The Dark Knight Rises The Official "What Do YOU Want in the Sequel?" Thread

[Crazy Flakes]

I want Black Mask or The Riddler. Not both because they wouldn't work well together, but one or the other. And of course a badass script.

 

[brinomite]

I'm not sure i would like to see the Riddler in a third film. Definitely no to Cobblepot. Maybe Black Mask could work since the mob is somewhat in shambles and Sionis attempts to take the reins. Talia al Ghul could be the way to go

 

[Jumpin' Jack]

Bruce dressed as Batman leaning over his parents grave asking for support
Catwoman
Redemption
Maybe Black Mask...

 

[brinomite]

^yea i suggested the grave motif on this thread earlier i think or maybe somewhere else...otherwise it would rock to utilize that large panel in the long halloween where bruce is literally breaking down in front of their graves. really powerful image if done correctly on screen.

 

[Jumpin' Jack]

Yes it would be very powerful
having him breaking down at the graves and the dawn coming out.

 

[ronny]

- No villains die

- No one else, at all, discovers Batman's identity

- Some mention of The Joker

- Introduction of both Roman Sionis and Tommy Elliot, but neither are villains yet. Just show them and establish that they were childhood friends of Bruce.

- An ending which somehow hints that someone is observing Batman, perhaps leading to Bane. Something to give fans an idea of what comes next.

- Short appearance of The Mad Hatter, don't explain motives or background. He's a sicko in a bizzare costume who Batman takes down at the start, that's all.

- If Catwoman is in this, then please don't make her too sexed-up. She should be sympathetic to the audience, she breaks the law and yet helps her community. We should like this character but not because she's an unrealistic sex-fiend.

- Riddler as an Antichrist-type figure. Someone powerful and charismatic but secretly driven mad by bitterness and obsession. Whereas Batman sticks to the shadows, Riddler should be media-savvy and deceptive. Always playing up the idea of Batman as a cop-killer.

 

[evilskillz]

^ Good ideas on the Riddler. Why can't any villains die? I know fanboys love to not see anyone die so they can come back in future installments, but it's usually less climatic if everyone lives at the end. I don't need to see villains in multiple movies, I think it detracts from the last movie they were just in. At least with scarecrow in the dark knight, he was mostly there to provide a more interesting introduction scene for batman. But he wasn't a character in the story, it was more of a cameo.

I would be fine if the Joker is treated like this, not so much cameo, but a mention of him or have him appear to be out there. But I disagree with your thoughts on villains dying, I think it's perfectly fine. The discovering identity is another thing people hold on to like the holy grail. I don't see much reason for anyone else to find out his identity in a 3rd film, but I'll let the story play out before I'm against it.

 

[ronny]

Villains shouldn't die. Because it's unfaithful to the source material.
As well as that, if a future director wants to bring back a character he'll be stuck. Killing off the villain is stupid all around.
Oh, and let's not forget the main point here: Batman does not kill. So...no villain deaths.

 

[Heisenberg]

I'd love Batman 3 to be somewhat of a Psychological Thriller. Nolan completely broke the mould with The Dark Knight, making more a Crime Epic than a superhero film... I think he should really step out from the parameters from the superhero genre types and push it as far as he can. I don't mean suddenly there's no Batman and it's all told in reverse with Bruce trying to piece together the meaning of existence or something, not that extreme, but it would be interesting to finally see the toll of everything that has happened to Wayne taking effect. Rachel's death, Dent's death, Joker's complete disregard for humanity, the city he's trying to save turning against him... it would begin to destroy his will and take serious psychological effect. Throw in Nygma, fascinated with trying to find who "the batman" is, and delving into who exactly would be able to do what Batman does, what kind of mind-set and experiences would drive someone to the point of becoming a vigilante, and you'd have an extremely intimate film about Batman (instead of it always being the lead villain) that could be really fascinating and a certain must-see for anyone who loves the Batman mythos.

Of course, Nygma's involvement and the subsequent manhunt for Batman would provide the superhero action/drama quota, but I'd like to see the small character stuff that Nolan touched on in BB and expanded on in TDK really take centre stage in Batman 3.

