The Dark Knight Rises Johnny Depp Talks Riddler Rumors

[FlawlessVictory]

Johnny Depp Talks Riddler Rumors
By Garth Franklin Monday, September 1st 2008 12:29am

Johnny Depp has heard the false rumors about him playing The Riddler in a third Chris Nolan-directed "Batman" film, and seems open to the idea.

He tells a radio show that "It seems like it'd be a fun gig for a while, yeah" but as for already being cast? "Not that I know of."

Meanwhile "The Dark Knight" just passed $500 million at the US box-office, breaking the record after just 45 days of release. The previous and only other film to break that barrier, "Titanic," took 90 days to reach that mark.

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news08/080901f.php

 

[Gianakin_]

Wouldn't mind it. At all. Depp under Nolan's direction? We could get fantastic results.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Agreed. The Riddler seems like a character right up the Nolans alley. The combination of Depp and the way the character is written could be amazing.

 

[ThePoisonPuppet]

I think its a horribly uncreative choice, but I guess that doesn't make it bad. The only thing that bugs me is people who think its already fact less then 2 months after TDK has came out.

 

[nolan's roll'n]

It would be a great choice, a good script and good supporting cast like Depp would be a nice way to end the trilogy.

 

[Gianakin_]

I think its a horribly uncreative choice, but I guess that doesn't make it bad.

The only criterium for me is "Can he/she do the job?". The answer for Depp is always "Yes" for me, so it's the end of story, really.
"Creative choices" and all that jazz is for us fanboys to brag about our favorite directors. Besides, Nolan made the most cliched choice by casting Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul, but in no way whatsoever did that make it a bad choice.
Like you said, uncreative isn't necessarily bad.

The only thing that bugs me is people who think its already fact less then 2 months after TDK has came out.

Meh, it was always bound to happen. Doesn't bother me. On the contrary, it reminds me that the buzz has begun anew!

 

[Why So Cereal?]

Depp is overrated. Said it once, will say it many times before. He's a great actor, yes, but not the only great actor out there. Anytime there is a male role open up for any project with a large fanbase (whether it be a comic book movie, video game adaptation, etc) the first choice by fans is almost always "JOHNNY DEPP!!!!!111"

Regarding Depp in the Nolanverse, no. He's too old. Nolan said it himself that he's looking for younger and fresher faces for his franchise.

Seriously, expand your horizons, people. There are much better actors out there and tons more suitable for these types of roles.

 

[Gianakin_]

Seriously, expand your horizons, people. There are much better actors out there and tons more suitable for these types of roles.

A truly good actor doesn't have "types of roles", to me. He can play everything. And Depp fits that description in my book.

 

[Why So Cereal?]

A truly good actor doesn't have "types of roles", to me. He can play everything. And Depp fits that description in my book.

Depp has now been forever typecast as the eccentric. As sad as it is to say that, it's true to a certain degree.

 

[Twin723]

Depp is overrated. Said it once, will say it many times before. He's a great actor, yes, but not the only great actor out there. Anytime there is a male role open up for any project with a large fanbase (whether it be a comic book movie, video game adaptation, etc) the first choice by fans is almost always "JOHNNY DEPP!!!!!111"

Regarding Depp in the Nolanverse, no. He's too old. Nolan said it himself that he's looking for younger and fresher faces for his franchise.

Seriously, expand your horizons, people. There are much better actors out there and tons more suitable for these types of roles.

Truth...

 

[Gianakin_]

Depp has now been forever typecast as the eccentric. As sad as it is to say that, it's true to a certain degree.

The most important difference to me is that he's been typecast as the eccentric of the Burton vein. Not counting Sparrow, he's the Burtonesque weirdo nowadays.

Under Nolan, though? Whole different kind of eccentricity. And that's where my hope lies.

 

[Gianakin_]

Regarding Depp in the Nolanverse, no. He's too old. Nolan said it himself that he's looking for younger and fresher faces for his franchise.

Just noticed this part. What about Liam Neeson? And Eckhart isn't much younger than Depp (though he is a fresher face).

 

[Why So Cereal?]

What about Liam Neeson?

Regarding Neeson:
The Ducard/Ghul role calls for somebody older.

Look back at some of the Rogues Gallery:
Riddler, Joker, Catwoman...they are all generally Batman's peers unless otherwise noted.

 

[Gianakin_]

Regarding Neeson:
The Ducard/Ghul role calls for somebody older.

Look back at some of the Rogues Gallery:
Riddler, Joker, Catwoman...they are all generally Batman's peers unless otherwise noted.

I'll give you that, but I'm still going to say that I doubt that this would be Nolan's only (or even main) criterium while casting. Plus, Depp doesn't look his age.

Anyway, though, I'm with you that there are other actors who are fantastic out there, but if we ended up with Depp I'd be one happy camper. The moto I go with is "whatever gets the job done". Depp would get the job done in spades, so I'd love him to be the Riddler, the Joker, Freeze, or whoever.

It's not like he's extremely far off the Riddler, appearance wise (like, say, I don't know, Jack Black). Plus, Heath had nothing Joker about his appearance, initially, save the smile.

 

[Why So Cereal?]

Anyway, though, I'm with you that there are other actors who are fantastic out there, but if we ended up with Depp I'd be one happy camper. The moto I go with is "whatever gets the job done". Depp would get the job done in spades, so I'd love him to be the Riddler, the Joker, Freeze, or whoever.

