Chris Nolan has officially left the Batman film universe and has had his final say on The Caped Crusader, delivering a giant-sized epic of a finale with The Dark Knight Rises that although wasn’t perfect, was an exhilarating and breathtaking experience to behold. It was so large-scaled, so massive in scope and ambition that it is almost hard to see how anyone can take the Batman character on film forward from here… but forward it must go. “Batman must endure” as Alfred advises in The Dark Knight and we all know he will be back on our screens in a matter of years.
One of my favourite Batman titles (and I mean just specifically the title) is Joel Schmaucher’s 1995 film Batman Forever. It has a mythic, timeless quality that is so befitting of the character who has existed in popular culture for over nine decades, much longer than I imagine 99.9% of the people reading this article have been sucking air and he will live on for 100% longer than our own lifespans. Batman will live on, artists will be telling his story, re-telling his origin and finding new ways to develop the character long after everyone has forgotten about us.
Batman is not a fad. Perhaps in ten years, new movies involving the character won’t hit the $1 billion mark like they are currently but there will always be films that pull in over several hundred million dollars and that, for good or bad, will be dominating the filmic discussion over the summer months whenever there is a new movie about The Caped Crusader.
The Dark Knight Rises is not the end… it is simply the beginning. A new dawn is coming and a new Batman movie is inevitable and the way Chris Nolan and Warner Bros consciously ended The Dark Knight Rises shows us that, unlike The Amazing Spider-Man, the next movie will most likely be a continuation, Batman 4 rather than Batman 1 if you get me.
With that in mind, here’s ten things we want to see…
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78 Comments
Sorry dude, but adding to Nolan’s universe just takes away from this trilogy. JGL was great, but some times you just have to let somethings go. Trying to continue where Nolan left off is like Terminator 2 having a sequel. Just plain dumb.
How would you go about it Agent M?
They should leave it and then come back, ala Superman Returns, in 10-15 years and do a Dark Knight Returns title with an older Bale and Nolan. The problem is a) they already did a little bit of TDKR in, um, TDKR, and b) they’ll never wait 10-15 years. I just hope that they RETURN to this continuity one day.
waiting 15 years is the dumbest thing they could do. we have to remember that this is also a marketing deal for warner brothers. they have built a franchise in which will make them billions of dollars. Continuing Nolans story is the best way to keeep adding to the franchise. Starting again would create boycots from nolan fans. The only way to do it is to continue
“The Dark Knight Returns is by far the most expected film title for the next Batman entry.”
according to you and absolutely nobody else.
A. Dark Knight Returns is the next DC Animated movie
B. you’d have to be beyond stupid to think Warner Bros would release the next Batman reboot using THE DARK KNIGHT in the title after 2 of Nolans 3 movies had it in the title and that its known as “the dark knight trilogy”. yeah that wouldnt confuse viewers at all, would it???????
and 95% of these suggestions are completely pointless since Nolans movies are DONE, this was confirmed like a year ago, genius!!!
“Who is to say that Bruce Wayne has actually retired and given up the cape and cowl for good?”
ummmmmm the ending of the movie and trilogy AND Christopher Nolan AND Christian Bale
Seriously, get a clue before writing next time
Dan,
Of course Warner Bros want to use “The Dark Knight” in the title. Those three words now signify to audiences an epic Batman movie and the best movie of the summer. The Dark Knight made over a billion dollars, the sequel will make the same. The whole reason they used The Dark Knight Rises as the sequel title is so that it came across as an obvious sequel. Believe me, if they do another movie in this universe and there is a way to incorporate “The Dark Knight” into it, they’ll do it.
The most obvious to me is “The Dark Knight Returns”. Nothing else fits so well.
And I know Nolan is done. If you read the article you will see I mention this several times. That does not mean in the slightest Warner Bros won’t make a continuation.
theres a specific part in TDKR that i didnt pay attention to until now. After Bruce Wayne goes bankrupt, gets his car towed and etc.He gets a ride from John Blake, while hes in the car with blake. Blake explains how the city needs a hero like batman. and bruce wayne explains that “anybody can be batman” which could mean that robin becomes new batman, after the way the film ended..
If it was up to me, this is how I would do a new batman movie. I wouldn’t base it on the Nolan trilogy. It was an awesome set of movies, but you can’t really continue on with the way Nolan capped it off. I would do it like how the DC universe is now. 52 different universes. Nolan’s movies are like Batman: Earth One. More grounded, real to life. The new movies should be in the regular DC universe, that way you can trail it into the Justice League movie. Now I know it might be a little confusing to the casual Batman fan, it could be explained pretty simply. This way we could get the Batman from the comic books, and Nolan fanatics can keep their slightly overrated movies.