 

[Johnny Drama]

-a modern take on the classic black and gray Batsuit, made from a lighter material similar to the one used for Spiderman and The Fantastic Four suits.

-More tradional Batmobile, say Bruce converts his Lambo into the new Batmobile

-Black Mask, Ra's and Talia Al Ghul.

-Cliffhanger at the end resulting in the inevitable return of The Joker in part 4.

-No love intersest for Bruce.

-Batman VS 100 ninjas in the narrows...

-Bullock and Montoya

-another Scarecrow cameo



-

 

[brinomite]

Villains shouldn't die. Because it's unfaithful to the source material.
As well as that, if a future director wants to bring back a character he'll be stuck. Killing off the villain is stupid all around.
Oh, and let's not forget the main point here: Batman does not kill. So...no villain deaths.

But this brings up an interesting point...if we are to assume that in the original screenplay for TDK that Dent is in fact dead, albiet accidental, the blood is on Batman's hands to a certain extent. His intentions were pure, but this evokes some fashion of a utilitarian debate as to whether the means justify the ends and so forth. Anywho, i completely agree that in principle villains shouldnt be killed off, but in all fairness, some (like we saw in BB ala ras al ghul) essentially have to be killed off. However, his (ras's) death could potentially be redeemed vicariously through Talia if Nolan were to go that way. That has been my favorite (and often unappreciated or underappreciated i should say) aspect of Nolan's first 2 two Batman films is that there is a lot of ambiguity as to the villains fates. We're not sure what happens to Scarecrow at the end of BB, we're unsure about the Joker at the end of TDK, and Harvey's death?? Who knows?

 

[ronny]

But Batman didn't kill Dent.
We saw that Two-Face was suicidal, he didn't want to escape. Plus, he had been all over the city and in a car crash - not to mention the crippling pain he must have been in - and I would suggest that very little kept him on his feet during the hostage crisis.
Batman really didn't kill the guy.

 

[brinomite]

good point, but the fall certainly had something to do with it...excellent point though because he said there's no escape...anyway, i seem to recall someone saying who had read the screenplay that dent's neck was broken after the fall killing him, that's what i was referring to just for clarification. what im saying is there's still that level of ambiguity even there ya know?

 

[bat89]

I would love to see:

-Vikki Vale( beautiful reporter determined to discover Batman's identity; slightly reminds Bruce of Rachel).

-Rupert Throne ( new head of Gotham's organized crime families).

-Roman Sionis (Bruce's business rival who secretly works for Throne).

-The Riddler( i like the idea of him being a media hungry, young detective hired to find out Batman's identity).

-Catwoman (with Batman keeping a low profile, the crime rate in Gotham rises. Selena could be a rich socialite that takes it upon herself to fight crime. difference between her and Batman is that she's kills).

-Deadshot(hired by Thorne to kill Batman).

 

[evilskillz]

Villains shouldn't die. Because it's unfaithful to the source material.
As well as that, if a future director wants to bring back a character he'll be stuck. Killing off the villain is stupid all around.
Oh, and let's not forget the main point here: Batman does not kill. So...no villain deaths.

That is a terrible justification for what you think about villain deaths. Just because Batman doesn't intend to kill people with his own hands, doesn't mean no villain should die. This is a dangerous world these characters find themselves in, there needs to be all kinds of fatal consequences. It also has allowed Nolan to show Batman as a man without mercy, but also a man that tries to hold onto one moral ideal.

I go back to my point about climatic moments in film. It's very anticlimatic to have every villain live to see another day. There was a reason Nolan kept the Joker alive, he's such a good character that he wanted the possibility of bringing him back in the next film. That's one possibility, but I think it was really done to tell the story. It created a great moment with joker and batman not being able to destroy each other. It was as much a function of the story than about keeping the joker alive for the sake of doing it.

The reason Dent/Two-Face and Ra's are dead is because there is no reason to see them ever again (in the nolan universe). We got their stories played out in full even though many Two-Face fans don't want to believe it. Going back to my above point, their deaths also served the function of showing what Batman is capable of in this world. They shined beautifully and they died to serve the story and move it along further. It was important they died and it made the films more layered because they did. To just say no villain can die comes off as a fanboy rant that serves no purpose in telling a good compelling story. It serves the purpose of selling future comic books, but shouldn't be a rule in the context of a 3 film story.

