The Dark Knight Rises Eckhart on Dent returning: "I could not possibly say."

[Two-Face]

Yes Gary Oldaman is a great actor - he's Gordon no doubt but I feel Eckhart's performance was for me greatest.

 

[The Joker]

Dun dun dun even think about it. Both are dead since they're the same.

Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me Joker

 

[El Payaso]

Uh - I'm not knocking Eckhart's performance. It's great and all but...

if we're talking the overlooked star who should have at least have been recognized with a best supporting nomination - it's Gary Oldman.

Hard to believe that man has never been recognized by the Academy.

Oh, easiest thing on Earth to believe. Academy has a long tradition awarding mediocrity and snubbing true talent. Not that it's the only thing they do, but Oscars are all about glamour and razzle dazzle.

Yes Gary Oldaman is a great actor - he's Gordon no doubt but I feel Eckhart's performance was for me greatest.

Same here. THE greatest of TDK for me.

Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me Joker

HAHAHAHHAHHA, good one. Ooooooooh but we didn't see Napier's funeral. t:

 

[Rowsdower!]

Maybe Eckhart is coming back to play Harvey's twin brother, Marvey Dent.

 

[ChrisB]

Another Aaron Eckhart interview about Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Why is he changing his story? He wouldn't even confirm if he's talked to Nolan (even though he said he did last fall...remember the beach story?).

“Harvey Dent is dead,” confirms Eckhart for the umpteenth time. But when asked if he had any involvement in the next film, he replied, “How can I possibly answer that question? That would be career suicide.” When asked if he’s had conversations with Christopher Nolan about the next film, he re-iterated, “I won’t say that, but I will say Harvey Dent is dead.”

Video here from his previous interview:
http://batman-news.com/2011/03/11/two-face-may-return-in-the-dark-knight-rises-after-all/

 

[ChrisB]

Another Aaron Eckhart interview about Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Why is he changing his story? He wouldn't even confirm if he's talked to Nolan (even though he said he did last fall...remember the beach story?).

“Harvey Dent is dead,” confirms Eckhart for the umpteenth time. But when asked if he had any involvement in the next film, he replied, “How can I possibly answer that question? That would be career suicide.” When asked if he’s had conversations with Christopher Nolan about the next film, he re-iterated, “I won’t say that, but I will say Harvey Dent is dead.”

Video here from his previous interview:
http://batman-news.com/2011/03/11/two-face-may-return-in-the-dark-knight-rises-after-all/

 

[ChrisB]

Another Aaron Eckhart interview about Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Why is he changing his story? He wouldn't even confirm if he's talked to Nolan (even though he said he did last fall...remember the beach story?).

“Harvey Dent is dead,” confirms Eckhart for the umpteenth time. But when asked if he had any involvement in the next film, he replied, “How can I possibly answer that question? That would be career suicide.” When asked if he’s had conversations with Christopher Nolan about the next film, he re-iterated, “I won’t say that, but I will say Harvey Dent is dead.”

Video here from his previous interview:
http://batman-news.com/2011/03/11/two-face-may-return-in-the-dark-knight-rises-after-all/

 

[malnat11]

I believe Harvey Dent is dead and I think Nolan asked him to come back for maybe a dream sequence or a flashback scene that is all Harvey IS DEAD!!

 

[Travesty]

Maybe Eckhart is coming back to play Harvey's twin brother, Marvey Dent.

Yes, and he has a patch over one eye, and smokes cigs.

But I think he'll come back for a flashback, or be used in the background with old campaign ads. Maybe Nolan will explain who the Five dead were?

 

[Yurka]

Aside from the script where it clearly says he's dead after he falls, and the funeral scene in the film, is there any part where it states he's dead? I remember having debates on here after DK was released about whether or not Gordon was covering up Two-Face even further by declaring Harvey dead even though Two-Face was still active.

I doubt he is alive but I would love to see Two-Face in full force again, a dream sequence seems probable. I just hope its not a simple "Harvey killed those 5 people remember?" then show him kill them and thats it.

 

[malnat11]

Since TDKR script is being completed Nolan must of just recently called Eckhart to see if he will be available to shoot a flashback or dream sequence in the coming months since his Eckhart himself has stated that he left he schedule wide open in case he could come back as Dent. Thats 2 interviews within a few days where Aaron Eckhart is acting weird about the questions hes being presented with in regards to Harvey Dent/Two Face. You could do alot with that character in Dream Sequences. Theres just too much in the pot right now with Bane and Catwoman and we know that JGL and Marion are going to be cast in there somewhere.Dent's story was told in TDK it would cheapen the ending if he was alive, with that being said I think that he would be badass in a Dream Sequence!!

 

[Frontier]

I put nothing past Nolan & Company. In the end, we'll only know when we know. I'm not going to hold out too much hope, but, who knows...

 

[RustyCage]

I find it funny that people assume Two-Face isn't in the film because 'Harvey Dent is dead', but they have no problem assuming Catwoman is in the film because Selina Kyle was announced.

Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me Joker

That's really all that's necessary for a rebuttal.

Never say never until you know for sure.

 

[Travesty]

I find it funny that people assume Two-Face isn't in the film because 'Harvey Dent is dead', but they have no problem assuming Catwoman is in the film because Selina Kyle was announced.

Well, IMO, if Harvey is dead, than Two-Face is too. That's the whole point of Two-Face. He goes back and forth between the "bad side" and his old Harvey Dent persona. Harvey has to be alive in order for Two-Face to exist.

 

[RustyCage]

Another Aaron Eckhart interview about Harvey Dent/Two-Face. Why is he changing his story? He wouldn't even confirm if he's talked to Nolan (even though he said he did last fall...remember the beach story?).