Fun read, but NONE of your theories will come to fruition. Nolan is done with the franchise,thus WB is done with it’s continuity. Simple as that. WB next move is to make a Justice League film, and i believe Man of Steel to be the first building block towards it. We are not going to get some convoluted introduction of a Joseph gordonLevitt Batman in such a film. The TDKR ending was intended to show that Nolan’s universe will live on in the mythical sense, much like Batman Begins (and Year One’s) ending was originally intended. Is a RISES sequel possible? Sure, anything is possible. But it’s entirely unlikely, and all but guaranteed to cause more problems paving the way for Justice League. Think about it… would Avengers have worked with War Machine instead of IronMan? DOUBTFUL.
I wouldn’t say the introduction would be convoluted. I would say he is half way to taking up the mantle.
I do agree Man of Steel is the first building block towards Man of Steel but there is no reason why The Dark Knight Rises sequel couldn’t be the second or third building block. Remember, the only person against it at Warner Bros was Chris Nolan and he’s gone now….
Some things, especially in #1 about finding the right writers/directors etc. are spot on, but… are you serious? It has been made explicitly clear that this continuity ends with TDKR, and there is absolutely less than zero chance of a Blakeman movie ever being made. Bruce taking care of old friends and moving on with his life, and Blake taking up the mantle, was a solid way to end the film, but Blake’s adventures as Batman are to be left at the audience’s imagination.
The TDKR sequel… is a reboot.
Hmmmm, I wouldn’t be so sure. I feel something like The Bourne Legacy happening here.
You could be right for sure but if you talk to 95% of those who left The Dark Knight Rises, they are expecting the story to continue with Blake. They don’t read the internet, they don’t know a reboot is planned. They saw a movie that in their mind setups Blake for the Cape and Cowl and that’s what they are expecting to see.
I have to imagine if WB wanted a clean slate, they wouldn’t have ended with such a tease.
For a start, Joseph Gordon-Levitt won’t be taking up the cape and cowl any time soon I wouldn’t think. For a start TDKR clearly left off with the impression of Blake being Robin. My opinion is that it has left the movie open to the imagination. The problem I have is that if Bale isn’t going to be Batman you can’t continue this series of films. Period. My only other thought would be for a Robin spin-off but it seems for too risky as a standalone franchise to me. I love the Nolan Batman films like pretty much everyone. But perhaps we should just be grateful that for once someone has made a trilogy of truly great films (take note Matrix, this is how it’s done) and be done with it for a while.
“If Bale isn’t going to be Batman you can’t continue this series of films. Period”
“TDKR clearly left off with the impression of Blake being Robin which has left the movie open to the imagination.”
“My only other thought would be for a Robin spin-off but it seems for too risky as a standalone franchise to me.”
these are the ONLY things people should be saying about the films ending, not this pointless speculation which makes no sense and isnt being remotely considered. It’s the end of Nolan, Bale and the entire story.
blake (if there is a sequel) will not be robin. he will most likely be nightwing based on the nightwing symbol on his arm at the end of tdkr. Plus nightwing is way cooler than robin, even Arkham City’s robin
NoOoo… No sequel. If it ain’t broke, Don’t fix it!!
So you saying no sequel because the films are so good and the formula works that there shouldn’t be anymore?
Completely confused by your comment.
No, I think what he meant was that the way the trilogy was conceived, the way the marketing and all stuff related happened during the final installment, the way the movied ended, and other things, it doesn´t NEED a sequel.
Sorry for being skeptical at this point, but without Nolan´s guide, the essence of the movies would be lost, resulting in some hybrid thing, like it was with those two Batman movies (Forever and Batman and Robin)
The thing is done…i know it´s not going to be like this, but they need to wait some years, like 10 or more, and reboot it! With another approach (not the realistic one by Nolan´s)
Do you like snickers? Do you think a snickers is broke? No? But you will want another eventually. Shut up
Matt, I agree Nolan’s third film used The Dark Knight in the title to cash in on the huge success of the second film, I don’t think anybody can deny that.
But considering these hugely important facts and I really cant see how there can be even a thought being given by WB to continue in this world with any of its characters:
- Nolan’s trilogy ends with Batman having sacrificed his life to save gotham and being forever remembered as a hero alluding to the fact that no one will ever take up the name of Batman again, this is implied even further as Robin John Blake will become Gotham’s new hero and clearly as the name implies has no intention of becoming Batman.
- Bruce Wayne’s journey throughout all 3 films came full circle with him taking Alfred’s advice and finally finding peace and being able to let go of his demons. Because of this, to continue the story in this world would automatically mean there would be no Bruce Wayne involved whatsoever.
Both these crucial plot points and the entire conclusion of the trilogy leave absolutely no way to continue in this world unless they drop both the character of Bruce Wayne and Batman and instead focus solely on Robin John Blake’s character and I think we can also all agree that the end of the trilogy was just supposed to allude to what he will become and is much more powerful not being seen any further, which is exactly the way Nolan wanted it to end.
Also, considering that a Justice League movie is coming, Batman will need to tie in to this much bigger DC Universe that is clearly being developed and again there wont be any Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne/Batman to even join.
Surely you have to agree that absolutely everything points to a complete reboot. Personally though I would love for them to again use a title perhaps without Batman in the title with something like The Caped Crusader and keep it very grounded like Nolan’s universe.
