The Dark Knight Rises Batman 3: Where does the story go from here?

[Shabonkerz]

I don't know exactly what kind of theme the third one will use, however, I do feel that the Riddler is quite fitting for the third one.

Of course, the Riddler will have to be, just as the Joker was, quite different from the comic book version. Nolan and Co. would likely:

1. Replace the whole green outfit with a regular black suit.
2. Remove the mask. Just use the John Lennon style glasses.
3. Keep the cane.
4. Decide what do with the hair. Short if you want to go the proper route, but I prefer long hair.
5. Use a British actor for the role preferably.
6. Use a different hat.
7. Make the Riddler an intellectual and well-versed in the philosophical.
8. Make the Riddler be some kind of computer hacker, social engineer, etc

The story would be along the lines that the Mob is broke and the Riddler is able to siphon Wayne Enterprises's funds and employs the work of the mob. This is achieved by a computer virus of sorts that siphons not only Wayne Enterprises but also the funds of all of Gotham's businesses. Businesses close and people lose their jobs and begin to panic. Even Batman cannot afford new gadgets. The Riddler and the mob buy off public officials like in Batman Begins since their income will be low and otherwise their job would be more dangerous. The Penguin is introduced simply as an arms dealer that the Riddler and the mob purchase from with their newly acquired funding. So on and so on. The main point would be that the Riddler is attempting to destroy Gotham and Batman financially. Just as there weren't many jokes in TDK, there won't be many riddles in the third. I would also suspect that the Riddler does not reveal his identity to the public as the Joker did, and exploits that when entertaining Bruce Wayne with intellectual discussions.

 

[souvlaki]

Of course, the Riddler will have to be, just as the Joker was, quite different from the comic book version. Nolan and Co. would likely:

1. Replace the whole green outfit with a regular black suit.
2. Remove the mask. Just use the John Lennon style glasses.
3. Keep the cane.
4. Decide what do with the hair. Short if you want to go the proper route, but I prefer long hair.
5. Use a British actor for the role preferably.
6. Use a different hat.
7. Make the Riddler an intellectual and well-versed in the philosophical.
8. Make the Riddler be some kind of computer hacker, social engineer, etc

Why on Earth would you think this would be a good idea? You might as well just suggest they create an entirely new character. You pretty much took away everything that makes the Riddler look like the Riddler.

 

[souvlaki]

And for the record, minus the scars, and using make-up instead of being perma-white, Joker looked identical to his comic book counterpart. Anyone that suggests someone wearing a green suit and derby hat is unrealistic really needs to re-evaluate their interpretation of what realistic means, and what it means to Nolan with these films.

 

[Shabonkerz]

You forgot that the Joker had shorter hair and it was well kept, and his suit was much cleaner. Not to mention his pants were usually striped or something and the knives thing was a fairly major addition. Heath's face didn't allow for the comic book version of the Joker either. Usually the Joker has a fairly long face. The reason the Joker was so great in TDK was that it was different, and more realistic, yet it kept the core of the character.

The look isn't everything about the character, so no, it wouldn't require creating a new character. Also, I didn't take away everything that looks like the Riddler. The glasses, and the cane are still there. He would still be the obsessive-compulsive intellectual.

 

[BobJM]

Riddler definitely needs his green suit though. I don't mind the removal of the bowler hat, but don't take away his suit.

 

[souvlaki]

You forgot that the Joker had shorter hair and it was well kept, and his suit was much cleaner. Not to mention his pants were usually striped or something and the knives thing was a fairly major addition. Heath's face didn't allow for the comic book version of the Joker either. Usually the Joker has a fairly long face. The reason the Joker was so great in TDK was that it was different, and more realistic, yet it kept the core of the character.

The look isn't everything about the character, so no, it wouldn't require creating a new character. Also, I didn't take away everything that looks like the Riddler. The glasses, and the cane are still there. He would still be the obsessive-compulsive intellectual.

