Sure it’s obvious, especially in the post-BATMAN RETURNS, SUPERMAN RETURNS and THE MUMMY RETURNS universe and yes, it is a complete rip-off from the title Frank Miller used in the 80′s for the most important Batman graphic novel of all time, but, I still say this is the title to use.
If Warner Bros. want to make another $1 billion, then what could be better to arose interest? After THE DARK KNIGHT and how incredible that movie was this year, who wouldn’t be having wet dreams over a title like THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS?
Though at this point any other title is impossible to predict as whatever they choose it will have to relate to the theme of the film as mapped out by Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer. And so it’s a fruitless exercise really at this point as officially no third movie has even been announced yet.
Though BATMAN R.I.P. would have been a devilishly cool and fascinating title for the end of Nolan’s trilogy. BATMAN FOREVER was always a cool title, shame that can’t be used though I wouldn’t mind seeing BATMAN return to the title. Hell, if they are struggling what about just BATMAN or THE BATMAN?
It’s got to be better than BATMAN: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN.
Did I mention there was no news today?
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66 Comments
I think it will be called The Caped Crusader.
The Caped Crusader is a good candidate, as is The Dark Knight Returns. I think the latter, as you say Matt, will draw more people in just because of the name recognition to the recent film. I wouldn’t be surprised if either of those were choosen.
I think ‘The Caped Crusader’ would be legendary. This would mean that there would have to be some fixing with batman. Wayne Manners is almost done being rebuilt and is rebuilt near the middle scenes of the movie, meanwhile, Fox works up a new vehicle for the batman so he doesn’t risk himself being hit by bullets riding the bat-pod. He cooks up something cool and calls it, of course, the bat-mobile. They fix up Wayne Manners and Bruce gets a tour of the new bat cave. This is just awesome. New bat cave, new wayne manners, new bat mobile. i think a title like ‘The Caped Crusader’ would need something amazing happen in the movie like there has to be a new villain worthy of living in a title like that, and the most popular villain that comes to mind other than The Joker and Harvey Two-Face would be The Riddler or The Penguin. They have to choose one of these, and they will.
The Dark Knight Returns, IMO, would loose originality. There was ‘Batman Begins’ and ‘The Dark Knight’, and now there has to be another Batman title they would use to attract more people. I’ve always stayed away from ‘The Shadow of the Bat’, I don’t like that too much but it sounds like something Nolan would choose. There is also the moral they would have to cook up. The first movie was fear, ‘The Dark Knight’ was darkness and insanity, and this one should be batman having his secret identity threatened more, the moral should be redemption or partial redemption because Gotham is always wary of vigilance. What ever they choose it’ll be fine.
Dude,
it’s MANOR,
not Manners.
Wayne Manor.
Not Wayne Manners.
I think the Shadow of the Bat that I have been hearing on utube would be cool!!! Obviously they are already using posters!!! There has got to be some truth that they will be making a Batman 3, and Chris Nolan will be the director he loves the Challenge of topping the Dark Knight record sales.
The Dark Knight Strikes Again!
The Caped Crusader would’ve been cool for third film title, but TDK showed that it wouldn’t really work since Bruce wanted to give up being Batman so soon in his career. Not much of a crusade against crime. If Joker never came into the picture to screw things up, Bruce would just be doing the thing people expect he really does with his life.
How about Batman Is Gay?
LOL, your right dude, my bad. Wayne Manners? I don’t know what was going through my head. Sorry Wayne Manor.
The Caped Crusader would work. Who cares if he never wanted to do the job, he still has to do it no matter what because that’s what Gotham needs. He is the caped crusader, it’s not whether he wants to be it or not. It could be a ‘redemption’ title, if that is what they plan for the next theme. Nolan explained how his theme controls everything. Batman Begins, no offense, was a lame title when i first heard it. Now it’s super cool and it fits everything. It is going to build up into a crusade, Lencho, the film makers aren’t going to leave him being a vigilante with a motorcycle. It’s going to change (is my guess).
i think it should have an original title, w/out batman in the title like the dark knight, but still instantly recognisable. (obviously it would have to fit in with the themes…) but my vote would be for something like:
WAYNE VS. GOTHAM
save ‘the dark knight returns’ for when nolan and bale revisit the franchise in later years (a la die hard 4, indiana jones 4 etc.) and do an unforgiven-style batman comes out of retirement story (not adapted from the miller book, we all see the problems there…it doesn’t work with the nolan ‘verse but a LOOSE adaptation is possible)
The “Caped Crusader” is too campy and doesn’t fit anywhere into nolan’s realistic POV on the batman mythology.
