Regardless of whether Two Face is dead or alive a new female lead must be introduced and I'm betting on Catwoman. Perhaps Shannyn Sossamon for this cat burglar.
If Two Face is dead then there is room for The Riddler (whom I envision as a lone bank robber rather than a supervillain like The Joker). I want a more mysterious Riddler rather than a spaz (as Jim Carey portrayed him). Someone suggested Ralph Fiennes for the part-- sounds like a good idea to me.
But the film needs a supervillain in order to top the danger The Joker posed-- someone tied to the mob, someone with a lot of goons. I can only imagine The Penguin taking up the slack in the plot. After TDK, I don't understand how they couldn't get whomever they desire to play The Penguin.
If they want Catwoman, fine, but then no Penguin. It has to be one or the other. I think having both in the same movie again will put unfair comparisons to Batman Returns. TDK worked because Joker and Two-Face weren't in a movie together before.
Here's how I'd do it...at least with the Catwoman part of the storyline.
To start the movie, Bats is out there dealing with some "B-list" criminal (Firefly? Think the beginning of Lethal Weapon 4). Then he hears on his sonar about a burglary at a mob bank. He gets there as the criminal is leaving and doesn't get a good look at it, but leaves with a "cat-like scratch" on his armor, and a cathair as well.
Bruce is holding a fundraiser for some charity that deals with animals. Coming to introduce herself to Bruce is a new member of Gotham's elite. Miss Selina Kyle. Selina "got lucky with various stocks and holdings" (obviously a lie). Bruce is intrigued, goes on a date with Selina, takes her back to her apartment. As Selina is preparing drinks, Selina's cat Isis sits on Bruce's lap. Bruce notices the similarities of the hair. Takes one for examination in the Batcave. It matches, realizes Selina is Catwoman. He continues to date Selina and spy on her, but can't help but fall for her.
One night, Catwoman is stealing from the mob and she's backed into a corner, her life is in danger. Batman rescues her. Pivotal dialogue point...
Batman: "I know the mob has caused great injustice to Gotham, but stealing from them makes you no better, Selina."
Catwoman: "How do you know who I am?"
Batman: "I've tracked you for awhile. I understand why you want to fight the mob but this is not the way."
Catwoman: "You don't understand...I was an illegitimate daughter of Carmine Falcone. When my mother came to him for financial support, he killed her right in front of my eyes, had me dropped off at a relative's house far away so he wouldn't have to deal with me."
Batman: "No, I do understand, I grew up without parents too." *takes off his mask* "It's what drives me...that, and the losses I've endured since becoming Batman."
Catwoman: "Bruce" (a la HUSH)
They're not exactly partners, but Bruce realizes Selina won't last long against the mob in her current costume. Bruce asks Fox to make a "suit for a woman." Fox quickly realizes who it's for and refuses. Bruce takes matters into his own hands and builds a suit similar to his but cat-themed and for her talents.
In the finale, they each save each other's ass.
In the end, Bruce realizes they can't be together because she's "doing what's right on the wrong side of the law, and it's a line he can't cross." Catwoman is enraged and hopes that one day he can learn to trust her, a la Hush.
TDK was relentlessly bleak. I'm sure Nolan will want to wrap up his involvement in the franchise with some catharsis, a film with more hope. I would have liked the third to be set in Arkham, but with Ledger gone, re-casting is extremely dicey. Catwoman would bring some heart back into the franchise, and I like the idea of a powerful, politicized Penguin stepping into the void left by the Joker. The Penguin could position himself as the only option, a gangster who promises to keep the streets safe but controls everything, at the price of people's liberty. The people of Gotham would eventually rebel against him, and he would start to crush them... cue Batman's return to grace.
^ Good point there, I think a third film has to have a glimmer of light at the end, a sign that things are getting better, a sign that Batman may no longer be needed. I think Catwoman is part of that light, in fact I can see both Batman and Catwoman being each others ray of light. I can see Gordon finally getting Gotham under control and becoming the strong leader he started to become in film two, the series warrants a conclusion with a sense of hope.
A government official tasked with the job of finding Batman since Gordon is stalling on his front. Riddler comes close but Batman keeps outwitting him. Riddler eventually goes a little overboard and starts leaving puzzles (ie a fake criminal) to lure out the Batman.
Catwoman-
A thief that Batman is trying to stop while being hunted by the cops. She is actually making it much more difficult to do.
