The Dark Knight Rises How should the Gotham mob be used in Batman 3?

What character do you want to take over the mob?

  • Black Mask

  • Penguin

  • The Great White Shark

  • Tobias Whale

  • The Ventriliquist and Scarface

  • Rupert Thorne

  • Tony Zucco

  • Maxie Zeus

  • King Snake

  • other (if so specify)


Results are only viewable after voting.
I would like Nolan to take a different approach to the mob in the third. I'm thinking an all out gang war in the streets of Gotham between the more traditional mobsters and the freak led mobsters (maybe Black Mask?).

I think it could be quite interesting and thrilling. Batman has got to deal with this new surge of violence triggered by Joker in TDK, but at the same time make sure he doesn't get caught by the police or other agencies (This is where Riddler comes in). The Fed Riddler could be pulling in a lot of these gangsters and interrogating them in the MCU about Batman. Then Batman could be interrogating the crims on the streets about this new hot shot Fed brought in to catch him. It could prove to be quite a new take on the mob. While this gang war is going on, Batman and Agent Nashton/Nygma are pressing them for answers, with the warring mob factions in the middle of Batman and eventually the Riddler. Batman using the mob to figure out Riddler, Riddler using the mob to figure out Batman.
 
I'm not suggesting Hoffman because of physicality... I'm suggesting him because of perfection. Watch any of his roles. He has one of the most prolific and extraordinary filmographies out there. And he's one of the few actors out there who are are "Nolan's level". His Oscar confirms that. His latest role in "Synecdoche, New York" confirms that. The man is a machine, look at him in Capote or in Charlie Wilson's war. He elevates under-written roles like his character in MI3. No only he is on par with the late Ledger, but he is probably one of the best actors of his generation.

Your choice is good, I totally loved Beckett in Pirates but Hoffman is just too perfect for the role to ignore.

very true, Hoffman is a master of his craft. But for some reason he just seems like a very safe choice. casting a thesp like Hollander would really throw everyone off their guard. But as it stands, Hollander is my top choice for Cobblepott with Hoffman a close second.
 
I would like Nolan to take a different approach to the mob in the third. I'm thinking an all out gang war in the streets of Gotham between the more traditional mobsters and the freak led mobsters (maybe Black Mask?).

I think it could be quite interesting and thrilling. Batman has got to deal with this new surge of violence triggered by Joker in TDK, but at the same time make sure he doesn't get caught by the police or other agencies (This is where Riddler comes in). The Fed Riddler could be pulling in a lot of these gangsters and interrogating them in the MCU about Batman. Then Batman could be interrogating the crims on the streets about this new hot shot Fed brought in to catch him. It could prove to be quite a new take on the mob. While this gang war is going on, Batman and Agent Nashton/Nygma are pressing them for answers, with the warring mob factions in the middle of Batman and eventually the Riddler. Batman using the mob to figure out Riddler, Riddler using the mob to figure out Batman.

more or less a "Departed"-esque scenario... i like that :hoboj:
 
I would like Nolan to take a different approach to the mob in the third. I'm thinking an all out gang war in the streets of Gotham between the more traditional mobsters and the freak led mobsters (maybe Black Mask?).

I think it could be quite interesting and thrilling. Batman has got to deal with this new surge of violence triggered by Joker in TDK, but at the same time make sure he doesn't get caught by the police or other agencies (This is where Riddler comes in). The Fed Riddler could be pulling in a lot of these gangsters and interrogating them in the MCU about Batman. Then Batman could be interrogating the crims on the streets about this new hot shot Fed brought in to catch him. It could prove to be quite a new take on the mob. While this gang war is going on, Batman and Agent Nashton/Nygma are pressing them for answers, with the warring mob factions in the middle of Batman and eventually the Riddler. Batman using the mob to figure out Riddler, Riddler using the mob to figure out Batman.

That would be a good overall plot, with Riddler becoming more and more obsessive to the point of madness: he abuses his authority through torturing suspects, setting lethal "traps" for Batman, making deals with the freaks, etc.

It would be a great character development: brilliant but eccentric federal agent becomes psychotic megalomaniac

I'd like to see a war between Penguin (old mob) and Black Mask ("freaks") going on as well.
 
I think making The Riddler a Private Investigator would be a safer choice than making him a Fed. The Riddler wouldn't work as a Fed because hes not the type of guy to get physical. They could have a new Mayor who doesn't have Faith in the police, so he hires Nashton to find out who the Batman is.
 