It depends on which interpretation of the character you are talking about. His hair length has changed depending on who is drawing him. Heath's facial structure and a few pin stripes on his pants is one of the lamest arguments I've heard against the Joker looking like the Joker. I mean, everything you are talking about as far as the way the Joker looked and dressed are petty and small things, but what it comes down to is the Joker still had green hair, a white face, red lips, and a purple and green suit. Noone is going to look at the guy and confuse him with any other character. What you are talking about is putting the Riddler in a regular business suit, taking away his hat, mask, and for God's sake you are even talking about taking away his riddles. I'm sorry, but there is a difference between hair length, and a dirtier suit, and putting a hacker in a business suit and calling him the Riddler just because he has a cane. There is nothing in your idea that is sticking to the core of what the Riddler is about.

 

[souvlaki]

Riddler definitely needs his green suit though. I don't mind the removal of the bowler hat, but don't take away his suit.

Yeah, I can take or leave the hat... but seriously, the green suit? This reminds me of all those stupid arguments after BB came out about how Nolan would never put the Joker in a purple suit because it's unrealistic. Yes, because different colored suits is something you don't see in every day life.

 

[BobJM]

lol

 

[souvlaki]

And what is all this talk about the Joker not being funny, and not cracking jokes? I can't think of a single scene he was in where there wasn't at least one moment that had the audience in my theater cracking up. He may not of been doing stand-up comedy, but the guy was hilarious.

 

[Denny67]

I think something Knightfall-ish would be the next natural progression. They can get Bane into it by advancing the timeline a year or two. Two-Face is running the underground crime world and put a hit out on Batman. Killer Crock and Deadshot can have quick appearances failing to collect then enters Bane. The idea would not be breaking his back but his sprit. Endurance even though many hate and are hunting you. He made the choice in TDK now his conviction of that choice will be put to the test.

I could also see a Catwoman, Mr. Freeze storyline being very appealing as well. Here is it would be along the lines of temptation. His one shot at love with a woman who lives a similar lifestyle.

 

[Quinzel]

They should do Hush eventually. Not soon though. Like in the Distant future.

It's a bombardment of villians.

 

[seblopez]

These are my conclusions on this:
- You can't use the Joker again because no other actor could successfully replace Ledger. No matter how good, comparisons would bring him down, plus using the same villain two films in a row just wouldn't work.
- No other major villain can reach the level of this Joker. Whoever is used, it cannot be as wicked as this Joker was, and the whole movie would be considered inferior. I loved deVitto's Penguin, but it can't be used again. Two Face is dead. And I really see no way to make The Riddler work at this level, no matter how it is portrayed or by whom.
- The more obscure villains probably wouldn't appeal to a mass audience that never heard of them, and I doubt the producers would take such a risk.
- Without a primary villain that can be nearly as twisted, complex, and credible as this Joker was, there is no point in another Batman movie.
- In conclusion, I strongly believe there should not be a direct sequel to TDK

What would be my alternative?

A Justice League Film, if anything because we need a JLA to set the grounds for a Dark Knight Returns. That's the movie I would like to see.
With different (older) actors for Batman, Joker and Two-Face.
Both JLA and TDKR could be considered as separate from the current movie chronology, since there wouldn't make much sense for all of the super-heroes to just appear in this Batman's context (that would also resolve the issue with Two-Face being dead). In fact I think that's the case with the JLA movie in development.

 

[LastSunrise1981]

Personally I think the third film should introduce Bane. The theme of escalation should continued to be explored due to the villain concepts and the possibilities.

I think it would be great to see a TRUE Bane depiction on the big screen and have him break down the walls of Gotham releasing Joker(If Nolan filmed any additional footage with Heath), Scarecrow, Zsaz, Two-Face(If Nolan decides to bring him back, however, if he's dead leave him dead), and so forth.

 

[Spider-Fan]

The Joker already gave us the chaos/anarchy in Gotham stoyline. The only difference is that they fought for Gotham's soul, while Bane and Bats would fight for ownership. Still, I feel too similar.

 

[wellsy]

With regards to The Riddler, I'll admit to not having much (if any) knowledge of the comics. However, that said, I'd imagine him as someone who really likes to masquerade. He presents an image; genteel, almost aristocratic in his manners and conduct. This stands him in stark contrast to Batman and The Joker, and I'll tell you what, a bit of theatricality on The Riddler's part would be truly amazing and could very easily top The Joker (I won't say it will, mind you, but it can - there's no doubt in my mind it's possible).