Why are you so sure Blake wouldn’t become Batman? I don’t think any of us can say that for sure. Calling him Robin was a nod to the name of the character in the comics but he isn’t Dick Grayson. He is part Grayson, part Jason Todd, part Tim Drake. It was simply a nod to the Robin character who is taken under Batman’s wing.
In the comics Henri Ducard is not Ra’s Al Ghul. If a director wants Blake to be Batman, there’s no stopping this from happening.
Bruce Wayne’s journey as a character isn’t over until he is dead.
No I don’t at all see where you are coming from on the complete reboot thing. I don’t think they would have ended the last movie the way they did if there wasn’t a big chance Blake will be the main focus of the next movie.
There are infinite possibilities with the end of The Dark Knight Rises. We may well never see Bruce Wayne again…. but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a sequel.
And it also doesn’t mean the sequel can’t tie in to the Justice League.
“They saw a movie that in their mind setups Blake for the Cape and Cowl and that’s what they are expecting to see.
I have to imagine if WB wanted a clean slate, they wouldn’t have ended with such a tease.”
But that’s EXACTLY how they wanted the story to end. With a tease that this world and this story will continue, we just wont see any of it because it wont be Batman and the whole point of Nolan’s trilogy was that it was BRUCE WAYNE’S story, not Batman or whoever might take it up after him but Bruce Wayne finally finding peace and happiness and at the same time letting the audience know that he inspired others to carry on his work and continue to fight injustice.
You gotta see the bigger picture behind the theme of this story they were telling.
Warner Bros are smart enough not to tease something they won’t deliver. It is the worst thing in business to do. Set the audience up for something and swerve them by delivering something else.
Can you imagine if they didn’t follow up Batman Begins with a story about The Joker after the way that movie ended?
You should watch the original trilogy again. The Dark Knight was as much about Harvey Dent and Gordon as it was Batman. In many ways he has made Gotham the main character of his movies.. it is the heart of these films.
I imagine the next movie will be Batman Forever to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns. A sequel, a movie in continuity but with significant aesthetic and tonal differences with some of the cast carrying over.
I also believe they could re-cast Bruce Wayne if they wanted. In the comics he would never leave Gotham permanently… and in the film universe what I would do is, as mentioned above, have him return as Blake suffers to live up to him.
“Can you imagine if they didn’t follow up Batman Begins with a story about The Joker after the way that movie ended?”
first of an expected trilogy, completely different. And even then, Nolan’s gone on record and said while they were filming batman begins “we should never assume we’ll be lucky enough to make a sequel” so if the movie flopped everyone would be saying “its a shame we wont get to see another movie with these actors but it was cool to have that nod to The Joker so we know that Batman would have gone to fight him in the next one”
“I imagine the next movie will be Batman Forever to Tim Burton’s Batman Returns.”
that would simply be absolute eye rape. What they did by doing a dark tim burton style batman movie which wasn’t at all for kids and then following that up with cheesy villains, bat-suits with nipples but still keeping the same Alred, Gordon etc was the single worst idea ever since the first 2 movies and the second 2 shared absolutely no similarities in tone, design except for those few supporting characters, but no one is considering continuing/semi-rebooting anyway so its irrelevant.
“I also believe they could re-cast Bruce Wayne if they wanted. In the comics he would never leave Gotham permanently”
Ummmmm comics go on forever, thats why every superhero never dies or does die and gets resurrected, never leaves their home town etc. Nolan’s trilogy is supposed to depict one mans REAL LIFE from sad child to adult who finally finds happiness all in one complete 8 hour story from beginning to end.
really should have thought about that one before speaking
Your first argument actually further pushes forward mine. By what you say, you change the words to this;
“its a shame we wont get to see another movie with these actors but it was cool to have that nod to Robin so we know that it would have been him in the next one”
You are actually arguing my own point! You say people would believe it was a shame that they setup The Joker for the Batman Begins sequel but if the box office was bad we wouldn’t get to see it. So by that token, they tease The Dark Knight Rises, the box office is golden… let’s see it!
You took my comments too literally. Clearly I’m not saying The Dark Knight Rises should be influenced by Batman Forever specifically. I am clearly saying they could modify the tone of the Batman universe from here (AND NOT TO THE CAMP AND NEON THAT WAS BATMAN FOREVER… don’t be confused by what I am saying), change a few of the actors who don’t want to return and keep those supporting players that do.
As for your first reply, yeahhhhhh um no offense but I was just trying to explain the FACTS of what theyre going to do in the most straightforward, easy way possible. you can disagree with all your completely illogical solutions of what you think they’ll do next and completely ignore what they set out to do by ending Bruce Wayne’s story and the ending theme of the entire trilogy and somehow be clueless enough to think the nolan universe has any way whatsoever to incorporate itself into a justice league movie (when it doesnt because this world is DONE) so i’m just gonna do the smart thing and shut up and wait until they announce the next reboot/justice league tie in to do the speaking for me and then you can put your insane theories to rest ; )
Hey they could decide to do a full reboot. They may very well decide to do that.