Nolan changed the way we looked at batman with the first film, just like miller did with the dark knight returns. Nolan continued that theme with the dark knight, infusing noir into the story in a masterful way. He needs to complete the evolution of the character with the next film and bring about redemption.
But he also needs to offer us completion at the end of the third, since it won’t be likely that they will continue on. We need sense of the character’s place in the world, just as much as batman needs it in the film.
For me, the title for the third film has been there since day one of seeing the dark knight:
Once Upon A Time In Gotham
Talking about unrealistic and campy, ‘Once Upon a Time in Gotham’… ???? Do you think the dark knight would’ve been considered realistic?? NO!! because the movie was cool and it fit in with the theme! ‘The Caped Crusader’ would be just fine and it could fit in with the most likely theme of the next movie. Wayne VS. Gotham is also not the most likely one, but i see what you’re talking about. It does have to involve batman in the title because then people wouldn’t know exactly the next movie would be about. ‘The Caped Crusader’ is like ‘The Dark Knight’ in title likes. Again, do you think they would’ve put in Batman VS. Joker for ‘The Dark Knight’s title? no. not me.
Typo. I meant to say “Do you think ‘The Dark Knight’ title would be considered unrealistic?? NO!!
Batman Begins made me think of the previous batman films of the 90′s. That film wasn’t anything like those films.
The Dark Knight took me to the miller comic, which the movie mirrored in theme.
The Caped Crusader? Only Adam West and Burt Ward come to mind when I hear it. Sorry, it loses alot when I get that mental picture.
Dude, The Fallen is an old group of Transformers, so back off! =P
I think the best title would, and should be, is:
*DRUM ROLL*
BATMAN: Back in the Habit!
Haha, but seriously I think “The Dark Knight Returns” sounds like the most plausible title for a third installment.
IMO ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ is not a good title. Imagine it up on billboards ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ how original. The Mummy returns, Batman returns, superman returns. No. No no no.
I’m not saying ‘The Caped Crusader’ is the best title, it’s just the best one ‘so far’.
Oh Video Store Cowboy.
Batman Begins make me think of… batman. And of his beginning, believe it or not. whatever it’s going to be it’s definitely NOT going to be ‘Once Upon a Time in Gotham’. The funny thing is when you write, you can’t as easily tell if their joking or being serious. Hopefully you were joking on that title my friend! =)
The Dark Knight makes me think of… batman.
And guess what ‘The Caped Crusader’ makes me think of? … batman! you guessed it right. All the batman titles are part of the batman universe like it or not.
Right on, I’m winning…
it’s not winning if your support is only coming from one person…
LOL. No one is winning. This is a blog argument not a contest. =[)
But thank you for complementing my arguments??
Save the “Dark Knight Returns” for the inevitable adaptation of the book. It may take 20 years but hold the name. “The Caped Crusader” is just plain gay, no offense to anyone’s sexual preference. I would take “The Batman” over anything I’ve heard so far. Come to think of it, I’d take Batman 7 over anything I’ve heard so far.
‘The Caped Crusader’ is an awesome name. Frankly I thought ‘The Dark Knight’ was a gay name till saw the movie and now it’s all the hype. Let’s just wait. I’m sure they’ll come out with something cool.
THE CAPED CRUSADER brings up too many images of Adam West for my liking.
THE BATMAN works for me. And is it just me, or around the water cooler or with your mates, don’t you just refer to the next Batman movie as “the next Batman movie”?
Or, “What did you think of Batman?”.
Ya, so far the title names you guys have come up with suck. batman: back in the habit? Once upon a time in Gotham?? The Caped Crusader is the best one and it sucks!!! The Dark Knight returns also sucks because he isn’t returning! Why don’t they just name it “Batman” or something simple like that. Or if ‘m going to joke around with horrible nicknames why not call the next movie “The Adventures of Guano man” that’d be cool… =p (sarcastic)
Well done Jerry for being so mature.
I just hope it isnt something awful like B3tman.
LOL. B3tman. I don’t think they would do that =[). I’m sure they’ll do something cool.
Caped Crusader sounds like a title when Batman is officially a hero again. Another one of his titles is The World’s Greatest Detective. Now I know what you will think. No one is going to know what it is based on its title. So just put “Batman:” in front of it. Same for the the caped crusader.
Batman: The World’s Greatest Detective could be when the Riddler comes in and Batman puts his detective skils to good use.
With Batman: Caped Crusader he could probably face the mob, catwoman and probably black mask. and if possible Two-face assuming he never died
I think in a way though the whole point of ‘The Dark Knight’ was to circumvent the whole having-Batman-in-the-title thing. That film proved that a Batman film doesn’t need the word ‘Batman’ in the title: given it’s phenomenal success. It hints at a more mature franchise film; one that doesn’t rely on the fact that it is indeed part of a franchise.