Well...I'm pretty sure Two Face isn't dead, and I believe he'll play a bigger role(as a villain) in the next film. If they must recast the Joker for this film, Daniel Day Lewis certainly looks the part. Can he be as psychotic as Heath? I highly doubt it. Now. Killer Croc should be introduced....and he should start offing people. Three villains sounds nice to me, being as it's the third movie. Naturally, Joker would probably play a minor role in this one since he was the main villain in TDK. It would be nice to see Scarecrow just randomly pop up again....though I must admit I crave more Scarecrow....he just didn't get the airtime he deserved. Penguin would be an awful choice for a villain, because he is and always has been pointless. The guy takes his name from an overweight flightless bird...come on. Danny Devito made The Penguin freaky and scary in Batman Returns, and that was the only case in which I liked him. The mobster aspect just doesn't attract me. I've never been a Catwoman fan, and after that god awful piece of garbage Halle Barrie did, I would think Nolan believes most people simply want to forget about the character for awhile. I'm sure once Mr. Nolan sees the box office results, he'll decide to make it a trilogy.
I think B3 should be an all out gang war/ global nuclear terrorism...now that Batman is on the run...Gotham becomes this breeding nest for gangs/mobs w/o Bats help how do the police deal with these gangs and try to restore order in Gotham? I think the truth about Harvey/Two-Face should be revealed, so that the ppl of Gotham can understand why Batman did what he did and realize that he is a true hero...
If Catwoman was in B3, I think Batman should encounter her in the outscurts of Gotham, instead of being a villian/ she's an anti-hero, she's the opposite of Batman, she steals/kills to make a living and to help the ppl less fortunate and explains her origin. It gives her a purpose than just be a common theif/assassin(?)...she helps him evade G.P.D, but as a twist she is emplyoed by Thorne who has given her orders to find Batman and kill him since he is the only who can stop whats going on in Gotham, but she soon realises her and Bats have things in common and she cannot bring herself to kill him instead they form an "alliance"
I think Harley Quinn would be a gre8 female lead...have her as the shrink @ Arkum who's been treating Joker(due to Heath's passing), off-screen Joker is doing to her what he did to Dent, he corrupts her mind and given her psychology background she becomes 10's worse than the Joker
Rupert Thorne should be the next crime boss introduced and maybe Blackmask since he's some what of a terrorist...
Basically all 3 factions are at war w/eachother, G.P.D, Gotham City and I'm thinkn Blackmask/Harley Quinn team-up(once they get rid of Thorne) turn to world terrorism if their demands aren't met
I don't think Catwoman/Batman should find out each other's alter-ego, it takes away their chemistry, mystery, and their "love" for one another, but their should be a scene( at the end of the film) where Bruce and Selina cross paths and get the vibe that they met before and the movie should end with Batman redemeaning himself and the ppl of Gotham excepting Batman as their protecter...
Eh, I seem to disagree with most of the posters here, but I'll throw in my two cents anyway.
Its not that I don't like Catwoman -- she's a good character and all, its just that I do not want to see another romantic female lead so close on the heels of Rachel's death. Rachel's death should, in my opinion, haunt Bruce for at least one or two more movies before moving on to things like Catwoman. I could see Talia working, but not as a romantic lead, more as the daughter of Ra's who is intent on carrying on his work and finds an unrequited attraction to Bruce/Bats. However, it is the current dynamic of Bats/Catwoman that dictates that most likely a movie with Catwoman in it (portrayed faithfully to the comics) would result in some romantic encounter between them, which I would rather not see yet. The time will be right later.
Also, I don't want to see any gang wars. The mobsters' time is over, the Joker has changed things, the freaks have risen. This was a major part of The Dark Knight, and I don't really want to see this reversed.
The Dark Knight starts off with a group of mob bosses, and slowly they all die off, leaving only the Joker (though its up for debate whether Maroni died or not, I believe he did).
The only real "mobster" I'd be fine with seeing is The Penguin, because while he is a mobster, he is also one of the "freaks".
I would, however, much rather like the next movie to focus on the Riddler. The thing is, Riddler is not a "high-stakes" villain. He is not a homicidal maniac, he's an eccentric glory-seeker with obsessive compulsive disorder. That is mainly what separates him from the other villains -- he's NOT homicidal. Just think back to Knightfall when he arrives at a TV station strapped with "explosives". Robin takes him out because he realizes there's no way Riddler would pull something like that... the explosives have to be (and are) fakes. So, searching through this and other threads I've read some ideas I rather liked, and so strung together what I'd like see, adding a bit of my own as well.
