The Dark Knight Rises 8 Years: Active or Retired?

[Pontillo]

active but I'm starting to think he quits just before the events of the movie take place.

 

[Green Day]

retired
Nolan going tie up loss ends. If Batman is active WB could make movies in Between TDK and TDKR. I believe since Gotham is in peace Batman has left and than Bane comes in and Batman comes out to save Gotham one last time.

 

[gugumugats]

active. they did mention in the interviews that bruce as a character was frozen. however, this could still apply to a retired batman.

 

[Ant-LOX]

He's active, in a philanthropic sort of way during those 8 years on the sideline. We see them at some sort of ball or fund-raiser for Harvey Dent, or the police. I think this is where Selena informs Bruce of the "Storm". She see's that he maybe donated equipment or money to the GPD. The "Storm" happens, which puts Gordon in the ICU. This motivates Bruce to return. Batman Begins is very flashback heavy, I think this movie will be as well.

 

[Falcone]

active. they did mention in the interviews that bruce as a character was frozen. however, this could still apply to a retired batman.

Exactly. Hes frozen in time. In the finale of TDK, he quit being Batman for a few reasons: he was being hunted, and Gotham no longer needed. That is indeed an excellent argument for his INACTIVITY.

Hes also frozen in time emotionally. He isn't over the deaths of his parents or lover and best friend. He has guilt over The Joker's victims, especially Harvey. He has a broken relationship with those that most resemble friends to him, Alfred and Lucius.

 

[MrWayne]

I would like to think that he was still active to an extent after that night in TDK. I am almost certain he was, for how long? Who knows. I do seriously doubt that he went home that night after being chased by GCPD and said “I quit”. Maybe he was still Batman for the next few years until things in Gotham cleared up and the Harvey Dent Act was in full swing which left his crime stopping nights somewhat empty after a while?

Until we know more, my feeling is that; he completed construction of the Batcave, I am almost certain he had Wayne Tech develop more gadgets for his arsenal so I would like to think that all that served its purpose.

I'm hoping after a total of 10 years on the scene, that by this point, the Batman we see in TDKR is a well seasoned and perfected Batman. I hope that he spent the last 8 years being Batman on different levels, and in that process became The Batman from the comics so to speak.

 

[The Joker]

Exactly. Hes frozen in time. In the finale of TDK, he quit being Batman for a few reasons: he was being hunted, and Gotham no longer needed. That is indeed an excellent argument for his INACTIVITY

Where in TDK's ending does it suggest he was quitting?

 

[Nevincer]

Where in TDK's ending does it suggest he was quitting?

Nowhere.

 

[Falcone]

I always thought it was quite obvious, but maybe I'm wrong.

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I can do both those things." Bats is simulataneously being a hero (through his becoming the villain) and living (through the death of his Batman career). With his lie, he has secured peace for Gotham. For goodness sake, in the trailer they mention peace time. Dent's actions have inspired good, and when everyone doesn't tolerate the mob or internal corruption, Batman is no longer needed. This hypothesis is further strengthened through Gordon, explaining to his son, that Gotham deserves Batman, but no longer needs him.

The question then becomes, why does Batman return? Its simple. The storm is coming. The fire is rising. A new breed of evil is being born, and Bane seeks to destroy all the hard work and sacrifice Batman and Gordon did, and make Harvey Dent an idealist of the past. Batman msut come back, Gordon says. I don't know why all the fan boys seem to disregard what I think is simple analysis of dialogue they complain is too explanatory.

 

[Falcone]

Nowhere.

Serioisly- are you going to add anything to the discussion or show up every ten posts and be a smartass?

 

[WiseBrook]

Where in TDK's ending does it suggest he was quitting?

I disagree with "nowhere." Gordon says Batman is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. Assuming the Nolan had some idea of his third film in mind, that could be a subtle hint.

Edit: sorry, missed Falcone's mention.

 

[Victarion]

I disagree with "nowhere." Gordon says Batman is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. Assuming the Nolan had some idea of his third film in mind, that could be a subtle hint.

Edit: sorry, missed Falcone's mention.

I believe that Gordon meant Harvey Dent was the hero Gotham needed at that time and Batman the necessary evil to defend the hero's reputation.

 

[Green Day]

I agree with that batman left since Gordon says "Batman is the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now."
The in the teaser
when Gordon says
"The Batman must come back"

 

[The Joker]

I always thought it was quite obvious, but maybe I'm wrong.

"You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. I can do both those things." Bats is simulataneously being a hero (through his becoming the villain) and living (through the death of his Batman career). With his lie, he has secured peace for Gotham.

How does any of the suggest he was throwing in the cowl?

For goodness sake, in the trailer they mention peace time.

8 years later. They also mention the Mayor is going to get rid of Gordon because of it. If Gotham was in peace time for 8 years then why wasn't Gordon dumped by the Mayor a long time ago if Gordon's surplus to requirements during this blessed peace time?

Dent's actions have inspired good, and when everyone doesn't tolerate the mob or internal corruption, Batman is no longer needed. This hypothesis is further strengthened through Gordon, explaining to his son, that Gotham deserves Batman, but no longer needs him.