 

[regwec]

My pitch-

- The Dark Knight Returns, condensed.

- Title- "Gotham".

- One year after the events of TDK.

Batman has fought a guerilla war against crime from the wrong side of the law. Gordon, now commissioner, has walked a difficult tightrope between using Batman, being used by him, and making a show of hunting him down.

Until Batman was apparently killed by Waylon "Killer Croc" Jones, a freakish lump of muscle who had set himself up as "King of the Mutants", with Arkham Asylum as his fortress. He has taken hostages. Batman should be shown storming the place in flashback at some point. The place is surrounded by SWAT, once again. In the final confrontation, both Croc and Batman were thrown from the Asylum roof. Neither body was found, though Batman's cowl was recovered. It now resides in Gordon's office.

Bruce Wayne is now becoming Bruce Wayne: broken, and directionless. He drinks. He sleeps with Brazilian models. He heals, but to what end?
he grows a beard.

Then, when walking a date from the Opera house, Bruce is accosted by half a dozen knife wielding Mutants. Clearly, this is a poignant moment. Bruce's date flees the scene, and the punks run in pursuit. There is commotion behind them. They wind through the narrow allyways, until the leader of the pack catches Bruce's girl by the ankle. The punk wrestles her to the floor, and attempts to unzip his fly at the same time. He shouts at his friends to hold her down.

He realises he is alone.

With a crash he is snatched into the shadows, and trussed high up over a fire escape.

A figure approaches, silhouetted against the urban glare. The figure takes the punk by the hair, and pulls his face to its ear.

"Your leader. Tell him he is no longer safe. Tell him...I am coming". It is Batman's growl.

The rest of the movie would follow roughly the direction of "The Dark Knight Returns", minus Superman. Killer Croc obviously takes the place of the Mutant Leader, and I would suggest that either Edward Nigma or Dr Strange take the part of the psychologist from that story. Important moments in the movie would include Bruce and Alfred throwing dusty sheets off all of the equipment in the refurbished Batcave.

The logical finale, I suppose, would be come with Gordon finally re-lighting the Batsignal, to the cheers of the wretched masses bellow.

Anyway, could work.

 

[Mister H.]

^ That's not bad. I'm not sure about a band of "mutants", but if executed properly, anything can work.

I'm interested in Killer Croc as well. People who say he can't be used in a Nolan film are underestimating Nolan. I'd like to see someone physically capable of going toe-to-toe with the Batman. I'm not a fan of Bane, so Killer Croc is the logical choice. I had thought of him as a pimp and drug kingpin who is rumored to enjoy eating human flesh, but that is a bit morbid for a Batman film.

 

[regwec]

The Mutants would be just the same sort of colourful youth gang that they were in TDKR.

I think Croc could be useful, too. His appearance in the "Joker" graphic novel was excellent (and better than The Joker's!).

 

[returntovoid]

-More tradional Batmobile, say Bruce converts his Lambo into the new Batmobile

I agree.

-Rupert Throne ( new head of Gotham's organized crime families)

Most of the Mob got killed in TDK, so I think Thorne can fit the Mob boss role.

 

[Mangelo]

With Batman being an outlaw, the third film would be the perfect opportunity for Nolan to further showcase Bruce Wayne's detective skills, as well as his reputation as a master of disguise. I like the idea of Rupert Thorne being a corrupt politician, who secretly runs the mob, and it would be great if Bruce Wayne infiltrated the mob as Matches Malone in order to tie Thorne to the criminal underworld. Nolan could have Bale in enough make-up that the audience is fooled for the first few scenes (kind of like he did with Bale in The Prestige). He could maybe bring Hugo Strange into the story as well.

I'd also like to see the return to Wayne Manor, an updated Batcave with the computer system in place, a new batmobile, and a trip to Thomas and Martha Wayne's grave site. I can also envision a Catwoman storyline overlapping the Thorne plot, and there would be plenty of room for a few rogue's gallery cameos (Penguin, Scarecrow, Croc, etc.). After reading Bermejo's The Joker, Killer Croc seems like a doable villain in Nolan's Batman universe. I could take or leave the Riddler, though I think Nolan could do something original with that character.

