The Dark Knight Rises Life after Nolan: What comes next... - Part 1 Unless it's actually Part 2...or 3.....

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[DieSmiling]

So let's make a few assumptions here before I get to my point...

1) Christopher Nolan does three movies. Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and the third movie. Then he moves on -- he's done his take on Batman.

2) Christian Bale and the rest of the cast are done after three, have no desire to do another Batman without Nolan.

3) WB has every intention of making more Batman movies after the third Nolan film (duh)

To me, the direction of future Batman movies after these ones is clear in light of the success of 300 -- green screen CGI based movies that are direct adaptations of the most important and iconic Batman graphic novels.

Allow me to say, first of all, that I enjoy all five of the Batman live action movies (yes, even the crappy B&R). I love the original Batman, but I'm not a wild BM '89 fanboy who hates on everything that isn't Keaton... I'm a defender of Schumaker (I still like Forever) but I recognize the obvious cheese and flaws of his movies... And obviously I love Nolan as a director, love BB and am incredibly excited for TDK...

But I think there's something missing with all three directors.

With Burton's take, the movie is too Burton. It's dark and gothic to the extent of being weird. Every character has that sunken black look, it's overdone (this is especially true in Returns, obviously).

With Schumaker he tried to go for a more lavish and exciting Batman, and clearly went way too far and we got neon lights, horrific puns, bat-nipples, cringe inducing one-liners, and giant naked statues.

With Nolan, there is an emphasis on realism as well as the best storytelling and acting ever in a superhero movie, but it doesn't have that sensational superhero mystique and action that other movies seem to have captured...

To me the solution for the next era of the franchise is clear -- forget a given director's "vision" or "take." Go back to the source material. Look at the recent success of Sin City or 300, and imagine what "Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns" could look like... And there is so much great material to work with...

Plus it has its benefits... You don't need to keep together the same cast, every graphic novel has its own significance and take in and of itself...

Frank Miller's Batman: Year One
The Man Who Laughs
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory
The Killing Joke
No Man's Land
Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns

And that just scratches the surface.

 

[alexdunn]

I feel like Mickey Rourke is perfect for a Dark Knight Returns adaptation. Maybe directed by Robert Rodriguez?

 

[JAK®]

I would like to see a more action-adventure style Batman, one that embraces his comic book roots rather than trying to tone them down.

 

[Nave 'Torment']

I like Stallone and he used to be a favorite of mine for Batman simply coz of that very square, very Bruce Timm-esque jawline. But I don't know if he's capable of being Batman in a DK:R film, I may be wrong.

More to the point, however, is that the next trilogy should pick up on a different era. DK:R is always a good potential for adaptation but most of the core ideas have already been used by Nolan. It would be better if WB concentrate on other elements of Batman's mythology so soon. It should be about the characters and plot-lines that Nolan chose not to tackle for his vision, and I think an altogether new team with a new visual and narrative style would be a good way to keep the character alive. Nolan is telling the origin of Batman, rising as a legend in Gotham City alongside his allies and foes. He is setting up the universe that other artists could easily pick up without needing a strict adherence to continuity. I suggested a trilogy involving Dick Grayson's arc from Robin to Nightwing, with maybe Barbara and Jason thrown in there as well. Those are great stories that Nolan has said he isn't interested in making. Maybe we can finally see a Batman visually more similar to the comics, with a fabric costume and leather mask/cape ala Dead End (with more money of course). I'm not suggesting a Silver Age Batman, as great as that would be, it lost its chance when Schumacher went over-the-top. It shows that even fans of Batman aren't willing to go back to the Silver Age incarnation of the character, the Silver Batman would've made a great sequel to Batman & Robin but that isn't what we need to follow on the Batman Begins trilogy. Which ever the case, Batman won't be in his chiseled youth, but more like his age in the comics, with a much older Gordon and a young Grayson. The Riddler, Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, the Joker and Harley, THE PENGUIN, are all great potential villains, and Batman's not lacking in number when it comes to antagonists. I think a trilogy like that would be great. And yes, for the first time ever, a Bat-mask with white eyes.

 

[ALP]

I also like Stallone for DKR. Also didn't think about Mickey Rourke...he'd be perfect. Both are very "Miller-esque."

 

[Nightmare]

Would the director of superman be directing. Cause id rather seen him do this over that.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

A comedic version of The Dark Knight Returns. We can finally get that Bill Murray Batman we were promised in the 80s.

 

[Charlie The Red]

I like the idea of an hour long series on HBO, that's episodic instead of just focusing on one villain at a time.

 

[lgi]

I would like to see a more comic book version of a Batman movie after Nolan. Nolan's work is amazing, but I don't think anyone should emulate what he did.

I want something that fits into a world with Superman. Have a Robin in there. Keep it mature, not campy, but with more of the DC universe infused into it.

 

[Savage]

I like the idea of an hour long series on HBO, that's episodic instead of just focusing on one villain at a time.

I'd love that and see it as a genuine possibility. Not only has plenty of comic book characters received tv shows but a lot of tv shows have spun off from movies (Stargate, Buffy) and even went on to be better than their original movies. I'd be 100% behind a show based on what Nolan set up the same as these other shows did with their respective movies.