But if they do, they should have thought of a better ending for The Dark Knight Rises…
Firstly, to Dan, you really are a smarmy piece of work. Argue like a man and stop being so condescending. You are not firmly correct in your opinion. Honestly, everything atm is speculation so nothing can be definitely ‘wrong’ as of yet. I believe it is possible to add to the continuity of Nolan’s world. Just because a director chooses to leave should not take away from the art. And that’s what this world has become- art. In the same way that Bruce has passed on his symbol to Blake, metaphorically, Nolan is passing his mantle on to someone else as well. Anyone can be Batman because Batman is a bigger idea than the man and in a similar way, the film- the art- is a bigger concept than the director. Anyone can add and continue this film’s world as long as they understand the character and the mechanics of a realistic Gotham and respect the continuity. In my opinion, and I’m not saying it’s right- but I very much doubt they would have devoted so much screen time to Blake if it was just for kicks. It enabled us to build up a rapport with his character as well as creating viewer intrigue as to what he will do next. So I’d say he was a possible contender for a sequel ONLY if they want to produce another Batman film soon. Besides, it’d be stupid to reboot yet again… Origin stories get tiresome after a while- just look at The (not so) Amazing Spider-Man for example.
Wow, this article gets it wrong in the title, “Sequel”? No chance. Nolan’s take has finished and I like to think no director would touch it now as it’s an impossible task.
As mentioned above, this was Bruce Wayne’s story and his story has finished. Yes it’s nice to imagine what happens once the credits roll but Warner Bros. have been very respectful to Nolan’s vision and I’m sure would prefer to push ahead with a Justice League movie.
No chance? You are a little close-minded.
Of course they want to push ahead to a JLA movie. That film currently has more momentum than any movie in the DC Canon outside of Man of Steel.
You guys have heard of the James Bond franchise haven’t you? There’s no reason why these movies can’t continue with a different actor.
Yes, Bruce Wayne’s story COULD be over. Why can’t we then see Blake’s? There is absolutely no reason for them not to and it wouldn’t at all be disrespectful to Nolan’s vision.
Why cant I Thumbs Up this comment??? Good job Ryan, you just summed up EXACTLY what Chris Nolan wanted everyone to think (and what 99% of people DID think) by the end of the movie and what the theme of the entire trilogy was!
It just baffles me that someone actually sat in that movie theater during the final 5 minutes when every characters story comes full circle, especially Bruce Wayne of course, and somehow thought as Bruce Wayne moves on with his life with a girl he loves and gets a happy ending and as John Blake RISES to become the new hero of the future (but obviously not as batman) and someone actually thought “………….errrrrrrrr……when is the next one coming out”
unbelievably baffling!
I think what you, and a lot of people, don’t understand is that this universe’s stories won’t be made into another movie. John Blake (JGL) won’t ever be shown as Batman in a movie. The next movie will be a complete reboot. Showing Blake as Batman would ruin the fun of it. It was kinda open ended in the sense that we, the fans, get to decide in our heads what happens next. A lot of us are sad to see such an amazing series end, which is why we wan’t another sequel, but that’s what makes it so amazing. We’re all really hungry for more in this continuity, but they should not and will not feed us more. Even if they did make a new one in this series, which I’m 100% sure they won’t, it would be very forced and very sloppy considering that Christopher Nolan and his crew are out. He is an amazing director. Watch his other movies. HE is what made this series fantastic. Without him, it’s back to ice-puns,Chris O’Donnel, and Batman Credit Cards. I get it, I’m still high off of Rises too, but seriously get your head out of your ass.
I would luv a fourth in this series as a new trilogy with jgl as a robin or a new batman, with gary oldman back and morgan freeman and michael cain back as well as anna hathaway back as selina kyle/catwoman, i really think they should have the riddler as the main villian, and before i hear hes a side villian or hes to goofy, first of all read the comics kids not the last two times he was brought to life in his first appearnace, which was in 1948 the riddler was very much like jigsaw from the saw movies and it wasnt intell his second appearance when batman and robin bearly catch him, i could easly see nigma hiring some muscle”killer crock” and a guy with lots of weapon making skills that works at the iceberg lounge”the penguin”, to go after the new batman and targeting gordon and bruces love ones, forceing bruce to come back to gotham city and what else nigma has up his sleeves, i would luv to see arkham explorded some more with maybe a cameo of hugo strange and harley quinn watching over her patient “the joker”, with arkham seeming to be alot more secured intell nigma show up there, one could dream….im not sure who should direct, but get goyer ,the nolan brothers on the script and chris nolan back as the producer
after shooting the two guys blake through his gun away in disgust. no longer willing to kill.
Why cant I Thumbs Up this comment??? Good job Ryan, you just summed up EXACTLY what Chris Nolan wanted everyone to think (and what 99% of people DID think) by the end of the movie and what the theme of the entire trilogy was!