I've got a few ideas that I'll flesh out and post later.

 

[Tel Aviv]

I'd like to hear these ideas, that interpretation of The Riddler sounds mighty interesting.

 

[Fanticon]

Well...Batman needs to win back the trust of the people of Gotham. If he continues to fight crime at the risk of being tracked by the Police it would make for some exciting moments. But what they really need to do is give Wayne some damage control...so far he's been reckless and causes more damage than the actual crimes being committed. He's race against time with the Joker called for desperate measures though...

As for a next villain...its gonna be hard to come up with something as clever as TDK...but I think they need to bring Goyer back in to contribute otherwise the Nolan brothers will find themselves a little lost in all the comic lore needed to drive the next story...and no disrespect...especially after the loss of Heath, I'm sure the Joker was in mind for the third and its just tragic...but now its almost unimaginable to have a third film without him. So...anyones guess is as good as the filmmakers.

 

[Shabonkerz]

It depends on which interpretation of the character you are talking about. His hair length has changed depending on who is drawing him. Heath's facial structure and a few pin stripes on his pants is one of the lamest arguments I've heard against the Joker looking like the Joker. I mean, everything you are talking about as far as the way the Joker looked and dressed are petty and small things, but what it comes down to is the Joker still had green hair, a white face, red lips, and a purple and green suit. Noone is going to look at the guy and confuse him with any other character. What you are talking about is putting the Riddler in a regular business suit, taking away his hat, mask, and for God's sake you are even talking about taking away his riddles. I'm sorry, but there is a difference between hair length, and a dirtier suit, and putting a hacker in a business suit and calling him the Riddler just because he has a cane. There is nothing in your idea that is sticking to the core of what the Riddler is about.

The lame argument was intended, by the way. I was just trying to show that yours is the same argument witht he Riddler substituted in for the Joker. I guess you missed that. I'm sorry if your argument is the lamest you've ever heard.

The Riddler will have to look different, just like the Joker had to look different. What direction is necessary depends on the character. The Joker is wild and insane, thus he was changed to look more wild and insane. The Riddler is more gentlemenly and highbrow, thus his look should be changed accordingly. And for God's sake, I'm not talking about removing his riddles, just reducing them so that the movie isn't one whole riddlefest. Riddles take time and thought to solve, and we can't just have 20 riddles throughout the movie with Batman spamming the pondering pose on the screen instead of kicking ass. The outcry about the Joker not being permawhite was huge, and I imagine that the Riddler's suit color is far from that much of a controversy. Not to mention, Ra's al Ghul was way different too.

The computer hacker thing was just a suggestion and it is only really relevant to the story I proposed. You could easily swap in someone who plays the markets.

 

[Katsuro]

The lame argument was intended, by the way. I was just trying to show that yours is the same argument witht he Riddler substituted in for the Joker. I guess you missed that. I'm sorry if your argument is the lamest you've ever heard.

The Riddler will have to look different, just like the Joker had to look different. What direction is necessary depends on the character. The Joker is wild and insane, thus he was changed to look more wild and insane. The Riddler is more gentlemenly and highbrow, thus his look should be changed accordingly.

Huh? You're equatng some scars and pinstripes to getting rid of Riddler's green suit. That's a far bigger change than anything they did to the Joker. In fact, this Joker looked almost perfect, at least when he was in full make-up and his purple suit. You get rid of the green suit and he's not even recognizable as the Riddler.

And again, why do people assume that colored suits are too outlandish for Nolan or something. Everybody thought Joker wouldn't wear a purple suit, but he did. Riddler, if he's in the next movie, will wear green.

 

[thorstone]

Er how?

It doesn't take much to deduce that Bruce Wayne is Batman when he shows up to give him self up at the press conference-- and to make it even more clear, Batman repeats what Dent told Bruce Wayne at the dinner about living long enough to see yourself become the villain.

The video interview with Christopher Nolan just reminds me however that TDK was made with the intent of it being a complete film (with all ends tied up). In other words, Nolan may not feel TwoFace has any purpose in coming back.

The Riddler seems to be what people most want to see (more than the return of TwoFace and more than another supervillain in the vain of The Joker whom over the course of the film transforms into a terrorist).

