How should Nolan End Batman's Story?

[Artistsean]

MOVIE TALK

Christopher Nolan Talks About Superman's New Beginning and Batman's End

by Matt McDaniel · March 10, 2009

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movi...-superman.html

The other bombshell in the interview is that Nolan intends for his follow-up for the hugely successful "The Dark Knight" to be his last Batman film. He says that his brother Jonathan, who co-wrote the last movie, is currently at work on the screenplay. Nolan says that finding an ending to Batman's story is the main appeal for him to return to Gotham City.
"I'm very excited about the end of the film, the conclusion, and what we've done with the characters," Nolan tells the Times. "Unlike the comics, these things don't go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful."

Nolan talks about an ending to Batman's story, something the comics don't do because the characters can go on forever but in his story they do not. So I got to wondering, what do you think that means?
Do you think Nolan's Batman will end, something along the lines of a realistic ending to a hero vigilante?
Would Bruce stop being Batman? Perhaps because he saved the city of Gotham? Will Bruce die? Sacrificing himself to save Gotham? After all Ras did say, "Their deaths galvanized the city into saving itself" (talking about the death of Bruce's parents.) So maybe Bruce as Batman sacrifices himself in order to save Gotham or in order to force Gothem to save itself. Maybe even without a Batman, because he is dead or because he retires, the myth of Batman goes on.

And end to the Batman story would also give the audiences a chance to see the ending of other character's stories, like Alfred's and the Jokers.

If Nolan ends the Batman stories how do you think it will happen? What would you like to see?

[Bathead]

I think it would be a huge mistake for Nolan to put an "end" to Batman's story just because he's finished with it. I rather prefer the concept that Batman's fight for justice can never truly be over, and that he will continue the fight as long as he draws breath. And to kill him off at the end of this next movie would be an even bigger mistake.

[Timstuff]

Having a story with an end does not mean that this story will necessarily feature the end of Batman and his world of dark knight detective work and crazed villains. It could simply end with Bruce hanging up his cape and deciding to "retire," (which most of us geeks would know won't last long, lol) or end with Gotham City's crime finally being under Batman's control, and show him taking one last look at his city before disappearing off into the night. I kind of doubt we're going to see Batman dying in battle or as a cranky old man in retirement, though. As said before, ending Batman in a permanent way would be a huge mistake. Hopefully, Nolan is approaching this in regards to finishing his arc with the character in a 3-part saga rather than just setting up for yet another sequel that someone else will direct.

You do not have to kill the possibility of more Batman stories in this world just to have a complete 3-part story.

[TheBatman072]

Batman redeemed in the eyes of Gotham, and him taking his rightful place as the city's true savior.

That's how it should end.

[Boom]

Kill everybody. A nuke detonates in Gotham and levels the entire city.

[Anita18]

Originally Posted by Boom

Kill everybody. A nuke detonates in Gotham and levels the entire city.

Just like Shakespeare would have wanted it.

[Boom]

Or have Bruce die, and have Alfred don the cape and cowl. Michael Caine's dream can finally come to fruition.

[Happy Jack]

The trick that Nolan and co. will have to pull off is to make an ending that is a satisfying conclusion to they're overarching story yet acknowledges Batman's unending longevity (allowing for future interpretations). I don't quite know what that would look like.

[akfj]

I think Nolan's intentions are to wind the story down with the third one. That basically means that by the end of the film any loose ends from the previous two films will be tied up, and no story threads presented in the film will be left open. That doesn't mean Batman needs to retire or die. It could just be the end of one portion of his journey. Return of the Jedi is the end of the Star Wars films, but it doesn't end with Luke dying or retiring. It's ends with Luke solidified as a jedi ready to move on. That could be the same with Batman at the end of the third film, it ending with Batman as the Batman we all know and love ready to continue his battle.

Or he could die or retire, I guess. Who knows except Nolan, right?

[Wesley Dodds]

Nolan's comments on this subject have me slightly concerned, I'm gonna be mighty pissed if he oversteps his bounds and kills off Bats or sumthin'... Or worse, has Wayne retire.

[Timstuff]

Originally Posted by akfj

I think Nolan's intentions are to wind the story down with the third one. That basically means that by the end of the film any loose ends from the previous two films will be tied up, and no story threads presented in the film will be left open. That doesn't mean Batman needs to retire or die. It could just be the end of one portion of his journey. Return of the Jedi is the end of the Star Wars films, but it doesn't end with Luke dying or retiring. It's ends with Luke solidified as a jedi ready to move on. That could be the same with Batman at the end of the third film, it ending with Batman as the Batman we all know and love ready to continue his battle.