Obviously, Batman is on the run. Riddler is a detective working for the GPD, but is confounded as Batman is constantly solving cases before he can, and he can't figure out who/where Batman is/lives. Suddenly, all these larger crimes begin being committed. Bruce's childhood friend, Tommy Eliot (who was introduced early in the film) is killed, there are robberies, arsons, perhaps the Graysons are killed, etc... but the way it is all done seems to be pointing to something else. Its all one big riddle. Perhaps the Arkham inmates are sprung (though I'd rather not see that again because it has been done in BB). But it seems the person behind everything is pulling strings and manipulating others into doing his work. Perhaps he has Firefly doing the arsons, Deadshot doing the killings, etc... The audience is obviously lead to believe the Riddler is behind everything, but then comes the Nolan twist when we find out it was Tommy Eliot (that is, Hush) the whole time. Riddler knows who is behind everything, but won't reveal it when Batman questions him, he just taunts Batman because he finally came out on top. Perhaps then the Riddler "confesses" to all the crimes (even though he did not commit them), thus making himself "bigger than Batman". All the crimes were an attempt to wear Batman down to the point where he can be destroyed. Perhaps the climax would occur when Hush attempts to kill Riddler in Arkham and Batman has to save him.
With that story, the stakes would be higher, and I think it fits the Nolanverse rather well. Just my two cents though.
Oh and I left out the part that would get me the most hate, but I think that since this would be a direct sequel to TDK, that Batman would gradually get darker, more violent, until he saves an 18 or 19 year old Dick Grayson from corrupt police trying to cover up his parents' murders by killing Dick. Dick's presence in Bruce's life would be what stops him from being consumed by the darkness, and helps him focus. Dick wouldn't even have to don the cowl, he could work as an assistant to Alfred or Lucius, or fill an Oracle-like role, feeding Batman information from the cave. And if he does have to don the cowl, I wouldn't have him going out and fighting crime, just working as a scout doing surveillance and report jobs to save Batman some needed time while trying to figure out who is behind it all. Batman could do all the fighting himself. However, I also think the plot I put forward could work without Robin (though the fanboy inside me would love to see a Nolan Robin).
Riddler or Bane... Ventriloquist as a hitman... and Catwoman... take one from Schumacher... one from Burton... and Rupert Thorne as the new mob boss and the most intimidating one we have seen thus far.
I actually think it is time for Robin. Call me crazy, but I think it can work. Do it like Dark Victory. Batman believed in Harvey Dent, he lost him. He is now isolated from Jim Gordon, he can trust no one. Timing is perfect for Robin.
No robin...how often do you make a film where batman has to handle almost everything by himself? No alfred as well...make alfred seriously injured...
Hell..the only time that happened in the comics...is in the 1940s.
The next film can be EVEN darker if they make batman doing almost everything without much help.
A villian that constantly taking out batman's allies one by one...until batman is left TOTALLY alone will be nice.
And no robin because you are bascially asking another person to share the moral responsibility of being hated....
This batman has taken the potential hate against dent for himself...what makes you think he will let anyone share his responsiblity as well?
And if nolan make batman lose all of his allies one by one...I doubt adding a new ally is going to be a right action for batman.
The third film is going to start dark....very dark.
The dark knight started with a rather 'not so dark' tone at the beggining...until the ending...where it became darker and darker.
To top it off, make the 3rd film start in a very dark tone. Until the middle part, where the ray of light glows brighter. Not too bright...but back to how it was between batman begins and the dark knight.
This is a way to complete a triliogy.
And you guys have no idea how intimaditing batman can be...towards every criminal now.
The average joe and criminal will 'know' that batman has been driven 'insane' and is willingly to kill...
The no kill rule still apply for batman himself...but the villans don't know that. A great advantage.
As for the third I hope it goes in a couple of directions.
Since Bats is on the run from the law why not have him leave Gotham for the whole movie.
He can either run into Ras Al Ghul and his henchmen and try to stop them from taking over some other city.....OR.... have some other DC vigilante go after him like Green Arrow. Which would be awesome cause they are planning to do that Green Arrow Prison movie and what better way to spin off a Batman movie and have GA show up and do the Supermax GA movie they're planning.
I would like to see the film open with Batman in pursuit of Two Face - after the opening scene where Batman looses Two Face, Alfred contacts Batman and tells him that Bruce Wayne is almost late for the opening ceremonies of the new Wayne Manor.
Upon arrival, fresh and clean - Bruce Wayne speaks in front of a crowd on the lawn of the newly rebuilt wayne manor - in the crowd is Selina Kyle, basically in the early stages of staking out the mansion for a future heist.