It just baffles me that someone actually sat in that movie theater during the final 5 minutes when every characters story comes full circle, especially Bruce Wayne of course, and somehow thought as Bruce Wayne moves on with his life with a girl he loves and gets a happy ending and as John Blake RISES to become the new hero of the future (but obviously not as batman) and someone actually thought “………….errrrrrrrr……when is the next one coming out”
unbelievably baffling!
Dan, how exactly can you say what Nolan wanted everyone to think? And why “obviously” not as Batman? He was given access to the Batcave – the baton was handed over to him – the logical extension is that Bruce Wayne wanted him to take over, with access to all of his tech (including Batsuits and gadgets. And with Gotham in ruins, presumably the new superhero will be needed immediately, not as soon as he can come up with his own suit and name?
There is nothing insane about exploring the possibility of a direct sequel – that’s exactly what is intended with an open-ended finale – whether you explore it in your own heads or written in an article. I’m not sure how you can suggest that as illogical?
Until his anger issues come back… or he meets his parents killer.
So much they could do with his character.
“Hey they could decide to do a full reboot. They may very well decide to do that.
But if they do, they should have thought of a better ending for The Dark Knight Rises…”
So when Smallville ended its story after ten years they shouldn’t have ended it with him putting on the Superman suit and going off to save the day and then ends……even though that was the ENTIRE point of the show and what the ending was always going to be????? You need to learn how a plot device works, man.
As I already said, I’m done trying to explain very obvious story devices to you which were clearly never intended to “lead into another sequel”, just get over it. youre in the painfully vocal minority on this issue and thats because it make…..no…sense. just let it go
I find it odd that you can say everything with such conviction, when your opinion is nothing more than opinion? And insulting someone for their own opinion is counter-productive if you want to appear as anything other than a “painfully vocal minority”.
The fact that you have an opinion about a film doesn’t immediately make everyone who expresses something else the minority.
What has Smallville got to do with it? You are reaching now kid. Jeez.
We’ll run a poll and see if I’m in the minority. If I am, I will tell you 100% I’m wrong. (However, and no doubt you will think this is an excuse, the internet audience is NOT the whole audience and the majority of those who saw the film at the screening I was at, and talked about the possibilities of it continuing with JGL, wouldn’t ever read a film website and therefore wouldn’t have their judgement on the ending clouded by what you had read in the trades).
All this message board has taught me is Dan is kind of a tool with really crappy arguments.
@morph1138 LOL okay, loser.
FYI, nothing im saying is “opinion” or an “argument” its the FACTS of what actually happened if you actually had a brain and understood the f’n movie.
I expect it to be lost on a clueless moron like yourself though so keep it up, champ ; )
I hope you realize that WB has already said they are gonna reboot the franchise… They have too much respect for Nolan and what he has built to have someone else come in and play with it. The Nolanverse is over. Time for a new era
Yes. They can still reboot the franchise and keep continuity. See The Bourne Legacy. You really think we’ve seen the last of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, with all the avenues they could go down in exploring that character? I would be surprised.
And if they were talking about a pure reboot of the saga… that was well over a year ago. A lot of things change in a year’s time at WB.
Great article! Although I dont agree with all the ideas you have, it is absoutely logical to assume WB, JGL and a new director will make a Dark Knight Rises sequel. I would not be surprised if WB hasn’t already begun preparations.
For all you studio execs who are reading this and still need a good story, here’s my pitch:
Blake, newly minted as a younger and stronger Batman, finds Bruce Wayne is still alive and tracks him down. Wayne warns the Young Crusader of the dangers he will face, both externally and internally. Blake dismisses Wayne’s fears and wishes the older man luck in his new life abroad with Selina. Blake is excited about his new responsibilities and powers, even as he struggles with his past as an orphan, his inner demons, and the unfairness of protecting a city that doesn’t take care of its children. During this time, the new Batman must fight not just one but several new forces of evil, including a terrifying mad scientist, an army of gangs and a beautiful new child-psychologist who loves green, puzzles and playing with people’s minds. Though he fights valiantly, eventually Blake will be overcome by his own darkness and Gotham will fall. When Bruce Wayne finds Selina murdered, the Dark Knight returns from retirement, hoping to rescue the city from the great evil that poisons it, but he will not succeed unless he can somehow save the Young Crusader’s soul first.
What do you all think? I’d love to hear comments
Don’t kill off Selina. Bruce has suffered enough pain honestly. I would do a spinoff with complete focus on Blake as nightwing, where Bruce comes in to mentor him. This leads into the next Batman movie called “Dark Knight Returns” It is loosely based on the book of the same name.
For the script, something devastates Gotham which forces Bruce to return when Blake can’t handle it on his own. His detective skills are tested with the Riddler, while Pamela Isley, a extreme environmentalist, attempts to use a plant toxin to kill the citizens of Gotham, and “return it back to mother nature”. As Alfred’s life hangs in the balance, he questions everything he believes in. He must defeat his fear, and save the city once more. Selina goes to help against his wishes, this leads to her getting poisoned by Pamela(Poison Ivy), Batman races to save her life.