 

[bwcfrog]

Everyone is debating the credibility of an attempt to have Nolan use the Riddler in the next film. Take the hat, leave the hat, suit, no suit, cane, no cane - One thing that I am convienced of after seeing TDK is....

Christopher Nolan can make it work - and there is NO WAY IN HELL they wont at least attempt a 3rd film after the load of cash they are making off this one. Even if it is a colossal failure - it will be made....and I would bet money it will be pretty darn entertaining. I dont think it will hold a cnadle to TDK, but I wouldnt count Nolan out just yet. He has impressed us all with two films in a row.

Why not a 3rd?

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

So, it's been since opening day that I last saw the movie and after seeing "The Dark Knight" I've been thinking about themes and villains for the third film. No, I am not a screenwriter for Nolan but I am going to college for screenwriting so you could consider me a screenwriter nonetheless. Christopher Nolan has created a Gotham City and world that is more realistic and more like ours; along with the city his villains are no longer fantasy-filled but have been given accomodations or changes to fit in the realm he has created.

In the end of "The Dark Knight", we see Bruce disguised as Batman running away from Gordon; being hunted relentlessly by Gordon. Both of them don't want this but Batman does not want Harvey's image to have been tarnished. He wants to see Harvey die a hero and a redeemed citizen of Gotham but both know the truth that he is not a hero. So, Batman accepts responsibility for Harvey Two Face's actions and is labeled as a murderer.

After, that scene you start thinking about possibilities or roads leading to the next oasis. If "Batman Begins" was the rise than "The Dark Knight" was the fall and this one would have to be about redemption; regaining the public's trust and establishing that Gotham City does indeed need him.
If anything Batman and Gordon will have to either disspell that Harvey was indeed the gunman and killer responsible for the deaths of two cops (I'm not sure if he killed Ramirez or Maroni though) or they'll have to keep it a secret to their graves and Gordon will just have to make the people see that they need to trust him and their police department to do the right thing. This would of course create some backlash but when the city is underseiged by Freaks, the mob, and other villains---they'll soon turn to the man they once loved but fear now.

So, onto villains and how they would fit or be interpreted into Nolan's world.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']THE RIDDLER: [/FONT]
I've read on the forums on the net that some people would prefer Riddler be a "SAW"/"Sev7en"/"Silence of the Lambs"-type serial-killer who sets up traps and kills his victims if they didn't solve the puzzles fast enough. While this is an interesting concept to take Riddler's character, to me it just doesn't fit him. Riddler isn't some mass-murdering coldblooded killer like The Joker. The Riddler is an intellectual, a brilliant mind who wishes to challenge the world to his whims. Rahs Al Ghul was about destroying a decayed humanity; Joker was about inserting a bit of anarchism and chaos into society.

I just don't see Riddler as a Zodiac, "Seven", "Silence of Lambs"-type serial killer. I see him more as an intellect who wants to be challenge for Batman. Calculative, impugent, calumniating, and always creating new schemes, puzzles, and riddles and ways to be a foible to Batman and his intellect. A "Saw"-rehashed villain is not what we need for Riddler. We need a mad bomber or cyber terrorist ala "Die Hard 4" or "Die Hard 3."

I came up with an idea where he could be a former NSA agent serving in Iraq or Afghanistan whom gets ambushed and taken captive. He is blindfolded and bagged every day; never seeing his captors' faces. He thinks he has been kidnapped by Al Qaeda but in truth he is a captee of the League of Shadows. All of this would be done in flashback of course; this would allow to bring in Liam Neeson back as Henri Ducard/Rahs Al Ghul. Plus, it'd allow the movies to feel complete.

Rahs was preparing a pupil to take up his mantle but Bruce refused and his training grounds was destroyed ("BB") so he is looking elsewhere to new sources to help him out. Scarecrow was his employee of transmitting his flower into a alkalinized and weaponized gaseous substance that could bring out it's effects in extreme doses. Riddler is his other employee or agent. Since Scarecrow failed and Rahs died, Riddler would be called on by an anonymous source to set in place Rahs' other idea. This would be using Edward Nashton or Nygma whichever Nolan prefers to call him's brain. Rahs took special interest in making sure they'd get him. Edward is good with decoding binary codes, computing and disecting data, and calculating out mathematical equations. He feeds Edward lies about his government, his country, Gotham City, etc. basically brainwashes him. Edward finally succumbs to the idea that his government betrayed him and left him for dead and Rahs even pulls a card saying that it was him and his League who saved him from Al Qaeda, even though Al Qaeda never was the one who captured him but was infact---The Demon's Head.