No, Gordon said Batman is the hero Gotham deserves but not the one it needs right now so they'll hunt him, because he can take it, because he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a Dark Knight.

None of that suggests Batman is going anywhere to me. That says to me that Batman is going to willingly drop the image of being a hero and be the outcast and bad guy and let Dent look like the good guy for the sake of Gotham's hope.

Retirement or quitting doesn't come into it, IMO.

The question then becomes, why does Batman return? Its simple. The storm is coming. The fire is rising. A new breed of evil is being born, and Bane seeks to destroy all the hard work and sacrifice Batman and Gordon did, and make Harvey Dent an idealist of the past. Batman msut come back, Gordon says. I don't know why all the fan boys seem to disregard what I think is simple analysis of dialogue they complain is too explanatory.

Maybe because not everyone perceives this information the same way you do, and it's not as straight forward as you personally think it is. Gordon says they were in it together, and then he was gone. Now this evil rises. Why would Gordon be throwing a relationship they had 8 long years ago in Batman's face now, unless they'd still been working together watching over Gotham in those subsequent 8 years since TDK?

We see Bruce is hobbling around with a cane in the trailer. Doesn't that also suggest he's put out of commission first before Bane makes a bid for Gotham? Wouldn't it be more strategically sound to eliminate the only real opposition before taking over Gotham, like he did in Knightfall where he broke Batman before he took over Gotham?

 

[gugumugats]

Do you guys think the active/retired question will be answered by the next trailer?

 

[gugumugats]

Wait. If Bruce retired right after TDK, then what the hell is the Batcave doing in TDKR ???

 

[Nevincer]

Wait. If Bruce retired right after TDK, then what the hell is the Batcave doing in TDKR ???

To the retired people's credit, the Cave doesn't look particularly furnished in TDKR after eight years.

 

[kvz5]

We still have to see it but the description sounds fancy specially the cabinets coming out of the water.

 

[BestGirl]

I would like to think that he was still active to an extent after that night in TDK. I am almost certain he was, for how long? Who knows. I do seriously doubt that he went home that night after being chased by GCPD and said “I quit”. Maybe he was still Batman for the next few years until things in Gotham cleared up and the Harvey Dent Act was in full swing which left his crime stopping nights somewhat empty after a while?

Until we know more, my feeling is that; he completed construction of the Batcave, I am almost certain he had Wayne Tech develop more gadgets for his arsenal so I would like to think that all that served its purpose.

I'm hoping after a total of 10 years on the scene, that by this point, the Batman we see in TDKR is a well seasoned and perfected Batman. I hope that he spent the last 8 years being Batman on different levels, and in that process became The Batman from the comics so to speak.

That's an excellent point. One also wonders what he's been doing with himself if he's not Batman. If he's done nothing but brood all day and night then how is it that it hasn't occurred to him to move on with his life?

Here's what I think will happen: he's still Batman at the beginning of the movie, but he suffers some sort of injury that results in his getting a cane. This galvanizes Alfred into giving his speech from the trailer, and Bruce realizes that he's getting old and needs to do something else with his life. Then he meets Miranda, who convinces him to engage in philanthropy. Bruce sees charity as being as helpful to Gotham as Batman, so he retires to focus on his foundation. Then Bane comes to town...

 

[Tacit Ronin]

It's obvious that Bruce at the end of TDK, losing his love Rachel and Gotham's savior Dent, decides to give himself to his job unconditionally. Which was the whole point of Gordon's "a silent guardian, a watchful protector" speech. You can't exactly be a silent guardian and a watchful protector if you quit.

 

[TangerineKnight]

This is the answer:
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU[/YT]

 

[DeGenerate10]

Are they going to release any cartoons that cover the gap like they did between Begins and TDK?

 

[conan69]

I think Batman was still active after the events in TDK, but his appearances became less and less frequent, until he finally went underground completely.

 

[Naked Shia]

I love to think they could have used A lonely place of dying as an inspiration. It takes place not long after Jason's death, and Bruce is frozen in time. He's not the hero he used to be, and he acts like an angry man, trying to commit suicide everytime he fights a lunatic. Because he feels guilty of this death, he don't really want to live anymore, and he's no more than a ghost.

Which is exactly the emotional state I think he will be in at the beginning of TDKR. Feeling guilty of both Rachel and Harvey's deaths, he would still be batman, even if it's peace time. Because he's angry at himself and at the world. He pushes himself to the limits, to the point where he's really lost. He doesn't even know how to live a real life anymore. And TDKR will be his journey to get his life back again.

To me, in order to be in this mood of self-destruction, he needs to be active as Batman during those 8 years, even if it's not really needed.

 

[Broker]

This hypothesis is further strengthened through Gordon, explaining to his son, that Gotham deserves Batman, but no longer needs him.

Wow, it's hard to believe that people misunderstood the ending of TDK to this degree.

As Batman says "I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be." The point of the speech, and indeed the ending in general, is that while Batman deserves to be known as a hero for his actions, Gotham needs Batman to be to be seen as the villain in order to keep Dent's crimes a secret and his clean image intact.