The Dark Knight Rises Ra's al Ghul

[Gamma Ray]

Is there any way he can return? Great character.

 

[General Vulcun]

If the next directing team wants to introduce the Lazarus Pit, then they can. That's assuming Ra's did die in Begins, though. We never saw the body, we only saw the train crash. For all we know Ra's bailed just in time and has gone back into hiding (to regroup the LoS or to heal). No doubt that he's going to return with a future creative team, but Nolan's stint with him is done, IMO.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I feel like it would be a "cheap parlor trick" to bring him back. That was the whole point of the end: he had to die.

 

[Mob1423]

i swear if you look closely you can see him jumping off the train. but thats just me. i only want Riddler and Black Mask

 

[wayneson]

Nolan's recent statements about "ending their story," as opposed to "forever blowing up the bubble" may indicate that everything comes full circle, w/o adding a lot of new characters to the story...Ra's could return, especially in a third act development - not a prediction, but it wouldn't surprise me too much.

 

[TourettesHaiku]

Is there any way he can return? Great character.

I always thought it was weird that Ken Watanabe’s character pretended to be Ra’s all that time Wayne was being trained by Ducard; it must have been months. Why pretend for months on end just for Wayne’s benefit?

Maybe Watanabe’s character was the real Ra’s but when he died his mantle was taken by Ducard, sort of like when the Pope or Dalai Lama dies, someone else takes their place.

It sort of fits into the whole Ra’s Al Ghul being immortal aspect of the character but in a more realistic way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9KorX9a4go

 

[BlueLightning]

Ducard was indeed Ra's. I think because he saw potential in Bruce Wayne,he invested his time with him. Like in the comics, he wanted a worthy succesor.

 

[TheBatman072]

I always thought it was weird that Ken Watanabe’s character pretended to be Ra’s all that time Wayne was being trained by Ducard; it must have been months. Why pretend for months on end just for Wayne’s benefit?

Because it wasn't just for wayne's benefit. It was protection for Ra's(Neeson). Ken Watanabe played an Ubu. Ra's group of loyal family bodyguards.

If you want to hide something, hide it in plain sight. If an assassin goes after "Ra's" then "Ducard" is free to kill them.

Liam was Ra's. Plain and simple.

 

[Doc Ock]

I would love to see Liam Nesson return as Ra's al Ghoul. But I don't see how in the Nolanverse.

 

[Doctor Who]

I would love to see Liam Nesson return as Ra's al Ghoul. But I don't see how in the Nolanverse.

If you get both Nolans on this, they can pull off anything unrealistic on the screen.

 

[Captain Panko]

I always thought it was weird that Ken Watanabe’s character pretended to be Ra’s all that time Wayne was being trained by Ducard; it must have been months. Why pretend for months on end just for Wayne’s benefit?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9KorX9a4go

I think it has more to do with the fact that Bruce hadn't yet gone through the fear test and the killing a peasant rite of passage. He wasnt one of them yet.

 

[ALP]

I would love to see Liam Nesson return as Ra's al Ghoul. But I don't see how in the Nolanverse.

Same here. I just don't see Nolan using the Lazarus pit. It would be great if Ra's returned one day, but i don't see it happening in this series.

 

[LightningFlash]

I always thought it was weird that Ken Watanabe’s character pretended to be Ra’s all that time Wayne was being trained by Ducard; it must have been months. Why pretend for months on end just for Wayne’s benefit?

Maybe Watanabe’s character was the real Ra’s but when he died his mantle was taken by Ducard, sort of like when the Pope or Dalai Lama dies, someone else takes their place.

It sort of fits into the whole Ra’s Al Ghul being immortal aspect of the character but in a more realistic way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9KorX9a4go

I believe this as well. If they continue the Nolanverse with a different director, then someone new portraying the Ra's al Ghul name could definitely show up. But, that also means that if a new director continues the Nolanverse and if they bring back Joker, they will be recasting him

 

[Caped Crusader]

I personally would like to see Ra's back

 

[Crook]

Holy s**t the "Ra's is just a name being passed down" theory has resurfaced. Why can't you guys just read the screenplay or pay attention to the damn dialog?