Rahs tells him that when the time is right he'll contact him again with further information. A year or more passes and of course we get "TDK." After, the events of "TDK," Edward is contacted by Talia over the phone and they begin their operation. Using cyberterrorism, Edward hacks into the mainframe of Gotham shutting down utilties, electricity, water, etc. basically starting a fire-sale via "Die Hard 4." There's mass panic and people start turning on each other just as Rahs and Joker predicted they would. Since there's no electricity either, Edward hacks into Arkham's computers and opens up the jail cells to the inmates. Now, the freaks and animals have taken over Gotham. Bruce out on the run must then be called in from Gordon to foil the Riddler's plot and find out who is his mysterious employer.

This to me sounds like something Riddler would do. As Edward though you could have it where he is a detective for the GCPD like the current comics. In the current comics, Edward has gone legit but every once and awhile that slimey, crafty Riddler-side of him comes out. To me if Batman is gone and a fugitive this would allow the Freaks and mobs to take over and become a tougher/bigger threat than before. Edward would pretend he is a good guy but Batman would be snooping on and would learn he is not who he says he is and would discover his plot. By bringing Talia in too, this would make Bruce have to decide whether he'd make the choice (after all Bruce refers to Talia as his "beloved" in the comics) of saving Gotham or become what he feared he wouldn't become all along---a villain by joining her.

Casting Ideas: Ewan McGregor, Jude Law, Paul Bettany, Casey Affleck, or David Hyde Pierce.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']THE PENGUIN:[/FONT]
Nolan feels Penguin is a villain that would not work in his trilogy. I beg to differ. Forget about the freakish, raw-fish eating, living in raw sewage, and nose-biting Danny Devito Penguin from Burton's "Batman Returns." Penguin in truth is a very respected businessman in the comics. Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot is in truth a man trying to repair his family's sullied, lustered name. But despite owning a respected nightclub called the Iceberg Lounge, he is also a man who is known through the underworld in closed circles. The easiest way to use Penguin is making him a man who has a snork-like nose, slightly obese, and has a bit of a waddle. No cackling laugh or webbed-hands. He is not made to be creepy.
The second thing is make him an armsdealer or contact to the imposing mob families. He could be selling them firearms but also he could be selling them umbrellas (one that has a sword, the other that is a machine gun or shoots out gas).
Casting choices: Bob Hoskins, Timothy Spall (Wormtongue from "Harry Potter"), Alfred Molina, or Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']CATWOMAN:[/FONT]
Catwoman is another easy villain. Start her out as Selina Kyle, Bruce's love interest and arm-candy but gradually we start to learn that she is behind the robberies/slayings of mob families. Bruce is then put in a situation where he either breaks the law and makes it his personal mission to keep her safe and be with her or by movie's end arrest her for her crimes.

Casting breakdown: Charlieze Theron, Angelina Jolie, Kate Beckinsale.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']MR. FREEZE[/FONT]
Mr. Freeze is harder character to use in Nolan's world but if there were ways around it than the first way would be to incorporate Bruce Timm and Paul Dini's brilliant work seen in the "Batman: The Animated Series." Before turning into a cold, blackhearted killer, Fries was a loving husband trying to save his wife from an illness. Cryogenically freezing her, he thought he could vault the illness from reaching his wife's body faster.
When the board got ahold of what he was doing he was shut down and accidentally fell into some contaminants and chemicals and genetically altered his skin causing him to need to wear a suit that would remain cold to keep his vitals and heartbeat up.

The way I see it as you keep this idea but what if instead of him being a man who gets his DNA restranded what if instead he already suffers from a disease where he is impervious to both pain and heat. In reality, there is such a disease.

Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis (CIPA) which is a rare genetic disorder that makes people unable to feel pain, heat, and cold. This untreatable disease is caused by a genetic mutation that disrupts the development of small nerve fibers that transmit these sensations to the brain.

