superman within a few years, there actually might be something to this rumor. However, this is not all that is being thrown around. There is rumor Nolan will have something to do with Wonder Woman, and more importantly, it has been slipped twice now that Goyer and Nolan are working on a script for a third Batman film. An official announcement is expected shortly.

I respect Christopher Nolan as a storyteller; he's done something with the Batman franchise I had thought never to see: legitimize it. No more Schwarzenegger ice puns, or one dimensional Tommy Lee Jones. For a lover of all things Bat, this has been truly phenomenal. I could only hope for at least one more (and perhaps that at the most; a trilogy rounds things out nicely, succinctly finished before it can collapse into a camp fest a la Forever and Returns), though Nolan seemed initially hesitant about returning despite Dark Knight's ending. I seriously hope that the director will be getting back in the driver's seat one last time and complete the fantastic tale he's been spinning. As for Wonder Woman or Superman, I highly doubt Nolan will be too actively involved. Consider the reality he's grounded the Batman mythos in. It is a dark and gritty world that might be highly imaginative, but constantly mulls over the accomplishments and tribulations of men as men. He might dole out advice on Superman, but amazonian women with magic lassos and greatly overpowered aliens with a weakness to rocks doesn't sound like his cup of tea.

In any event, there is no official confirmation of any of these things, yet that doesn't stop people feeding off the information and creating all manner of entertaining gossip. For example, did you know that while there isn't a script or official confirmation on a film at all, Johnny Depp has definitely been cast as the Riddler?

May I take a moment to say I am so over Johnny Depp and his fan club. Lord, I'm tired of people thinking he's the perfect end-all solution to any character with odd personality traits. At the midnight showing of Alice in Wonderland the other night, I couldn't believe how many people showed up in white face (which doesn't accurately reflect the look of the film's Mad Hatter at all, by the way) and let out many a cheer anytime he did anything on camera. You can just imagine how the audience went up at his stupid dance in the end of that film. What's that? You have a part for somebody slightly offbeat and possibly culturally iconic? Johnny Depp could do it! Johnny Depp can do anything!!

I, for one, would not be excited to see Johnny Depp play the Riddler. Philip Seymour Hoffman as the Penguin is more wishful thinking, but one I could probably get behind, as I respect the actor. I should note that several people have commented that they can't imagine how the Penguin would fit into this world Nolan has built. Rest assured, most of them only draw upon the Danny Devito... experience. Sourced from the current comic trend, Penguin is much less a bird-loving freak and now a posh nightclub owner who moves and shakes the underworld of Gotham, supplying information (and much more) while keeping his own hands clean. Easily inducted.

No, we don't have any idea who the characters would be in this potential film, but I found these and had to post these as it seems the Riddler is a favorite. Never mind that they eschew the Dark Knight style and tone for something notably more Schumacher-esque, I'll still give whoever made these cheesy posters props for their casting selections. Enjoy, and salivate over the possibility of more Batman.



Neil Patrick Harris would make for quite a villain. I mean it's not like he doesn't have experience. But the next is my favorite. I couldn't resist him as the Doctor, and could anyone better play Edward Nigma? No. The answer is no. Although I should hope the costume designer wouldn't put him in THAT outfit.