“At first it appears Selina has died, causing Batman to go for vengeance, but she survives, and goes to save him at the last moment.
Cut to scene months later, Selina and Bruce are married, she is pregnant. They are sitting in Florence with John Blake(and possibly Alfred). I am not sure whether I would have Alfred survive or not.
That is all I have. Clearly, I don’t know how these events happen yet, or who exactly the villains would be, but atleast it’s an idea. Also, Blake would have a large part in it, just not sure how he would fit into the plot yet.
I would like to see Blake become a Nightwing or a Red Hood rather the Bat. Red Hood storyline would allow the director to develop Blake’s anger issues, his willingness to kill, his hatred for Gordon, and then set up for Bale to come back in later life when he is needs/is attracted to another big pay cheque
@simon (cant reply to you???? whatever)
I can say what Nolan was thinking as can everyone else who understood the ending because it wasnt an Inception “make your own mind up on what happened next” it was SOLID CASE CLOSED Bruce Wanne retires happy and a guy called ROBIN definitively becomes the new vigilante hero. And its painfully obvious why he wont use the Batman identity, they erected a statue of Batman who died to save millions of people so yeah it would make perfect sense in this non existent illogical sequel of yours to have another guy turn up and say “HEY HEY BATMANS BACK!!!!”
Seriously, it SCARES me that people missed out all these painfully obvious in your face plot points they made and what some people somehow came up with after watching this when its SO definitive.
Unreal
It was not solid case closed Dan. It was open to interpretation. You seem a tad to closed minded. And as many people are commenting on your opinions being too tunnel visioned, I guess you should take heed of what they’re saying. By the way, it’s a film, an artwork, so it’s always open for people’s opinion and interpretation- Nolan’s ending was ambiguous- do we even know Alfred saw Bruce at the end? Was he just imagining it? You don’t know because it was NEVER definitive. Please learn that in life, just because someone does not agree with you, does not make them wrong or stupid. Finally, just because you put things in quotation marks, does not make you clever or interesting or funny.
They repaired the Bat-signal at the end of the movie alluding to the fact that more work is to be done by Batman perhaps? As I keep saying, you can never be definitive. Moreover, you can’t say for definite that Blake will become Robin unless I am mistaking you for either David Goyer, Chris Nolan or John Nolan. As your name is Dan it leads me to conclude that you are neither of these. Therefore you are by all means allowed to have your opinion but your opinion is DEFINITELY not definitive. You must learn this for the future.
I Mikey, I wasn’t sure to if Alfred saw a illusion of Bruce Wayne at the end of the movie, like Bruce Wayne saw Ra Al Gul, but the scene where they say that Bruce way repair the automatic pilot on the Bat, let me think it’s not a illusion. Also, I think the women in front of Wayne is Selena.
“HERE me out”?
Don’t you mean “Hear me out”?
What i find baffling is you keep arguing even though you said you were done…hmmm
Plus, you pretty much keep arguing Matt’s point that Robin could become the next Batman, he mentions it numerious times through his article -_-…or are you too blinding by your ignerance to notice?
Another, thing ive seen you respond to more peoples comments then Matts..
you know what, its beyond pointless continuing to waste my time saying what 99% of people already know.
tell ya what, somebody reply to me when you find an interview with a Warner Bros executive or Nolan or whoever who actually said that theyre thinking of continuing this story with any characters even though theres zero room to do anything more with it (aside from a robin spinoff which they were never gonna do anyway)
until then, accept how foolish you sound and wait til the reboot gets announced which will prove everything and do the speaking for me.
99% of this comment thread is you being needlessly provocative. It’s not people agreeing with you. And when you resort to insults, as you did in the comment that was deleted, you just come off like a petulant child.
This is a Gary Oldman quote:
“Yeah, yeah. For us I think ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is the end. Whether they will make more, my guess is probably. I mean, they don’t have the Harry Potter franchise anymore. So, there could be a Batman 4 & 5. It may be Chris Nolan overseeing it in a productorial position, but for us and for Chris I think that’s it. It’s a great way to go out though. It’s a great story. Epic, epic thing it is.”
You can read more here: http://screenrant.com/gary-oldman-dark-knight-rises-batman-sequels-sandy-142779/
“You really think we’ve seen the last of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, with all the avenues they could go down in exploring that character?”
oh my god, she retired happy with bruce wayne!!! did you not…see…the movie!?!?!!?!!?
this is beyond pointless, some people are just beyond common sense
DONE
theres a specific part in TDKR that i didnt pay attention to until now. After Bruce wayne goes bankrupt, gets his car towed and etc. He gets a ride from John blake, while hes in the car with blake, blake tells wayne that the city needs a hero like batman to protect it. and wayne tells blake that “anybody can be batman” and after the way TDKR ended, it looks like robin will become new batman..