I think making The Riddler a Private Investigator would be a safer choice than making him a Fed. The Riddler wouldn't work as a Fed because hes not the type of guy to get physical. They could have a new Mayor who doesn't have Faith in the police, so he hires Nashton to find out who the Batman is.

Why would a federal investigator get physical? They don't make actual arrests.
 
See, I prefer the idea of him being a Fed because he would have a lot of power, enough power to take over Gordon's operation to bring Batman in. Maybe Nigma/Nashton gets suspicious of Gordon, because Batman is always one step ahead. I think it could also be interesting to see him take over the MCU, where he will interrogate the suspects. I think it could be quite interesting, make the interrogation room a integral part of the film, maybe even have Gordon interrogated in his own HQ. Could make for some brilliant scenes.
 
Someone suggested that the Riddler should interrogate Mobsters. Honestly making the Riddler be apart of the government is stupid.

How is it stupid? I think it could be a cool little twist on the super-villain. It's never been done before has it? The villain is actually in with the good guys if you know what i mean.
 
I would like Nolan to take a different approach to the mob in the third. I'm thinking an all out gang war in the streets of Gotham between the more traditional mobsters and the freak led mobsters (maybe Black Mask?).

I think it could be quite interesting and thrilling. Batman has got to deal with this new surge of violence triggered by Joker in TDK, but at the same time make sure he doesn't get caught by the police or other agencies (This is where Riddler comes in). The Fed Riddler could be pulling in a lot of these gangsters and interrogating them in the MCU about Batman. Then Batman could be interrogating the crims on the streets about this new hot shot Fed brought in to catch him. It could prove to be quite a new take on the mob. While this gang war is going on, Batman and Agent Nashton/Nygma are pressing them for answers, with the warring mob factions in the middle of Batman and eventually the Riddler. Batman using the mob to figure out Riddler, Riddler using the mob to figure out Batman.

I really dig this idea.

I don't mind the Riddler starting out as a Federal agent brought in to hunt Batman. We can see his fall from grace, and his madness overtake him and how he becomes the Riddler... though a similar road was taken with Two-Face, so maybe not?
 
It just seems like one of those ideas that just look good on paper. If you put on film It wouldn't end up not really seem like The Riddler. It actually sounds like something Burton would have done if he made a 3rd Batman film.
 
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It just seems like one of those ideas that just look good on paper. If you put on film It wouldn't end up not really seem like The Riddler. It actually sounds like something Burton would have done if he made a 3rd Batman film.

I heard that Burton's proposed third Batman film would have the Riddler as a psychopath with a question mark shaved in his head played by Robin Williams
 
The riddler being a p.i. works better than him being a fed because it at least aligns with the character's inherent self-interest. Nigma signing up with washington to enforce the law is a real detrement to the tradition of his character.
 
The riddler being a p.i. works better than him being a fed because it at least aligns with the character's inherent self-interest. Nigma signing up with washington to enforce the law is a real detrement to the tradition of his character.

Agreed.
 
The riddler being a p.i. works better than him being a fed because it at least aligns with the character's inherent self-interest. Nigma signing up with washington to enforce the law is a real detrement to the tradition of his character.

but his character has no good tradition. Frankly, the Riddler from the comics is a lame-ass character. Always has been.

If they want to use him, they'll need to put some type of twist on it. And i don't want to see a jigsaw/zodiac type thing, so the fed angle works.
 
I like some of the ideas being thrown around.
 
but his character has no good tradition. Frankly, the Riddler from the comics is a lame-ass character. Always has been.

If they want to use him, they'll need to put some type of twist on it. And i don't want to see a jigsaw/zodiac type thing, so the fed angle works.

Have you read Dini's recent work?
 
Why does everyone want the Riddler to be a fed agent?????

Are you telling me Nolan is going to have it so were in the next movie the Feds start using a guy who calls him self the Riddler as a agent?LMAO yeah right

Why can't he just be what he was in the comics???? and Animated series????
 