I would have it where Fries cannot be around heat or in high temperatures; he always has to be in lukewarm, mild, or cold temperatures or else he suffers from siezures and his body shuts down on him. Thus, Bruce feels assigning him to cryogenics would not only let him be around his work but would also make it possible to live. When Roman Sionis takes over as a separate wing of Wayne Enterprises, he tries to shut down Fries' department and orders him to pack up his stuff and forgetting about treating his wife's illness.

Roman turns up the temperature on him and causes Fries to collapse than he unplugs the cryogenic chamber Fries' wife is being held in. Fries' only hope is to live in his suit. The rest of the movie he'd get revenge on not only Roman, Wayne (whom Roman said was the man who told Roman to tell Fries that he was fired), and others at Wayne Corp. and Wayne Enterprises while aos on Gotham.

His suit can be explained as an armored divers suit with two tanks filled with liquid nitrogen keeping his body at the right temp. His red eyes would be heat-seeking goggles. His freeze gun could be just a a gun that shoots out liquid nitrogen freezing anything or anyone in it's path.
Amd this would work too because then you'd be setting up Roman Sionis for a future movie. Roman is Black Mask, a man who wears a black skull mask on his face and is a gangster.

Casting ideas: Ben Kingsley, Patrick Stewart, or Tobin "Jigsaw" Bell.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']BANE:[/FONT]
Another difficult villain that anyone could easily get around. I would have it where instead of being the bumbling boob from Schumacher's God-awful "Batman & Robin" be a steroid-pill-popping freak. So, gone would be the tubes pumping fluid through his body to cause him to grow stronger and faster. Here he just be a muscle-bound assassin or hitman for hire. I'd still keep it where he is from Brazil and a former inmate turned governmental experiment but otherwise I think he is doable. Plus, he is the guy who broke not only Batman's back but also his spirit and willingness to keep going.

Casting choices: Batista, The Great Khali, or Tyler Mane

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']POISON IVY[/FONT]
I would have it where she is a radicalist-environmentalist who is mad because she finds out that Wayne Enterprises has been dumping toxic waste into the river or is going after them for finding out that they've been responsible for cutting down trees in the rainforest to make a sawmill and logging company. An ecoterrorist she'd stop at nothing to make sure no living plant or animal would die from 'evil corporations.'

Casting choice: Eva Green ("Casino Royale") or Angelina Jolie

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']HARLEY QUINN[/FONT]
Since Heath Ledger sadly won't be returning as The Joker, the way I see it you could either bring in a voice-impersonator to imitate Heath and have him behind closed doors talking to Dr. Harleen Quinnzel and convince her to become an 'agent of chaos' like him or we just meet Harley and her backstory is given to us by her. This way she'd continue on Joker's legacy.

Casting choices: Kristen Bell, Zooey Deschnael, Reese Witherspoon, Brittany Murphy, or Anne Hathaway.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']DR. HUGO STRANGE[/FONT]
Strange is a psychiatrist at Gotham's Arkham Asylum who is obsessed with not only criminology and the criminal mind but also with Batman. The way I see it he could be an accomplice for Joker's escape in a chance to meet the Batman later on.

Casting choice: William Hurt

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']KILLER CROC[/FONT]
Waylon Jones use to be a circus-performer performing in a freakshow but when he saw that he was not being hailed for his performance but just admired/scoffed for his skin-disease he left the circus and ended up becoming a killer/cannibal.
Suffering from a medical condition [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis[/FONT] that caused him to grow progressively into the likeness of [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']crocodile[/FONT]. In the comics his intelligence level has varied from competent schemer to berserk monster.

In his original appearances, he resembled a powerfully-built man covered entirely in green scales. However, his disease has slowly robbed him of all identifiable human traits.

Killer Croc is afflicted with what seems to be some form of regressive [FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']atavism[/FONT], meaning he has inherited some of the traits of ancestral species of the human race. His skin has hardened to the point where it is invulnerable to most forms of abrasion and even high caliber weapons fired from a distance. He possesses super strength, able to rip a large bank vault door right off its hinges with ease. He has superhuman regenerative powers, able to heal even lost limbs.