Matt,
Very interesting article. I completely agree, a year ago I would not have imagined me ever wanting to see a nightwing movie. However, given how this film ended, I would very interested to see a continuation. Now hear me out, I don’t care whether WB WILL or WILL NOT. I wouldn’t waste my time speculating what WB will or wont’ do, Bale will or won’t do or Nolan will or wont’ do. And I cannot understand why everyone here gets so caught up in it. I am just going to post my opinion of what I would like to see and that is it. To comment on your 10:
1.) Choosing the right director/screenwriter is a no brainer and I do believe at least Goyer would have to be involved in the story for continuity sake. Not to say a script could never be written successfully without him. But for the sake of keeping the original vision alive, Goyer was really the heart behind this franchise getting redone well before Nolan and without him on board I dont think it would the right thing to do.
2.) I dont’ think you would HAVE to sign JGL for 3 movies, although it seems to be standard practice. Hell i’m pretty sure I wouldn’t even want to see three of these non bruce wayne batman films
3.) I completely agree with this. However I think the two crucial actors to bring back are Oldman and Freeman. I don’t think it makes sense to bring back alfred at alll given how TDKR ended and since Bruce wayne wouldn’t even be in this film. It makes sense to have Lucious since he is still running Wayne enterprises, and the key role of course is Oldman. Without him, they could never continue on this spinoff
4.) Recasting the joker – I wouldn’t be opposed, but obviously they would have to be very careful with this given it is in the same series as the ledger joker. And to be honest, I think it would be so overly scrutinized, that it wouldn’t be worth the headache/heartache.
5.) John Blakes anger issues – that goes without saying? its already apart of his character, I don’t think they would just forget his character from TDKR.
6.) The Dark Knight Returns – don’t get me wrong it would be awesome if they did one movie with JGL and then made a 5th with Bale returning. However as I said before i’m not going to speculate on who is doing what and why they wouldn’t do it, because at the end of the day i’m not an exec and neither are all of you and it doesn’t matter. Personally I don’t think Bale will ever return without nolan so unless that 5th movie is directed by Nolan I can’t see it happening. But I still think it would be an excellent 5th film and could easily still work.
7.) Gotham needs to be rebuilt – goes without saying? But I do think it is weird that Bruce would just leave Gotham now that it is in the worst state it has ever been in the series.
8.)Lex Luthor – I completely disagree. Nolan/Goyer’s universe has always been built on reality. Bridging his universe to anything mythical is a terrible idea and a slap in the face. If they ever do the justice league, they need to do it in another series.
9.) Nolan style villian – same universe, goes without saying
10.) more gotham central – agreed. This was a great part of the other two films
I just want to say two things finally. One, I like movies and I as a movie goer would be interested in seeing a John Blake batman/nightwing movie. I don’t read comic books and could care less if the story isn’t grounded enough in the comic realm. Two, Matt as a writer you need to just put your opinion out there and let it be. Stop commenting on everyone elses comments. You are not going to change their opinion. Its ok you have your opinion and I have mine. I took time to read yours as a writer and I would be happy if you took time to read mine as a reader, but there doens’t need to be any follow ups or finger pointing or name calling. Everyone has an opinion and if they have a strong enough one to write anything done, you probably will not change it. Its good that you have your opinions and your articles are interesting. Keep them up.
TDKR to me is clearly a teaser for more sequels. It ends with a feeling of “this is just the beginning and not the end.” Despite what Nolan is saying, look at what’s happening around it. There’s a Goyer written Superman movie coming out produced by Nolan himself, who has been highly hush hush about the whole thing. Rumors circulating that the already completed JL script is “mature and realistic.” The epic conclusion to Nolan’s Batman Trilogy shows us how important Batman could be during an international crises of epic proportion that could catalyze a Justice League. For pure $$$ reasons, WB would be very stupid to reboot Batman as they are just coming from their biggest superhero success to date. If I were a WB exec, I would push for continuing this storyline, but to give it a rest for a few years while focusing now on establishing a couple other characters like Superman and Wonder-Woman. IMHO, TDKR is not the end. It’s only the beginning. That’s Nolan’s biggest tease to all of us. Keep in mind just because he says he is done, doesn’t mean Goyer and Jonathan Nolan are done too. They all hinted at Batman dying this whole time. Well, there you go … Did he really die?
Batman is only 73 years old
This Dan guy has got serious issues! Its just an opinion of one person (who I happen to agree with but that’s beside the point.) You’re throwing a tantrum all because its not in line with your own theories. Grow up Dan.
I could totally imagine JGL become the new Batman (there WAS a reason JGL was casted last minute for a minor role ‘Robin John Blake’). People including Nolan were really impressed by his performance in Inception and Nolan definitely casted him for a reason. He wouldn’t have included him in the last movie for a small cop role to use him to close up his last movie. Maybe Nolan doesn’t have definite plans for the future but he definitely had a reason he included Blake in the film.