 

[Charlie The Red]

I think it's the best way to explore other characters/villains that aren't necessarily "big" enough for the films. Also, it would be neat knowing there's a new Batman every week instead of every 3 to 4 years.

 

[Savage]

Like the 60s with the old show but taken seriously for a change. It can certainly be pulled off better than any other superhero out there with what can be done with special effects today. I'd love to have a Batman show to be excited to tune into again like when I was a kid.

 

[ALP]

If you guys are just talking fanboy fantasies that's perfectly fine but if you're speculating on a real Batman show coming to HBO, you're purely delusional. Warner Bros would never limit their audience. Go from a multi-billion dollar franchise on the silver screen to being viewed by only about 5 million people on HBO? Never going to happen.

 

[Boom]

Two words.

David Fincher.



If WB gave me even one Fincher-directed Batman film, I could die with absolutely no regrets.

 

[RustyCage]

A comedic version of The Dark Knight Returns. We can finally get that Bill Murray Batman we were promised in the 80s.

I'd much prefer this to a proper TDKReturns adaptation, frankly.

 

[Savage]

If you guys are just talking fanboy fantasies that's perfectly fine but if you're speculating on a real Batman show coming to HBO, you're purely delusional. Warner Bros would never limit their audience. Go from a multi-billion dollar franchise on the silver screen to being viewed by only about 5 million people on HBO? Never going to happen.

How about one of the channels under WB?

Man, the potential a show has...Never gonna happen though I guess so I'll just keep waiting on Green Arrow or somebody to take the serial format of the comic book medium to the serial format of the television medium.

 

[Savage]

Two words.

David Fincher.



If WB gave me even one Fincher-directed Batman film, I could die with absolutely no regrets.

Good thinking.

I think Michael Mann would also do a great job.

 

[bullets]

Two words.

David Fincher.



If WB gave me even one Fincher-directed Batman film, I could die with absolutely no regrets.

That would be one of my first choices but Fincher is against the idea of a superhero film , unless he was just half serious about it.

 

[Avengers-Report]

They will do a Batman Beyond movie lmao

 

[Homer J. Fong]

I like the idea of an hour long series on HBO, that's episodic instead of just focusing on one villain at a time.

That's something I have been thinking about a lot for years. I like the idea of doing one-off adaptations of the great graphic novels or min- or maxi-series, like The Long Halloween & Dark Victory or Hush or Arkham Asylum as films, but more than that, I love the idea of doing those adaptations for TV, over longer runs where they'll really be given room to breathe. And I love the thought of having a weekly live-action TV series that can take on a wildly different style with the next episode - do...I don't know, "The Joker's 5-Way Revenge" one week and start Arkham Asylum the next. That's not something I think would realistically happen with the film franchise. Above all, though, what I'd find really appealing about taking Batman back to live-action TV is that, if the show runs for a while, the longevity, and the depth that comes from that longevity, of certain relationships, can be better explored than they could in a feature. I'm thinking especially of Batman/The Joker, Batman/Catwoman, and Batman/Gordon. This is in addition to points that have already been brought up about being able to explore quirkier, smaller-scale villains, and also do smaller-scale stories in general.

I'm sure this isn't realistic either, because Warner/DC don't want to have their #1 comic book property "relegated" to the small screen after the massive success - financial and critical - of these Nolan movies. But as tempting as it may be to continue with the same tone and aesthetic of Nolan's work here (and it'd be tempting for me too), the answer to this "What happens next..." question is, "Something different." There's a lot of potential for a return to live-action TV, it doesn't have to be a come-down.

I wouldn't suggest HBO, though. I think maybe TNT, which I believe is owned by Time Warner, and I don't see this show having the sexual or violent content that means it neds to be on, say, HBO.

 

[namtaB]

I have no interest in seeing anything but a dark version of Batman. I think both Nolan and Burton achieved this in their respective fashions. Nolan primarily through story and exposition and Burton primarily through tone and visuals.

I hope that whoever WB taps to continue on with the franchise maintains the dark interpretation but through his own unique style. I've always felt a period Batman would be something that should be explored.

 

[Two-Face]

So I read Bale would consider a return evenif Nolan doesn't return for Batman 4. Maybe Bale likes Robin so his Batman would consider having a sidekick.

 

[Sky Captain]

A Batman show on NBC would do soooo much better than Wonder Woman and The Cape combined.

Combined.

 

[BatmanBeyond]

I'd love an animated series set to the tone of Nolan's Bat films. Kind of like BTAS got inspired by Burton's movies. I'd really be interested to see some of the other members of Batman's rogue gallery that won't be appearing in Nolan's films get 'Nolanized' in an animated series. I remember seeing the work of a member of these boards(Maggot I believe) with characters from Batman's rogue gallery in 'Nolanized' versions and being very impressed by it. I'd be very happy if we got something along those lines for a potential animated series.

As for a future live-action movie after Nolan, I'd also like David Fincher to be given a chance at directing a Batfilm.