While this all of a stretch for Nolan's world, the skin-diseased/covered in scales Croc sounds better than the dinosauric, crocodillian Killer Croc which is way far-fetched and out there for Nolan.

Casting choice: Ron Perlman

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']THE VENTRILOQUIST[/FONT]
Arnold Wesker is a timid man who looks alot like Paul Schafer/"Curb Your Enthusiasm's" Larry David. A former stand-up ventriloquist he later turned to crime. I would have it where he is one of the new mob bosses of Gotham. Except he's not the one running the show, it's Scarface, his dummy. The gangs all play along with it but they think Arnold is whacko who should get whacked. The gangs view him as they viewed The Joker. A guy who brings in money for them and is a bit 'out there' but is a valuable asset whom one day they'll take care of.

Casting choices: Robin Williams has worked with Nolan before and he is a master of impressions. He could play both the shy, meek Wesker and also be Scarface's voice, a dummy who has violent outbursts and looks like Al Capone. If not Robin than I would have John Lithgow or Larry David himself. Both of course couldn't provide the voice so Al Pacino or Deniro could be brought in as the voice of Scarface.

The key to me would be to have it where Wesker isn't really good at ventriloquism. We see his lips move alot and he just plain out sucks but with Scarface he is a scary individual. A man tormented by his own creation/imagination.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']FIREFLY [/FONT]
To me Firefly would work as an opening credits villain. He's not that hard to do too. Armed with a flamethrower and a jetpack, you got yourself a pretty badass villain. Add some Boba-Fett-esque wristrockets and you got yourself Firefly.

Anyone can play this part too.

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']MAD HATTER[/FONT]
Last but not least is the Mad Hatter. Jervis Tetch is a man obsessed with "Alice in Wonderland;" so obsessed he even quotes lines and sentences from the book. Instead of having him be someone who is interested in mind-control like "BTAS" I would keep the part where he is a stalker. You could either have it where like "BTAS" he is obsessed with attracting a colleague of his and he stalks her or you have it where he is a cosplaying/roleplaying fetishist who stalks eighteen-year-old blondes or younger and takes him back to his basement or what he refers to as "Wonderland" and has his way with them. Nolan could even go darker and make the guy someone who is into child molestation or rape if he wanted to.

Casting Choice: Andy "Gollum" Serkis.

 

[CinematicESP]

Paul Giamatti as the Ventriloquist! Though I don't think he should be used in Nolan's films...

 

[marty mcfly]

I just don't think the Riddler would work in this world. To have him be interesting and not campy, he would have to be a bad photo-copy of the Joker. Crazy, and always laughing etc. It would be interesting if he was leaving really complicated riddles that Batman couldn't solve, and people dying as a result. But still, why would he leave riddles? We can't go with the same old "dog chasing cars" mentality. Most villains need a reason to be a villain. Obviously, Mr. J is different in many many ways.

I also can't see them bringing in Catwoman. I just don't think it would be taken seriously.

If they bring in a new love interest I think it should be Talia. There are a lot of good story possibilities with that.

I also don't think they should bring the Joker back. It would be a crime for anyone to try to duplicate what Heath did. They would fail. Epic fail.

As much as I like the freak villains in the comic/cartoons, I just don't think any of them could work in this world. Yeah, the Penguin could be a mob-type character. But he wouldn't be a penguin-man. He would just be a short guy with a pointy nose and a top hat. He would be a comic-nod more than a character.

So really, I'm out of ideas.

 

[marty mcfly]

What if, much like Batman inspiring copy-cat Batmen, the Joker could inspire copy-cat villains. Could that be the start of the Riddler? Maybe he begins as a copy-cat, and when he starts to leave calling cards, he does it in the form of riddles?

Its gonna take some real creative mo-fo's to figure out how to top this movie. Because Joker is the best villain in the series. And unless they bring Ra's back for the ultimate ninja showdown, I don't see any other villain topping Heath's Joker.

Though, if Ra's came back, it would really tie things together. With the story of Batman's redemption with the city, and tying up loose ends. Everything would come full circle, which is classic-Nolan. Could Ra's come back? COULD he be immortal. COULD his methods be... supernatural...?