I got a big "What If?" here. The idea just popped into my head, so don't hurt me for it:

What if Edward Nashton (under a different name) began as the D.A.- a supposed ally to Batman and Jim Gordon... Also, possibly an ally of some sort to Bruce Wayne (for reasons I haven't thought out yet)

Behind the scenes, however, he's actually releasing and manipulating criminals to do his bidding (kind of like Hush's role in his titular comic)- in other words, find out who the real identity of the Batman is. The Riddler can find Reese, and possibly have him killed (for either not giving up the identity, or after Reese squeals, Riddler has him killed to make sure he doesn't talk to anyone else).

Batman, Gordon, and Nashton find out that this "Riddler" knows the identity of Batman, only to find out in the end, it was Nashton (under his new name) the entire time.

Personally, since the beggining of The Riddler speculations, I've been a big advocate of changing The Riddler's real name, and setting the movie up so that we'll not know who The Riddler really is until the end of the film.
 
Although he shares "panel-time" with the titular villain, Hush. He also plays a very large role in Dark Victory.

I'd say maybe an important role in Dark Victory. Not necessarily large. And even then, it didn't necessarily have to be the Riddler.
 
Why does everyone want the Riddler to be a fed agent?????

Are you telling me Nolan is going to have it so were in the next movie the Feds start using a guy who calls him self the Riddler as a agent?LMAO yeah right

Why can't he just be what he was in the comics???? and Animated series????

Well... he wouldn't be calling himself the Riddler when he applies for the position :whatever:

Maybe he starts out as a good lawman, but his growing obsession over trying to catch Batman (maybe he sees it as an insult that Batman keeps escaping, a slight against his intelligence), causes him to create the Riddler persona, something that while initially designed to lure Batman out of hiding, eventually begins to consume him and warp his already fragile mind.

The riddler being a p.i. works better than him being a fed because it at least aligns with the character's inherent self-interest. Nigma signing up with washington to enforce the law is a real detrement to the tradition of his character.

I wouldn't say it's a detriment. It's very possible he signed up because of the power and the ability to put his intelligence to good use. A lot of arrogant or power hungry people could easily join police and federal forces because of the opportunities that are provided to them. If Riddler likes power, he's arrogant, narcissistic, likes to prove that he is the smartest and best, why not have a job in which he has so much power over everyone else, ie a federal agent?
 
Why does everyone want the Riddler to be a fed agent?????

Are you telling me Nolan is going to have it so were in the next movie the Feds start using a guy who calls him self the Riddler as a agent?LMAO yeah right

Why can't he just be what he was in the comics???? and Animated series????

He wouldn't be "Riddler" from the get go. He would start off as a book wormy, goody two shoes Fed called Nygma/Nashton who is highly intelligent but is mocked by his peers for being too by the book if you get what i'm saying. This mocking could be building up and building up, another thing that makes him angry and obsessive. He wants to prove to everyone, his peers and the criminals that he is the best. Thats what Riddler is all about right? He wants to show everyone that he is the most intelligent guy out there. As he is investigating Batman he is getting more and more pissed off that he hasn't been able to gather any solid info, this leads to him becoming dangerously obsessed. He gets more unhinged as the investigation drags on, eventually secretly taking on the person of "The Riddler" to set up dangerous situations that puts civilians, cops and fellow feds and criminals in life threataning danger. He could leave riddles at each crime scene all with the purpose to lure the Batman out.

The riddler being a p.i. works better than him being a fed because it at least aligns with the character's inherent self-interest. Nigma signing up with washington to enforce the law is a real detrement to the tradition of his character.

I don't think so. As long as you have a guy who is obsessed with being the best, with proving himself to be THE most intelligent i think it would be right. I think it would make for a riveting movie to see this by the book, nerdy, annoying, goody two shoes slowly descend into madness. We actually watch him break apart as the film goes on. Maybe as the film progresses we actually hear him thinking, like he is narrating sorta. And as he gets more crazy his thoughts start to become more sporadic and unhinged. I think Guy Pearce would be perfect for that sort of role.
 
I definitely agree, Guy Pearce would nail it.
 
Great Riddler stories : "Batman :Riddler: The Riddle Factory" "Detective Comics 1995 Annual" , Batman: Run, Riddler, Run , "The Primal Riddle", from Legends of the Dark Knight. These may not be among the 4 or 5 "seminal" works or whatever, but they are great story telling, and a real fan reads beyond TDKR and Long Halloween, or whatever the **** they can conveniently find on amazon in trade paperback.And none of the so-called great Batman stories never really have a "main" villain, now do they?
 
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