 

[Caped Crusader]

Holy s**t the "Ra's is just a name being passed down" theory has resurfaced. Why can't you guys just read the screenplay or pay attention to the damn dialog?

You mean to tell me that guy dressed in the Ra's outfit at Bruce's birthday party isnt the next Ra's!!??

Spoiler

 

[TheBatman072]

Holy s**t the "Ra's is just a name being passed down" theory has resurfaced. Why can't you guys just read the screenplay or pay attention to the damn dialog?

Yeah it's really, really sad.

 

[ALP]

Holy s**t the "Ra's is just a name being passed down" theory has resurfaced. Why can't you guys just read the screenplay or pay attention to the damn dialog?

This is true...but how do you explain the line where Ra's says "We sacked rome, burnt london to the ground, started the black plague, etc."

If he, Ra's, is just a single mortal man why would he say "we" did all of things that took place hundreds of years ago. If he were referring to the League of Shadows then that means he is not its founder and if the League did not begin with Ra's then it certainly won't end with him. There's your kicker.

 

[Crook]

This is true...but how do you explain the line where Ra's says "We sacked rome, burnt london to the ground, started the black plague, etc."

If he, Ra's, is just a single mortal man why would he say "we" did all of things that took place hundreds of years ago. If he were referring to the League of Shadows then that means he is not its founder and if the League did not begin with Ra's then it certainly won't end with him. There's your kicker.

You just answered your own question. Nolan skimped around the issue by never directly addressing it. The dialog throughout the entire film is pretty clear however.

You see Neeson acknowledging Bale when he says "or just cheap parlor tricks to conceal your true identity...Ra's". You can see him even smirking because he feels so proud of deceiving Bruce. You can hear Neeson telling Bale not to begrudge him of the whole dual-identity angle. I don't know how much more spoonfeeding people need.

 

[TheBatman072]

This is true...but how do you explain the line where Ra's says "We sacked rome, burnt london to the ground, started the black plague, etc."

If he, Ra's, is just a single mortal man why would he say "we" did all of things that took place hundreds of years ago. If he were referring to the League of Shadows then that means he is not its founder and if the League did not begin with Ra's then it certainly won't end with him. There's your kicker.

Because Nolan subtly hinted that Neeson's character, Ra's, might just BE immortal.

"Ah, but, is Ra's Al Ghul immortal? Or are his methods supernatural?"

That line, coupled with how he acted on the train when it was about ti explode tells me that he IS immortal.

No one facing death like that would act so calmly. He looked like he was just bracing himself for what he knew was coming and what he had experienced before.

 

[Gianakin_]

Holy s**t the "Ra's is just a name being passed down" theory has resurfaced. Why can't you guys just read the screenplay or pay attention to the damn dialog?

And people accuse Goyer that he's writing expository dialogues that treat the audience as stupid.

 

[The Demon's Head]

I always thought that Ra's Al Ghul's speech to Bruce about "sacking Rome and burning London to the ground" was supposed to hint that he is immortal, without explicitly saying it.

 

[Avengers-Report]

If he came back it would be bad for ticket sales. I bet WB won't let it. You need a Riddler, a big figure to market.

 

[KalMart]

I always thought that Ra's Al Ghul's speech to Bruce about "sacking Rome and burning London to the ground" was supposed to hint that he is immortal, without explicitly saying it.

His train car crashing horrifically and exploding...and his not coming back...pretty much hinted that he wasn't, though.

 

[Gianakin_]

His train car crashing horrifically and exploding...and his not coming back...pretty much hinted that he wasn't, though.

It was a very good way to get rid of him but leave his return open for a future comeback (in case the Nolanverse continues somehow). They could introduce a Lazarus Pit, they could have him be immortal. Nothing's ruled out.