The Dark Knight Rises Should the Nolanverse Continue After Batman III?

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

I wouldn't be surprised if Bruce lays low for a while. "He's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now." The last big mob figure (Falcone) is dead, the corrupt cops have been weeded out in the GCPD, and Joker's locked up, while every two-bit hood is still scared, despite no sight of him. "You've got a bigger chance of winning the powerball than running into him!" Add that existing fear to a seemingly over-the-edge Batman and the criminal threat will be laying low for a while.

 

[Brother Jack]

Bruce set out to become Batman to stop the mob first and foremost. With the mob all but dead and cleaner streets at the beginning of The Dark Knight, he believes that the need for Batman is coming to a close. The Joker, Ra's, Scarecrow, the League of Shadows, and Two-Face were all just bolts of lightning in Gotham that have come and gone. He's not planning on other costumed psychos coming into his city.

The mob was destroyed and replaced with something worse. The Joker was a sign of what is to come to Gotham, whether Bruce is prepared for it or not.

He's fully Batman in TDK...he's even ready to stop with Dent being the figure that the city really needs. It's okay to treat the overall expanse of time in this movie version as different than what may be indicated in the comics. Heck...Dent was only Two-Face for a couple of days at most before he...died. Movies have a way of packing more stuff into a smaller package, so as Yoda says...judge not by size. Even though Yoda is...like....900 yrs old.....but you know what I mean.

Actually I think the fact that Bruce is naive enough to think Dent would allow him to retire shows that he isn't fully Batman yet, or that he hasn't fully understood his role yet. It isn't really until the end of TDK when Bruce thinks about being Batman forever, after those initial preconceived notions are shattered. Nolan's Batman has been about progress, and that isn't finished yet.

 

[KalMart]

The mob was destroyed and replaced with something worse. The Joker was a sign of what is to come to Gotham, whether Bruce is prepared for it or not.


Actually I think the fact that Bruce is naive enough to think Dent would allow him to retire shows that he isn't fully Batman yet, or that he hasn't fully understood his role yet. It isn't really until the end of TDK when Bruce thinks about being Batman forever, after those initial preconceived notions are shattered. Nolan's Batman has been about progress, and that isn't finished yet.

You could look at it that way, too, I guess. But I still think that this Batman is fully developed as Batman by TDK, and the overall story is set up for a third and final act. If it happens to include the end of the hero's journey, then it won't be out of place or too brief if the story is told well. Maybe Nolan's version of Batman doesn't go on for 20-30 years....if that's the case, then that's just his version and we can watch and enjoy it for what it is...or just refuse to watch it altogether. I'm probably going to choose the former, because I've liked what he's done with the first two, and I'm completely open to whatever alternative directions he wants to take (or end) the character. It isn't finished yet...but maybe it will finish in this last film. If so, then so be it....short and sweet.

 

[Brother Jack]

In TDK Batman didn't have the completed mansion or bat-cave, any vehicles other than the bat-pod, the well established rouges gallery, a Gotham that had fully escalated to the point of masked psychos taking over the criminal element, or (most importantly) the realization that his mission is probably unending and he himself needs Batman as much as the city does. It's safe to say the character hasn't completed his origin arc yet, and that in the next film he will (and have many of the things I listed).

 

[KalMart]

In TDK Batman didn't have the completed mansion or bat-cave, any vehicles other than the bat-pod, the well established rouges gallery,

He had most of it in BB, and two vehicles by TDK...that was plenty. We don't have to spend too much time in there to get what it's about.

a Gotham that had fully escalated to the point of masked psychos taking over the criminal element, or (most importantly) the realization that his mission is probably unending and he himself needs Batman as much as the city does. It's safe to say the character hasn't completed his origin arc yet, and that in the next film he will (and have many of the things I listed).

Again, it seems you're paralleling this with the comics...even though it is based on a comic, it's not there to mirror the format. As self-contained stories in those films, they cover more than enough time and material to fulfillingly end a journey with one more film. there;s lots of other things that Batman does and other characters that we may know of as fans but never see in this series...but that's okay, it doesn't have to cover all those bases. It's okay if this version of Batman will only be active for around ten years as long as the story about those ten years is done well. Even if Batman's tenure isn't unending, perhaps the inspiration that he wanted to give Gotham is.