Next Batman is called away in a strange crime that seems to lead nowhere, we find him later in the new "batcave" analyzing evidence from the crime scene. Crime after crime lead nowhere - until finally Batman arrives on scene to find Two-Face tied up, basically hand delivered and a piece of paper in his mouth with a big "?" written on it.
The film should take the direction of The Riddler orchestrating several small crimes leading up to a huge detailed, baffleing crime that Batman struggles with, but figures out just in the nick of time to capture the Riddler and take him back to Arkhum Asylum.
I think it would be cool to have Batman go to Arkhum to "consult" the Joker (who could be protrayed by a heath ledger look alike) and the scene could be a very dark and shadowy one) and he could seek info on the clues he is finding at the crime scenes. Batman is so desperate and determined to solve the crimes, that he goes to the one person who may give him some insight on the insanity taking place around him - this leads him reluctantly to the Jokers High Security cell.
I see Catwoman as commiting multiple burglarys - all where she recruits high profile "helpers in the commission of the crime and kills them all immediately after - so she has the help she needs, but shares none of the loot. I dont want to see a love interest develop between them - at least not in this movie. And she should escape at the end - to show in future films.
LOTS of "meat" left out - but thats the storyline I would like to see in some form.
This is Gotham's redemption and Batman's vindication film. While Batman doesn't save the city for good, it should end with things starting to get better and the city having hope for the first time since Harvey Dent's election. It should be a mob war that features new villains that are freaks but different from Joker (I'm thinking Riddler for example) and Catwoman could come in. Batman is alone and bitter after losing Dent and feeling guilt for his death.
He is tempted by her but cannot be with her. Things get so bad in Gotham in the third act the city turns to batman when they have nothing left (Gordon should bring back the bat-signal in a dramatic scene that begins the third act) and Batman saves the city from utter destruction at the end. I would say add Robin for redemption's sake and for Batman to realize he is not alone (and be able to refuse Catwoman's ideology), but I think Nolan will likely refuse that. But hey they denied Harry would become a Goblin as well. I think Robin a la Dark Victory could and should work.
In my opinion TDK ended on such a downer note that a possible 3-film should end on a higher note. However, introducing Robin seems to be out of the question by Bale and Nolan. Meanwhile, since TDK put Batman in the backseat while Joker and Dent stole the show I think it would be good to have the film focus on Batman more so than the villains.
So my plot goes like this, after TDK the freaks have taken over the mobs. Whereas previously the gangs were seperated by old-fashioned methods, now gangs are seperated only by the ruler on top, not by race or country of origin. The Black Mask runs his gang from his high-rise in downtown Gotham. The Penguin controls the docks from the Iceberg Lounge. The Mad Hatter controls the West End of Gotham, which of course includes the Gotham City Park. Finally, the villain known as Bane has single-handidly regained control over the Narrows. As well, some lower-tier villains are hired as bodyguards or assasins by the mob bosses. Most notably, Deadshot (More Squad-attitude than Gotham Knights) is hired by the Penguin. After the events of TDK, Batman is left to confront all of these villains by himself. Commish Gordon is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He wants to help Batman while the citizens of Gotham and many of his officers want to hunt him down. As his war on crime rages on, there becomes much less Bruce Wayne and more Batman. Bruce begins pushing away everyone who tries to help him, which in this film amounts to Fox and Alfred. However, as Batman is finally finishing off one of the gangs, most likely the Mad Hatter, he runs into someone else fighting the mob. As he tries to catch a glimpse of his face, Batman realizes that this man doesn't have one. So now Batman finally has an ally he can rely on when he's out fighting crime. Which leads to the ending in which Batman realizes that despite how he may have to cut himself off from humanity in order to protect Gotham, he will never be alone in making that choice.
Casting
Batman/Bruce Wayne - Christian Bale
Jim Gordon - Gary Oldman
Alfred - Michael Caine
Lucius Fox - Morgan Freeman
The Question/Mike Engel - Anthony Michael Hall
Black Mask - Ryan Phillipe
The Penguin - Phillip Seymour Hoffman
The Mad Hatter - Timothy Spall
Bane - Batista (I hate using wrestlers, but there's few people who can do imposing as well as he can, as well my Nolan-verse vision of Bane is one who uses his size to hide his great intelligence)
Deadshot - Matthew Marsden
I think as many have posted that it is time for the "Rise of the Freaks". Batman started it...The Joker turned it up to 11 (spinal tap reference) And here we are. Especially since Batman is on the run. Hes been slacking and in his and the mobs absence the "Freaks" have taken over. This gives the opportunity to show a bunch of minor villains like Penguin, Mad Hatter, Clayface, others. All of them control certain areas of the city. Nolan can use as many or as few of these "minor" villians as replacement for the Mob. But overall Penguin/cobbalpot is the slight leader.