Well said.

I'm pretty sure Warner Bros. has a moratorium on killing off Batman, though, so I think we can rule that out. As much creative freedom as Nolan has, I doubt he has that much.

[jmc]

The end will be the Batman status quo. This won't be the end of Batman, it will be the end of the beginning of Batman.

[Timstuff]

^ this

[batlovescatDC]

I agree with what most people have said already. Very nice analogy with the Return of the Jedi, akfj. WB would never allow ANYONE, no matter who they were kill off Batman. And I doubt that they would allow it to end in a way that would rule out future films as well.

We (the audience) will know that there is no more development for Bruce on the road to truly becoming The Batman because he will have reached that by the end of the film. That defines a true end to Nolan's story.

[Mr. Earle]

Superman appears and they form the JL..... Yeah right...

Seriously though, i think it will be (and should be) like Bathead says:

Originally Posted by Bathead

I think it would be a huge mistake for Nolan to put an "end" to Batman's story just because he's finished with it. I rather prefer the concept that Batman's fight for justice can never truly be over, and that he will continue the fight as long as he draws breath. And to kill him off at the end of this next movie would be an even bigger mistake.

Originally Posted by Boom

Kill everybody. A nuke detonates in Gotham and levels the entire city.

[Infinatal]

"As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol … as a symbol, I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting."

I wouldn't rule it out, especially if Nolan wants to bring the story full circle. If this franchise has a core story then I would say it's Bruce's crusade against crime, his growth into the Batman of the comics was kind of done and dusted in TDK.

That quote up there suggests that Nolan from the first film was already thinking about how the 'symbol of Batman' oversteps just Bruce, obviously the franchise doesn't however.

[annie.j88]

i doubted chris nolan when he first cast heath ledger as the joker.

i won't be making that mistake again.

[Rodrigo90]

It should end triumphantly,but not in a cliché and obvious way. Something that is unexpected,but feels proper and leaving everybody thinking of greater possibilities for the next,without a cliff-hanger or unfinished business.

I think Chris will stay on to produce,and that would be a relief.

[TheFuture]

WB seem to trust Nolan a hell of a lot, not just with the Batman franchise but also Superman. I could see Nolan asking the suits at WB if they have any requests and them replying with "No, you're doing a bang up job and we completely trust you.......just don't kill Batman off."

I don't think Nolan will kill him off, as someone already said the film's closing scene will be the end of the beginning, with Bats solidified as Gotham's true hero and protector.

[hatebox]

I doubt Nolan's going to 'end' Batman's story in a manner that'll enforce any future films to start over again. I'm sure he's selfless enough to want the franchise to flourish after he's stepped down without having to have yet another reboot thanks to the events of the third film.

[Wesley Dodds]

I'd sorta like the very last scene to be him standing at his Parents grave in full Costume, that's a really iconic Batman image and Nolan's never used it... Maybe he could put his fathers charred stethoscope on it too, sugesting he's leaving that part of his life behind him and moving on...

[Doctor Jones]

I'm 100% sure Nolan won't kill Batman.

I think what he means by "end" is the end to Batman beginning. The end of Bruce beginning career that he started in BB. By the end of the third, Batman is a life long project for him, and he will move into the Batman we see in the comics. Bruce moves forward as a character which means part of the idea of Batman will to. His mistakes in the past will be put behind him, and now move forward into the Batman we are familiar with. It could symbolize Nolan saying that another director can come in and do a Batman film howver he wants to tell it.

[Abraham]

I hope he goes all out, I want Nolan's version of how Batman 'ends' if that means killing Batman sure.

I cant wait to see what they do with the characters.

There is no reason to hold back, everyone could die, or Batmans identity could be fully revealed or, something crazier - hopefully more 'original' - the next Batman film can be a whole new take on the character.

[SuperFerret]

With Robin. Show that not only has Bruce matured in his role as Batman and Gotham's protector, but he is planning for the future by training a successor.

[ronny]

I want someone to implicitily state that the path Batman is on has no end. The series should end with him more isolated than ever but with a God-like power over the city.
He has the power to make Gotham safe but is unable to enjoy it. The war just goes on, and on and on.