I'm just sick and tired of everyone throwing Depp's name around the casting plaza...it's really lowering his credibility in my opinion.

 

[Gianakin_]

I'm just sick and tired of everyone throwing Depp's name around the casting plaza...it's really lowering his credibility in my opinion.

It's not his fault, to be honest. He got this status for a reason, because in the eyes of the majority he's an excellent actor. One thing brings the other, it's a crop circle now. He's good because people liked him, people like him because he's good.

But to let this fact lower his credibility for you? See the talent, not the man, that's my suggestion.

 

[Why So Cereal?]

It's not his fault, to be honest. He got this status for a reason, because in the eyes of the majority he's an excellent actor. One thing brings the other, it's a crop circle now. He's good because people liked him, people like him because he's good.

My problem isn't with Depp himself...it's with what you've said...the majority. The common man. People really need to open their eyes to the dozens of other actors out there that can dance circles around Depp.

But to let this fact lower his credibility for you? See the talent, not the man, that's my suggestion.

I see the talent. But I've seen better.

 

[Gianakin_]

My problem isn't with Depp himself...it's with what you've said...the majority. The common man. People really need to open their eyes to the dozens of other actors out there that can dance circles around Depp.

Who we really should care about is Nolan, though. He will shun any suggestion and decide on his own. And IF he decides to go with Depp, I'll be happy while at the same time trusting his choice.

I see the talent. But I've seen better.

Fair enough. Disagreed, but fair enough.

My main source of disagreement with you is the part about the majority of people turning you off about Depp. You don't think he's that great, kudos to you. But others do think that, so kudos to them. Maybe it's not about opening their eyes, but about them having decided that they like Depp the most.

And the main difference is that I've heard VERY few people (on the SHH boards or in general) say that "it's Depp or nobody". They just believe he's very talented and naturally they want each next Batfilm to benefit from that talent.

 

[az824]

Depp could play Catwoman and it would be turn out great


jk, sorta

 

[Gianakin_]

Depp could play Catwoman and it would be turn out great


jk, sorta

I know what you mean, and I agree.

 

[Laderlappen]

Any rumor right now good or bad are false. I like Depp alot, but Im really starting to get tired of him playing these kinds of weird characters.

 

[Steelsheen]

well so long as Depp doesnt play The Riddler as a sober Jack Sparrow i'm all for it t:

 

[bomb_voyage]

Why don't we just get tim burton back. Geez no Depp come on there are way better people to fit this role.

 

[Melkay]

The only criterium for me is "Can he/she do the job?". The answer for Depp is always "Yes" for me, so it's the end of story, really.
"Creative choices" and all that jazz is for us fanboys to brag about our favorite directors. Besides, Nolan made the most cliched choice by casting Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul, but in no way whatsoever did that make it a bad choice.
Like you said, uncreative isn't necessarily bad.

Maybe, but I gotta disagree here. Uncreative is not as good as creative. A good casting choice has a lot of things to do with previous and recent work of the actor/actress... and how much baggage is his mediatic 'image' for the movie.

Neeson was a superb and genius choice for Ducard. His recent work almost always had to do with teacher/mentor roles. "The Phantom Menace", "Kingdom Of Heaven", "Love Actually"... so yeah, it was cliché, but it was intentional. Neeson hadn't played a villain in years. It lowered expectations regarding that character and enhanced the twists that the character brought to the movie. The training in the ice is genius, because you see how cruel he can be, although for a good purpose. Then you see him go all bad about always doing what Ra's Al Ghul does... and on top of that we discover in the end that he is Ra's.
And it was perfectly complemented by the Ken Watanabe casting. For a part so small that it was only a decoy, they casted a great actor. A great upgoing (The Last Samurai) asian actor playing a not so convincing main bad guy that turns out to be just a decoy.

I haven't seen that kind of casting before. If that's cliché, you tell me.

 

[Gianakin_]

Maybe, but I gotta disagree here. Uncreative is not as good as creative. A good casting choice has a lot of things to do with previous and recent work of the actor/actress... and how much baggage is his mediatic 'image' for the movie.

Neeson was a superb and genius choice for Ducard. His recent work almost always had to do with teacher/mentor roles. "The Phantom Menace", "Kingdom Of Heaven", "Love Actually"... so yeah, it was cliché, but it was intentional. Neeson hadn't played a villain in years. It lowered expectations regarding that character and enhanced the twists that the character brought to the movie. The training in the ice is genius, because you see how cruel he can be, although for a good purpose. Then you see him go all bad about always doing what Ra's Al Ghul does... and on top of that we discover in the end that he is Ra's.
And it was perfectly complemented by the Ken Watanabe casting. For a part so small that it was only a decoy, they casted a great actor. A great upgoing (The Last Samurai) asian actor playing a not so convincing main bad guy that turns out to be just a decoy.

I haven't seen that kind of casting before. If that's cliché, you tell me.

Nolan played with the cliche (aka Neeson is getting cast as a master), twisted it to fool the audience. I agree with you completely. I was glad that he started "Qui-Gon" and ended up full Ra's. And he got a recently praised Jap actor to complement, like you said.

Still, though, it was in its core a cliche choice, albeit one he intended to use to give us something opposite of cliche.