Catwoman can simply be a cat burgular female who either gets caught stealing from Penguin or Bruce Wayne.
The main Villian can be The Riddler. He can either be the guy "Mr. Reese-Mysterious-enigma-riddler" from TDK. Or someone who finds out from him. I honestly prefer it to be the guy from TDK. He can basically start off leading Batman around on wild goose chases. And as he goes along gets more violent and angry. Leaving hints for Batman to find and publicly giving the public clues to Batmans identity. Batman must figure out his riddle before someone in gotham figures out who Batman is.
We can make the riddler end up being just as psychotic as the Joker. Just in a different way...
With this overall plot we can go for the detective angle and also go for the redemption of Batman angle depending on what he is trying to stop the Riddler from doing. Also the best thing about the riddler is that for most of the first 1/2 tp 2/3 of the movie he can be shown as behind the scenes and never even gettings his hands dirty. His main motivation is to tear down Bruce Wayne and get his recognition.
I believe Two-Face and Catwoman should be the lead villains for part 3, and possibly a third appearance by another "freak" like Riddler (or they can set up the stages for him in a possible 4th film). If anything, I feel that it is only right that part 3 follows "Dark Victory". It's only right. "Batman Begins" was "Batman: Year One" and TDK was "The Long Halloween".
But despite the fact they don't want to, Robin has to be included (if they go the route of Dark Victory).
TDK was essentially about chaos and anarchy. That said, the next logical step would be someone whose goals and plans are about order and structure. Thus, I think the main threat should be The Riddler. Make him a more serious villain (not goofy this time), and I think he is the way to go.
I would also put Catwoman into the film. We do need a new female lead, and Catwoman I think fits in well. Maybe she even is hired in the film by the Riddler (and somehow fits into his puzzle somehow).
I want the Penguin to become the new mayor on the promise of riding the city of the Batman. I enjoyed how TDK jumps into the middle of things (that is how the third should begin).
I doubt Scarecrow will return.
If TwoFace is alive, he knows the identity of Batman.
Part 3 needs to be about Bruce rebuilding his life while Batman rebuilds his reputation and Gotham City.
A new love interest (Selina Kyle), Wayne Manor being rebuilt (with a rudimentary bat cave), and trying to be a hero to Gotham and maybe redeem Batman's name.
Meanwhile, we have philanthropist and childhood friend of Bruce, Roman Sionis, putting on a clean, beloved public face while running organized crime. Hell, maybe he's even the new mayor, or someone else in government.
Meanwhile, Selina Kyle is after him and the crime family for her own reasons, taking their money and maybe killing. Why? I dunno.. Isn't she connected to the mob family somewhere? Her father...? I'm no expert on the character.
So it's a dangerous triangle between Bruce, Selina, and Black Mask, featuring the Penguin as a British gun-runner and, maybe, Bane as Black Mask's loose cannon of a henchman.
Part 3 needs to be about Bruce rebuilding his life while Batman rebuilds his reputation and Gotham City.
A new love interest (Selina Kyle), Wayne Manor being rebuilt (with a rudimentary bat cave), and trying to be a hero to Gotham and maybe redeem Batman's name.
Meanwhile, we have philanthropist and childhood friend of Bruce, Roman Sionis, putting on a clean, beloved public face while running organized crime. Hell, maybe he's even the new mayor, or someone else in government.
Meanwhile, Selina Kyle is after him and the crime family for her own reasons, taking their money and maybe killing. Why? I dunno.. Isn't she connected to the mob family somewhere? Her father...? I'm no expert on the character.
So it's a dangerous triangle between Bruce, Selina, and Black Mask, featuring the Penguin as a British gun-runner and, maybe, Bane as Black Mask's loose cannon of a henchman.
that would be great too bad both Nolan and Gary Oldman said no to having cat woman period in their movies. as well as penguin. And bale is shown to a degree agreeing. those villains are viewed as lame as Robin as they said. In this video interview http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=307244
seriously though that is there for a reason. Don't know why it's missed by so many here.
I want the Penguin to become the new mayor on the promise of riding the city of the Batman. I enjoyed how TDK jumps into the middle of things (that is how the third should begin).
I doubt Scarecrow will return.
If TwoFace is alive, he knows the identity of Batman.
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