Although returning to the word Batman in the title of a third film would hint at a fully formed character, is it really necessary? ‘The Caped Crusader’ also hints at this and more importantly, it is a phrase that has long been used in reference to the character. Plus, it is consistent. One thing I am positive of is that the title will not be any variation of ‘Batman:…’
Nolan wouldn’t go for something so mundane and obvious.
They use the name The Caped Crusader in not just the adam west franchise but in the animated series and in the old 1989 series. It’s something most people could figure out. It would also be mature.
The Caped Crusader is actually used in THE DARK KNIGHT, during the dinner scene where the Russian ballet dancer says…
“Maybe Harvey Dent is THE CAPED CRUSADER”.
Though, just say it to yourself. Say the title out loud. Tell it to your friends and try not to laugh by saying it.
I laugh every time I say THE CAPED CRUASDER.
I don’t get why it’s funny or camp at all. Seriously, why? People seem to have become obsessed with the fact that Batman, and particularly TDK, have gone all dark and dangerous and it’s almost like people think that a new title should do nothing but sum up that darkness (“The DARK Knight Returns”). The film itself will defend that style and tone, the title doesn’t have to. Did “Batman Begins” conjure up any of the noir-ish brooding that Nolan delivered?
I’m sorry, but all these people who are desperate to preserve the Batman franchise as one of the crown jewels of modern cinema are just a bit sad. “The Dark Knight” was sensational, but it isn’t a classic by any means – if only because it hasn’t been out of the cinemas for 2 minutes and will be back in them in 1!
Obviously it’s a passion that we all share to talk about films that we love – I will defend any one of my favourite films until death! – but those people who voted TDK as the 15TH GREATEST FILM OF ALL TIME! in Empire a month or so back are just taking things too far.
I’d like to think that by placing an advertisement for the film’s DVD release on the opposite page of the magazine, the editor was taking a little sideswipe at the ridiculousness of the verdict.
It’s Nolan’s baby, not ours. And I’m sure that he’s a lot more level-headed in his assessment of the franchise than most people seem to be.
BATMAN BEYOND
thats what i would call it and fits into nolan’s vision.
(P.S they need 2 make a sequel to superman returns not a re-boot, brian singer did a great job)
Cant wait for the third and final installment of nolan’s batman woop!
To I:
I have to disagree. I think we’ll see TDK stand out as the years go on as one of the best films of all time. And it’s not going to just hinge on ledger’s performance as the joker.
To Superman Returns:
You and I are in a minority. I loved singer’s vision as well. Though I have to admit this: if mark millar gets the chance to make his vision of superman, I want to see that. I want to see his ending on the big screen.
“KILL THE BATMAN”
I actually quite like Kill the Batman.
But I think there are some good titles in amongst the best Batman graphic novels that havent yet been mentioned. I think Batman: Knightfall is an awesome titles, as is Arkham Assylum, but I think that one would have to be down the line slightly when more villains have wound up locked away.
I think the best would be A Death in the Family, but again we need to be reintroduced to Robin for this to happen, and there would have to be at least some character development before he’s killed off, or else whos actually going to care.
FOr now though I think Knightfall has a good ring to it.
Video Store Cowboy: Whether or not you are right depends on one thing and one thing only; the passage of time, breathing space. And that is the one thing that no one could have possibly given the film, because not enough time has passed. The film hasn’t even won, let alone been nominated for any major awards yet. I’m not saying that it won’t, just like I’m not saying that it’s a bad film, but people are far far too eager to assign it legendary status and far far too soon.
TDK seems to be one of those rare films that garners almost universal critical acceptance as well as phenomenal commercial success, and this certainly points in the direction of ‘an all-time great’ film. But I’m sorry, it’s just too early to put it alongside the ‘Citizen Kane’s and ‘Godfather’s! By all means be fanatical about it – I am for god’s sake – but don’t act as if with one foul swoop Nolan has produced one of the greatest film’s of all time; such a claim can only be made years down the line when a film has stood the test of time. Am I really the only person that is thinking objectively about all of this? There must be someone out there who is willing to admit that whilst TDK was a hugely entertaining, exciting and extremely well produced film, people are just going a little overboard with their unrelenting praise of it.
With regard to Superman Returns, I too am willing to join the minority. I thought that the film was an absolute triumph; the use of colour was fantastic and the measured plot left ample room for character development and action set pieces alike. I realise that it wasn’t to everyone’s tastes being as it didn’t have as many explosions as a Marvel film but as a piece of cinema it was extremely well thought out and visually brilliant.