So with BB we have the origin, in TDK we have the meat of it and the turning point, and in the next we'll have the resolution..and perhaps the end. Maybe Batman won't stop being Batman, but I would indeed like this to feel like the end of this particular tale, and for others filmmakers to respectfully leave it alone. But if this Batman does indeed end in this chapter that's fine too as long as it's good....there's certainly nothing about the first too films that excludes that from happening, narrative-wise. At least that's what I'm looking to get out of these movies, not a life-long companion or what have you.

 

[Brother Jack]

Again, it seems you're paralleling this with the comics...even though it is based on a comic, it's not there to mirror the format. As self-contained stories in those films, they cover more than enough time and material to fulfillingly end a journey with one more film. there;s lots of other things that Batman does and other characters that we may know of as fans but never see in this series...but that's okay, it doesn't have to cover all those bases. It's okay if this version of Batman will only be active for around ten years as long as the story about those ten years is done well. Even if Batman's tenure isn't unending, perhaps the inspiration that he wanted to give Gotham is.

I realize these are self-contained stories, but I think what Nolan is doing with them is telling Batman's early years. He's taking things that have been done in hundreds of comic books and condensing them, spearheaded with specific stories like Year One and The Long Halloween, which are about the Bat's early days. I think this trend will both continue and conclude with Batman 3.

 

[KalMart]

I realize these are self-contained stories, but I think what Nolan is doing with them is telling Batman's early years. He's taking things that have been done in hundreds of comic books and condensing them, spearheaded with specific stories like Year One and The Long Halloween, which are about the Bat's early days. I think this trend will both continue and conclude with Batman 3.

Nah, I think that for his version, BB WAS his early years, and TDK are the middle ones. But even if they feel like the early years to you, maybe his version of Batman only HAS early years, and doesn't continue as Batman after this next movie. Would you be okay with that, as long as they're good movies?

 

[Artistsean]

I would say no, just like Brave and the Bold was different enough from Timm's Batman, the next several Batman films should be different.
maybe give the movies a lighter tone or less realistic, allowing for things like Clayface or Mr. Freeze, maybe Batman not wearing rubbery armor.
Since the Nolan films have re-established Batman in the films, maybe now we can get more comic booky elements like the Batmobile, Batcave, Robin and Batgirl, and various other elements like that.
It could be like when a different actor and director takes over a James Bond film, or when things changed in the various batman films or when they switched stuff for the Hulk or Punisher.

 

[ALP]

While I also love the comic book elements, some of you are acting as if Nolan stripped Batman down to almost nothing lol.

He had the Batmobile, it was in the form of the tumbler. The batcave is there, it will probably be fixed up with Wayne Manor in B3. Hopefully we'll even see things like a computer and such in the batcave. He had the batpod/bike and all of the gadgets he needs.

 

[Two-Face]

I wanna see giant computer screen like in TDK or one in BTAS. I agree Alp everything is there, it's Nolan version.

 

[terry78]

I think some of us want those more fantastical elements that he had, like the more sci-fi/supernatural villains, the huge, eerie gothic backdrops from the batcave to the asylum, etc. Truth be told, they are feasible, but Nolan is just not a fan, and some fans agree with his stance as well. I guess guys like Mr. Freeze and what not would come off more old school James Bond-ish.

 

[aty990]

The Bat-Wing would make a fine addition. Does Gotham have an airforce? If it does then I'd love a dog-fight between Batman and the gotham airforce or patrol though this great idea may not work.

 

[KalMart]

I don't think any US city has their own air force.

 

[ALP]

A bat-wing is definitely possible in Nolan's universe. It probably wouldn't be as sleek as it is in the comics but I could see one that looks similar to a small military aircraft. Remember, Wayne Enterprise had a contract to build equipment and transportation units for the military which is where all of Bruce's other gadgets and such come from.

 

[DavidTyler]

No vague reboot. I love Nolan's take on the character. It doesn't have to end with Nolan's exit. Just get a new director who 'gets' the character and Batman's world. As long as there are people like Goyer who bring the comics history of the character and a director like Nolan who wants to make the character fairly believable, it could be a seamless tranistion.

 

[TheBatman072]

A jet black Predator Drone modified to fit a passenger would be perfect for a BatPlane.