 

[Dark Knight]

I'd love Batman 3 to be somewhat of a Psychological Thriller. Nolan completely broke the mould with The Dark Knight, making more a Crime Epic than a superhero film... I think he should really step out from the parameters from the superhero genre types and push it as far as he can. I don't mean suddenly there's no Batman and it's all told in reverse with Bruce trying to piece together the meaning of existence or something, not that extreme, but it would be interesting to finally see the toll of everything that has happened to Wayne taking effect. Rachel's death, Dent's death, Joker's complete disregard for humanity, the city he's trying to save turning against him... it would begin to destroy his will and take serious psychological effect. Throw in Nygma, fascinated with trying to find who "the batman" is, and delving into who exactly would be able to do what Batman does, what kind of mind-set and experiences would drive someone to the point of becoming a vigilante, and you'd have an extremely intimate film about Batman (instead of it always being the lead villain) that could be really fascinating and a certain must-see for anyone who loves the Batman mythos.

Of course, Nygma's involvement and the subsequent manhunt for Batman would provide the superhero action/drama quota, but I'd like to see the small character stuff that Nolan touched on in BB and expanded on in TDK really take centre stage in Batman 3.

More of a psychological, mystery, detective thriller would be what the doctor ordered. It must have some epic fight and action elements though.

 

[Travesty]

-Is it just me, or do you guys want this movie to take place, oh I don't know, at around 5-10 years after the events from TDK? I want a more established Batman, and I'm kinda sick of the whole "well, this is Batman's first years" argument. Batman started somewhere, cool, lets see a full fledged, hides in the shadows, not intimidated by his "desires, fears, anxiety, etc" Batman.

-No more friggin love interest.

-Bruce thinking back to his parents death, and wanting to continue being Batman because of his PARENTS. You know, the reason why he's fighting crime to begin with.

-I would like to have the Bat-signal back, but I have no clue as to how they're going to write that in now.

-Bale having a better Bat-voice. Actually, scratch that, its not his Bat-voice the bugs me, but the way he growls in EVERY situation. Only use that for intimidation. If you're going to talk to Gordon, or whoever, then just have a whisper or a deeper voice that's easier to understand. I like the growl, but it was overused in TDK.

-Have either a new Tumbler or some kind of Batmobile. I really don't want to see him on the Bat-pod the whole time. It was alright at best, but The Tumbler is much more intimidating/badass.

-Make the suit look a tiny bit better. If they make the symbol bigger, use different gloves, and have the older style gauntlets, with more streamlined pants, I would like it a LOT more.

-Have him use more iconic Bat-gadgets this time. I want to see him throw some Batarangs, use his grapple gun to go up skyscrappers, etc.

-I want Gotham to look more corrupt and falling apart. I want it to look like Batman's war on crime is obviously evident, and no more "clean city" look.

Basically, I want more of the iconic presence that makes you think this is Batman and not real life. Having a realistic approach is cool, and Begins did an amazing job at it, but please show some Bat-atmosphere(Bat-mosphere?).

 

[The Joker]

-No more friggin love interest.

No thanks! Batman needs a love interest. Otherwise the movie will be a sausage fest.

Bring in a character from the comics this time. Batman has a plethora of female love interests to choose from.

 

[Travesty]

No thanks! Batman needs a love interest. Otherwise the movie will be a sausage fest.

Bring in a character from the comics this time. Batman has a plethora of female love interests to choose from.

Hehe, I don't mind a female character, but I really don't want another "oh yeah, I have a crush on you, so I'm gonna tell you I'm Batman/I'm gonna hang up my cape for you" kinda love interest.

 

[BestGirl]

No thanks! Batman needs a love interest. Otherwise the movie will be a sausage fest.

Bring in a character from the comics this time. Batman has a plethora of female love interests to choose from.

That love interest should be Catwoman. She's a villain but Batman loves her which makes for a fascinating quandary. Some people complain that Batman spent too much of TDK in the background but this psychological dilemma could turn the spotlight right back on him.