I,
I agree with you that it is too early for it to be considered one of greatest films of all time. In my opinion, in my own little world, I do believe it is the best movie ever made but you cannot compare it so early on to great classics like ‘The Godfather’ or whatsoever. But come on, you gotta look at why people just praise this movie. For me, who is absolutely obsessed with batman, I think this movie, down the line, will be considered in the top five, but not this soon. There is so many other films in the future that will blow people’s minds, including Batman 3 =), and it is too early to think that. But, if you want to get technical, it will be the best film of the year. Look! does it have any competition??
I’m more than happy to admit that it was the best American film of the year, at least out of those that saw a UK release. I have my eye on quite a few films that haven’t made it over from the states yet; Kauffman’s “Synecdoche, New York”, Tarsem Singh’s “The Fall”, Soderbergh’s “Che” and Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” all look like they will better TDK to me. Perhaps only “Che” will top it in terms of ambition and scale but visually “The Fall” and in terms of narrative “The Wrestler” certainly look like they will have the edge in my opinion.
I really don’t think that TDK will win Best Picture at the Oscars, just throwing that out there even though I didn’t do very well with my predictions for last year (I had “There Will Be Blood” for Best Picture and Deakins for Cinematography as dead cert’s). Even though I’ve long been disillusioned with the Academy, I think that they will favour something slightly lower-key. Heath will get Best Supporting Actor, I’m sure. But to be honest I don’t think all this Dark Knight mania will help the film’s chances one bit.
What film do you expect to get best film at the Oscar’s? Australia? just wondering seriously, I’m not asking jokingly or sarcastically.
I’m really not sure. It’s hard to say before the nominations come out but there’s a strong buzz for “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Frost/Nixon”, “Doubt” and “Revolutionary Road”. I’ve only seen “Frost/Nixon” of those and whilst it’s very Oscar-friendly, I don’t personally think it’s the best film of the year. “Slumdog Millionaire” has the foreign aspect and sometimes the academy like to go down that route (although admittedly more for actors than films). As for the others, I’m really not sure – I’d only be speculating.
I think that TDK and “Wall-e” might get the nod, but “Wall-e” has got Best Animated Feature in the bag if there’s any justice so they might keep it away from the big prize.
I won’t be watching “Australia”, not in a month of Sunday’s – it looks woeful. I’m sure it will win something though, probably nothing big.
Out of the films I’ve mentioned, I have only seen 3. And TDK is the best of them – it would get my vote. But what I’m saying is not that I don’t want it to happen, just that I don’t think it will. And in any case (as was my original point) I won’t just back it ahead of films that I haven’t seen just because it was awesome – other films have every opportunity to be better.
I know it’s a reductive point of view, and one that doesn’t do the film any justice whatsoever, but it’s the comic book / graphic novel thing for me (please, for the love of GOD don’t let this start a debate!) They haven’t chosen one yet and although TDK is the best one ever, I don’t think they’ll go for it. Even more Academy friendly pictures such as “A History of Violence” and “Road to Perdition” didn’t get a nod…
LOL. We’re off track. I still think ‘The Caped Crusader’ is the best fit name for the next movie because it has the batman quality to it. It isn’t campy or out o style and is used in Gotham in ‘The Dark Knight’ already. This movie will likely trail off at he end to make it seem like a fourth one would be made but not because batman will always keep going and going to save Gotham. They only need a trilogy. That would complete it for me and I’d more than love to see ‘The Caped Crusader’ be the next title.
I’d almost forgotten that we were talking about that… haha!
How about “Pissoff, Batman!”?
No? Not to your liking? oh well, i have a couple more!
Dark Knight: Redemption (Scrap that, reminds me of Alien: Resurrection)
Joker Returns!! (Le gasp! it almost works… one minor drawback, the mook who played The Joker topped himself.)
Lemme think now, I have it!
Let us forget Batman 3 all together and reshoot The Dark Knight replacing Ledger with Nicholson as The Joker, Bale with Depp as Batman and McG with Burton, With those three as the main cast it would be pure gold with a creamy gold filling served with golden waffles and topped off with a golden cherry.
I don’t want to hear any of that crap about Nicholson being “Too old!” either, i saw The Bucket List, that was Aces and you all know it, he could easily pull off The Joker (Sadistic version) with his eyes closed, hands tied behind his back and piranha’s chomping on his scrotum.
Deep down, at the very bottom of your hearts, where daylight never gets seen and a little Leprachaun is throwing his bags of gold at the walls of your left ventricle which causes your hearts to go “KA-THUD!” you all want to see Johnny Depp don the Batman cape and mask, don’t lie to yourselves, Jesus is watching… Mmhmm!