 

[KalMart]

Batwing

 

[KalMart]

No vague reboot. I love Nolan's take on the character. It doesn't have to end with Nolan's exit. Just get a new director who 'gets' the character and Batman's world. As long as there are people like Goyer who bring the comics history of the character and a director like Nolan who wants to make the character fairly believable, it could be a seamless tranistion.

It doesn't have to be a vague reboot.

It can be a complete reboot. And people like Goyer or anyone who 'gets' the character can do their own version with it. It doesn't have to end with Nolan's exit...but it should. It's not that Nolan owns Batman, but he should solely own, creatively, this particular version of it....he's earned that.

 

[Brother Jack]

He had the Batmobile, it was in the form of the tumbler. The batcave is there, it will probably be fixed up with Wayne Manor in B3. Hopefully we'll even see things like a computer and such in the batcave. He had the batpod/bike and all of the gadgets he needs.

I never said he didn't have a batmobile, just that some elements like the completed bat-cave (the one in Begins wasn't finished) and the restored manor were not put in place yet and that they would be in B3.

 

[Mike_D202]

Nah, I think that for his version, BB WAS his early years, and TDK are the middle ones. But even if they feel like the early years to you, maybe his version of Batman only HAS early years, and doesn't continue as Batman after this next movie. Would you be okay with that, as long as they're good movies?

I respectfully disagree. At the end of BB, the Joker was introduced (kind of) and it continued with TDK, it was just a short period between movies. Maybe a few months (if that).

He's still telling Batman's early years and sculpting him into the character he will become. After Nolan is finished with HIS storyline, you KNOW the studio will want to make more. If Nolan doesn't want to come back, whomever they get to replace him will stay true to Nolan's universe (I'm sure the studio won't make another Shumacher mistake). Just too much money to lose.

 

[KalMart]

I respectfully disagree. At the end of BB, the Joker was introduced (kind of) and it continued with TDK, it was just a short period between movies. Maybe a few months (if that).

He's still telling Batman's early years and sculpting him into the character he will become. After Nolan is finished with HIS storyline, you KNOW the studio will want to make more. If Nolan doesn't want to come back, whomever they get to replace him will stay true to Nolan's universe (I'm sure the studio won't make another Shumacher mistake). Just too much money to lose.

Again, I don't think it's the number of years that's the measuring stick here, and it felt more like a few years in between than just a few months....as I recall, one of Gordon's kids was a baby in BB. It's more about the dynamics and pacing of the stories together...and TDK very much feels like the middle act of a three-act set, setting up a climatic third and final one...even if it only spans 7-10 years of Batman in total.

But anyway, of course WB will still want to make money off Batman, that's a given. They also wanted to keep making money after Batman Forever, too. But it's not just about continuing Nolan's continuity...what made these movies good is his creative direction...so even if you continue with the continuity, you're not getting him and his storytelling, and you're cornering the next filmmaker into feeding off of someone else's storyline. I know that there's a financial incentive, and from a fan's perspective you just want more Batman. But creatively, it'd be nice if this set of films could keep their own unique identity across the board and not be associated with other versions before or after.

I look at it as a special edition set of graphic novels that take an alternative approach to the character and storyline, and when it's done, it's done...while other versions of Batman can continue doing their thing with no connection to that set of graphic novels whatsoever, aside from also being about Batman. WB should take a break from Batman after the next Nolan film for at least a good 6-7 years while developing their other DC characters, then reboot the Batman world again with a fresh new take, different from what the Nolan movies did across the board.

 

[Original Spawn]

The Dark Knight takes place some months after BB, don´t you remember the joker saying that 1 year before that time the batman didn´t exist and the mob was free to do whatever they wanted? THE DARK KNIGHT is still year one.

 

[Gianakin_]

Plus, the whole deal with Gordon's kid being a baby in BB should be handled like the Rocky V situation, where Rocky's son was an infant in IV and a teenager in V (Rocky V took place several minutes before Rocky IV).

 

[Original Spawn]

But gordon´s baby may have been a young barbara gordon, she appeared younger than gordon´s son in the dark knight

 

[Gianakin_]

She had long hair, which means she was at least 5. It's no big deal, they just cheated a little to serve the script.