The Dark Knight Rises Chicago or Detroit?

[Frontier]

Chicago has always been the stand-in for Gotham, historically. Nolan has certainly held such to be true, filming parts of both previous films in the Windy city. This time around though, the economy is different and the speculation has been that such may be considered more in the production of this film. A big budget action drama shooting for even a few weeks in any city will be a boon to it's people and economy.

When I heard the original speculations, that after "Green Lantern" WB was keen to shoot some of TDKR in New Orleans, I balked. N.O. just doesn't have the look, IMHO, for Gotham, in any way shape or form. But Detroit? It could be viable, passable. And certainly, the tough times that have hit the city past and present could be well utilized with this film. The production could theoretically buy up entire city blocks if they felt like it, according to folks I know in the area.

It also occured to me: with TDK, they did a big pyro-technics explosion in reality with the blowing up of "Gotham General Hospital" -- the rule of sequels says, you always go bigger, not backwards. It's theoretically possible that the production wants to take the physical destruction to new heights. And commercial real estate can't be any cheaper than in Detroit, now can it? One could even argue, it might be plausible for them to buy a 10+ story building for demolition purposes. Certainly no shortage of abandoned warehouses and factories, too...

So the questions are as follows... I'm not doing a poll, because, I just don't want to. LOL. t:

1) Could you swallow Detroit as Gotham?
2) Do you think they'll chose Detroit, or return to Chicago?
3) Do you think they'll blow up a larger structure in TDKR?

Discuss.

 

[Motown Marvel]

i live in detroit, so im gonna try to be as objective as possible....

chicago has a better skyline and more of a big city feel. we have some amazingly unique skyscrapers in detroit, but our downtown area is smaller and the skyscrapers more spread out. chicago has more of the congested big city towers that lend itself to a gotham skyline.

but street level....if you want some dank and dirty streets that have been burdened with crime and suffering. you cannot beat detroit. the visuals that this city has to offer is absolutely stunning. there is an awkward sense of artistic beauty brimming from this city's destruction. there are entire blocks that are completely abandoned and in ruin. it really is an amazing site and it screams gotham. if you were to live here and see these things, it's all to easy to recognize how a batman movie wouldnt live up to its potential if it didnt shoot in detroit. but the city has more than ruins to offer, there are also plenty of extremely elegant and genuinely beautiful designations ripe for the camera lens. in fact, there is a really big and nice coffee table book that features the inspiring architecture of detroit: American City: Detroit Architecture

as an added bonus: nolan was very inspired by the design of blade runner. that films production designer was syd mead, who was a graduate of detroits center for creative studies. much of what you see in blade runner was based on areas of detroit. particularly the incinerator plant and the industrial park off of I-75.

 

[Octoberist]

I've been to Chicago and it's a beautiful city. I can't comment on Detroit since I've never been there. I would image I would get shot in the HEAD. I kid @Motown Marvel, I kid. I image you've heard so many bad stereotypes and broad generalizations for Detroit, right?

 

[Motown Marvel]

detroit gets stereotyped with negative generalizations?

and for the record, if you get shot in the head in detroit....chances are you did something to deserve it.....like, you were wearing a nice pair of sunglasses that someone (with a gun) wanted.

 

[Brother Jack]

I'd rather they keep Chicago because that's what they've used for the past two movies.

 

[Yurka]

Pittsburgh

 

[Octoberist]

detroit gets stereotyped with negative generalizations?

and for the record, if you get shot in the head in detroit....chances are you did something to deserve it.....like, you were wearing a nice pair of sunglasses that someone (with a gun) wanted.

I can't tell if you're being facetious or not.

 

[Motown Marvel]

im almost always being facetious.

 

[L.A.]

if you want ghetto they need to come to LA...i would personally give Nolan a tour in some of my areas...

 

[Infinity9999x]

I'm a Michigander myself....but odds are we're going to lose TDKR along with the Avengers, since our new Governor had the bright idea to take back the tax incentive.

 

[Milkman95]

i live in detroit, so im gonna try to be as objective as possible....

chicago has a better skyline and more of a big city feel. we have some amazingly unique skyscrapers in detroit, but our downtown area is smaller and the skyscrapers more spread out. chicago has more of the congested big city towers that lend itself to a gotham skyline.

but street level....if you want some dank and dirty streets that have been burdened with crime and suffering. you cannot beat detroit. the visuals that this city has to offer is absolutely stunning. there is an awkward sense of artistic beauty brimming from this city's destruction. there are entire blocks that are completely abandoned and in ruin. it really is an amazing site and it screams gotham. if you were to live here and see these things, it's all to easy to recognize how a batman movie wouldnt live up to its potential if it didnt shoot in detroit. but the city has more than ruins to offer, there are also plenty of extremely elegant and genuinely beautiful designations ripe for the camera lens. in fact, there is a really big and nice coffee table book that features the inspiring architecture of detroit: American City: Detroit Architecture

as an added bonus: nolan was very inspired by the design of blade runner. that films production designer was syd mead, who was a graduate of detroits center for creative studies. much of what you see in blade runner was based on areas of detroit. particularly the incinerator plant and the industrial park off of I-75.

Couldn't have said it better - I'm also from Detroit, and only live about 20 minutes from downtown, it would be good at the street level. As far as overall skyline and cityscape, not so much.

 

[Green Day]

Both for the skyline parts of the film use Chicago and for streets use Detroit.

 

[Jokers_Wild]

Street-wise, I'm sure Detroit would be awesome. I just don't think it will happen. I keep hearing about Pittsburgh!

 

[Dragon_316ca]

According to Jett (today):

Chicago = No.
Detroit = Maybe; leaning towards unlikely.
Pittsburgh = Yes!

 

[Motown Marvel]

the thing that will now keep them out of detroit is the new governor's budget plan essentially does away with all of the incentives that sent film companies flocking to michigan. sucks. the budget hasnt been approved yet, but just the possibility of it being approved has productions shutting down and keeping away.

 

[Yurka]

According to Jett (today):

Chicago = No.
Detroit = Maybe; leaning towards unlikely.
Pittsburgh = Yes!

This may be the greatest thing Jett has ever posted, but I'm still taking it with a grain of salt.

 

[mclay18]

I'm still wondering why Nolan and co. aren't going back to Chicago. Is it the income tax spike, Nolan wanting more set privacy... what? It just doesn't seem right.

That said, whatever doubles for Gotham in TDKR will look consistent regardless if its shot in Chicago, Pittsburgh or Detroit.

 

[Mace Dolex]

if you want ghetto they need to come to la...i would personally give nolan a tour in some of my areas...

west side in da hizzooouuuussseeee!!!!