Nolan could have decided to include Two-Face since the beach incident, or could have been protecting information for as long as possible, anticipating Eckhart slipping - or maybe Eckhart himself was protecting information. They were very careful about keeping Two-Face a secret in TDK, we have to remember.

The story we're told isn't always the real story. We have to expect that they aren't going to be direct with us - especially since it's a Nolan film and he's so famously secretive.

 

[RustyCage]

Well, IMO, if Harvey is dead, than Two-Face is too.

So Joker is actually a zombie throughout the entirety of Batman '89?

That's the whole point of Two-Face. He goes back and forth between the "bad side" and his old Harvey Dent persona. Harvey has to be alive in order for Two-Face to exist.

Nolan's Two-Face wasn't based on a split personality gimmick.

 

[riskproductions]

I find it funny that people assume Two-Face isn't in the film because 'Harvey Dent is dead', but they have no problem assuming Catwoman is in the film because Selina Kyle was announced.

Well I think Catwoman had been more than confirmed now, with the catsuit quote and concept art on the walls quote from Oldman

 

[RustyCage]

Well I think Catwoman had been more than confirmed now, with the catsuit quote and concept art on the walls quote from Oldman

Yes, she's confirmed. I'm obviously referring to before she was confirmed.

 

[MiniBond]

Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me Joker

that would have been awesome to see Eckart doing the same scene...

"Dent....Dent is dead my friend ! You can call me TWO FACE"

 

[Travesty]

So Joker is actually a zombie throughout the entirety of Batman '89?

You know what I meant.

 

[batman11]

If Bruce Wayne were to die in a film, should we keep it in mind that Batman can still show up in a potential sequel to such a film? Fully alive and breathing and performing bodily functions and such? I think that makes sense. I'm not even sure why I asked.

I'm kidding around. Don't kill me...please...

 

[Assassin32]

Yes it would. Backing away from and reversing a plot point like that is, like, the very definition of hackneyed writing. Not to mention, if Batman is taking the fall for all of Dent's murders, why does he need to be hidden at all (and especially in Arkham of all places)? Shouldn't they, oh I don't know, at least take him to a hospital instead?

Dent fell from several stories high without wearing a Batsuit. There was a funeral held for him. And Nolan has explicitly said that he's dead. End of story.

It wouldn't, because the death wasn't all that well established. You say there was a funeral, but all we saw was Gordon at a podium with a portrait of Harvey in the background for two seconds. Also, you're ignoring the fact that Batman surviving the fall because he was in costume is totally ******ed. If he survived, then Harvey could have survived - it's literally science.

Anyway, Nolan has left himself more than enough doors open so that he could easily bring Two-Face back without making us roll our eyes. It's a viable option.

 

[Yurka]

It wouldn't, because the death wasn't all that well established. You say there was a funeral, but all we saw was Gordon at a podium with a portrait of Harvey in the background for two seconds. Also, you're ignoring the fact that Batman surviving the fall because he was in costume is totally ******ed. If he survived, then Harvey could have survived - it's literally science.

Anyway, Nolan has left himself more than enough doors open so that he could easily bring Two-Face back without making us roll our eyes. It's a viable option.

In the script they say that he breaks his neck in the fall and dies, but nowhere in the film do they say he is dead besides implying it through the funeral scene. I don't think it would be ruining DK's story if he were actually alive and they were covering it up, that being said I don't think it will happen, he may come back in a flashback but thats as far as I expect.

 

[Symbiotic]

I do wish TDK would've had a moment where it's explicitly pointed out that Harvey's neck is broken.

 

[batman11]

I don't think it would be ruining DK's story if he were actually alive and they were covering it up...

My only real beef with the commonly proposed notion of Harvey being alive and hidden isn't so much that it takes away from Batman's heroics, but that it no longer makes Harvey the traditional "Shakespearean tragic hero" who dies at the end of the play. Brought down by his own tragic flaw of relentlessly pursuing justice (after the scarring, things shifted in the realm of 'personal' justice), Harvey fits the archetype and the plot-based trajectory of Shakespeare's classic characters. I really loved that, and I was quite surprised to see Nolan and co. bring that to Harvey. By keeping him alive, it (partially) invalidates that aspect of the story (yes, the tragic fall is still there, but it removes a well-known staple of this type of character's arc), and I would hate to see that go; it was certainly one of my favorite things about the film.

I find it strange actually, that whenever the notion of Harvey still being alive is brought up, most people tend to focus on the story ramifications of Bats taking the fall, and Harvey's arc itself seems to be a slight afterthought. I've always thought that, with a bit of clever tweaking, the emotional impact of Bats' choice would remain had Harvey lived, but the pure tragedy element of his story would take a blow that I'm not sure I'd like to see happen. I suppose that it's simply a case of loving the story and the themes so much that, regardless of really liking the character, I want his arc to remain as it is, with him dead.

Like you, I don't really expect Nolan and co. to bring him back in the flesh (in the event that it happened, it would take some time for me to come to terms with it, but as always, I trust the men behind the story), considering we've had many clarifications of the fact that he is d-e-a-d. But, Eckhart's change of tone certainly suggests that he's either an awesome troll (which I still suspect), or that he'll be doing something in some capacity. Either way, it's fun to discuss. One idea that I thought was really interesting was the use of fear gas, as that could certainly get quite scary; imagine a demonic, distorted version of Two-Face. Could be neat, if it fits. There's also the idea of some sort of campaign commercial, or perhaps a flashback/dream, which I'm sure, if included, is necessary. Whatever it turns out to be (if it turns out to be... LOL), it'll probably be relatively small, but fun and welcome none-the-less.

All I can say with certainty is that Eckhart's sly smile has caused one massive crap storm, and a lot of discussion to go along with it.