Yes, i realise that i got my directors wrong, i ment to say Nolan and instead typed McG, i was suppose to be saving him for reasons why they should of aborted Terminator Salvation before the first trimester.
Anyways, mistake corrected… TAKE THAT FILM NAZI’S!!!
The Caped Crusader
The Watchful Protector
The Silent Guardian
Gotham Returns
Batman: Riddles in the Dark
I think the caped crusader is a cool idea, but it dosen’t flow with the other titles. compared to the others its not as dark and gritty. It needs to stay in line with the other ones. And when they referenced to the caped crusader in the movie at dinner they were joking and kind of making fun. If you remember the dramatic speach at the end that Batman and Gordon have, its about him basicly becoming the villian or being whatever Gotham needs. the third will be about Batmans and Gothams redemption, Batmans redemption in proving he is the hero and Gothams redemption in knowing that Batman is the good guy. I’m not saying that it should be called Batman redemption but somthing inregards to that or along that line.
You guys are all thinking too hard: “The Victory Knight” or “The Dark Victory.” Follows the comic book plot. TDK = The Long Halloween. (Batman 3) = The Dark Victory. Either way, both of those are are way more ballin than anything you dudes came up with.
Yes, Ballin’! Quite…
whatever happened to “King of Gotham”?
no one will guess the title. who thought batman begins 2 would be caled ‘the dark knight’? nobody, that’s who.
‘whatever happened to the caped crusader?’ is the title of an upcoming nel gaiman batman story. i know it’s a mouthful but so is ‘the assassination of jesse james by the coward robert ford’, it could work…i’m not sure i lke the idea of just changing nickname
‘Whatever happened to the Caped Crusader’ is balls, man. I agree with fanboy d; ain’t no point in speculating because none of us will actually be right.
I doubt if we’ll see “knight” used again in this series — to make use of “knight” in a dual way once more in this series with a title like “Victory Knight” would be consciously self-referential. Nolan would never go for such a crassly marketable branding like that. And “the Caped Crusader” only works in an ironic throwaway reference like the Nolan’s used it in TDK. For the present day mood of Goyer and Nolans’ Gotham City, “the Caped Crusader” could only be something a writer would come up with, and it might take flight in the press, that’s believable, but we shouldn’t hear it in any other context — and if we don’t hear the words used together again in a Batman movie I won’t be let down.
* I’ll point out for any defenders of grammar that “the Nolan’s” requires no apostrophe.
I could see SHADOWS OF THE BAT for its allusion to the fugitive entity that Batman has become in the story. Or for an original title that follows the course of THE DARK KNIGHT in theme, I can think of two: DARK KNIGHT DELIVERED, or BATMAN REDEEMED.
It’s simple:
GOTHAM
That’s it. There’s your title.
Gotham Crusader would be a good idea
Batman Redemption. Nothing can beat that. Period.
How about just call it , THE BATMAN . simple, to the point, they should go for it.
How about they start using characters that kind of did’nt make it previous installations of the movie. Geez I mean make Bane what he is supposed to be and not a brain dead idiot like in B&R. Plus they could use some that have’nt even been in a movie. Scarecrow and Al Ghul was a good start.
I think it should be called….”THE CAPED CRUSADER”, alot of you have came up with really good title ideas too, so I also like some of your ideas as well.
I just personally think that the title should be something dark and epic, exciting. It needs to have some pazzaz to it, it’s gotta be really spunky, cool, something that’s never been thought of before. :)
Knightfall.
I can imagine it being called GOTHAM CITY. Another clue is that if you check out the titles registered for use on the sequel to Arkham Asylum, they use pretty much every combination apart from this very obvious title to sum up what appears to take place in the second game…
Batman Begins
The Dark Knight
Batman Ends
1.THE GOTHAM KNIGHT
2.BATMAN FOREVER
I love that this thread is still going more than 20 months after the post was made.
I like “Knightfall”, but I don’t see it being used due to the strong current of fan association with the ‘Broken Bat’ story arc from the comics.
“Batman Ends” isn’t going to be the title. “Batman Begins” was called “Batman Begins” because that is what the story was about, and the movie was being made to begin chronicling Batman anew on the screen. Batman won’t end, one way or another, so that title won’t happen.
You can forget about “Batman Forever”. The last thing Christopher Nolan and the producers want is for their series to be connected in any way with the ’90s films.
I feel strongly that the word “Batman” will figure in the title. Maybe with a colon after it, maybe not. “Batman: Redemption” would be my prediction, if I had to make one.