I know Warner Bros. has to make profits so they’ll probably open up the project in 5 years or so. It will probably be a movie or two with JGL and maybe have Christian Bale come back to Gotham to give aid to Blake.I know a lot of comic book fans love Bruce Wayne as Batman but personally I think it would be interesting to see a new face under the mask especially John Blake. I loved the character in the movie and he just seemed like a good candidate for the new hero for Gotham in many aspects. A new director, Freeman, Oldman, and JGL could make an interesting Batman movie.
Okay, what needs to happen is that they make it similar to the bourne legacy but unlike the bourne legacy, they need to make the sequel different. Blake should NOT be able to do all the things Bruce pulled off in his story, maybe if they make this like star wars i expect him to be like batman in the 3rd film(6th).
Bah. Just let it go.
Nolan told his verion of Batman in three films. That is longer than any other director and it did not bomb with the second.one or even the third.
There are dozens and dozens of takes on a Batman film. Mabe even a good number of decent ones. Nolan had more than any other director before. Let someone else go. Hell.. give us multiple Batman. Rotate it up. Kinda like the Warners animation teams. (Maybe some of them should have gotten more theatrical reigns already anyway.)
We are even finally getting a full animated film.. well.. split in two dvds.. of Miller`s Dark Knight Returns. We dont need some poser Nolan film using the name. Nolan already did Returns with his Rises.
Plus John Blake was three Robins rolled into one. I would like a proper Dick Grayson finally on screen. Hell.. even start with him as Nightwing and flash back to him as Robin.
There are so many Batman stories and characters to use. Why go back to Nolan’s little world?
Hell.. hire Gullermo Del Toro and maybe even original artist Dave McKean and make a small adult arthouse version of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House On Serious Earth. Yeah.. in my dreams that it happens.. but that is one of the many many amazing non Nolan Bat films.possible.
“What, wait… Lex Luthor? Superman’s arch nemesis in a Batman movie? Okay, here me out…”
Here me out? Seriously?
?
I think he is pointing out you said “here” instead of “hear”. Nice article, by the way.
I think the problem here is that you’ve touched on a pretty raw nerve- people have reached what they think is the end of a great series of films, and are giving a volatile reaction to what they think is desecration of their legacy.
Whilst I know that it is pertinent to write this article now (at the end of the day the website is a commercial entity) publishing it a few months down the line would probably have elicited a few more sane responses!!
For what it’s worth, I really like some of your suggestions. I thought that the final shot in the Batcave was fantastic, and coupled with where the other characters were left off, a continuation of the series would work. If that is the case then there is no doubt we would see Bruce Wayne back in the next film, and I wait with eye-rolling inevitability at the outcry and message boards when they cast the Joker!
However, I’d also be quite happy to see the Batman film series treated more like a comic book series- bring in a new director and writer, and re-cast the roles, give it a 2/3 film run (why does everything have to be a trilogy?) with no reference to the Nolan films, and thereafter repeat by moving on to a completely fresh new series.
I think it would be greatly liberating for the film maker in question, and we could end up with more adventurous and unique styles of film- imagine having Aronofsky’s Batman films, followed by Fincher’s Batman films, followed by Cronenburg’s Batman films (imagine his Joker- I dare to dream!), each with a clean slate, and no pressure to follow the previous series.
If some fans don’t like a particular vision, well hey that’s ok, because we’ll get a top notch director who’ll give it something new next time.
Of course, the realities of commercial film making render this idea almost impossible but it would be a very interesting path to follow.
You can’t have anyone playing batman that’s not bruce wayne first off. 2nd I would love to see one more movie with everyone returning. Have blake struggle in the next one. And have batman train him. But if bail doesn’t do it. Then they need to stop. Big fan of all 3time movies. Shame it has to end. The reboot has big shoes to fill. Hope they don’t do like the batman and robin movie style next. Or they wont get my money
Great article.
While you made some great comments as well as thought towards the next step of a batman movie, there’s only one thing I will have to disagree with.
Blake won’t be the next batman. I can say with confidence that Blake will likely become a hero of some sort, but not batman. Remember, in The Dark Knight, Bruce mentioned that having people dress up like him wasn’t exactly what he had in mind when he said he wanted to inspire people. Additionally, let Gordon- Levitt have his own take on it as a vigilante. I think having Blake turn into a Robin/Nightwing would be great. As well, keep in mind that Blake has the physical shape towards a Robin-esque character more so than Batman.
I also strongly believe that Bale will return to another Batman movie and Blake will be his side-kick. While Bale said he wouldn’t return if Nolan wasn’t part of it, Nolan still mentioned he’d be more inclined to produce it rather than direct it.
I think a great story would involve it starting off with Blake being known as the new “Batman” until something crazy happens to Gotham where the city needs Bruce’s Batman to return and Blake helps him as Robin or Nightwing. A Great villain to surround this plot could be the likes of Riddler, Hugo Strange or even a new Joker.
As far side plots, I really like the idea of Gotham being rebuilt by Luthor. Seems like a great opening to the Justice League or even just the Man of Steel franchise.
Anyway, great article. Hopefully WB will do a spin-off around your ideas.
Well, if you read the original script for the movie, it clearly states that in the last scene Blake becomes The Batman.
So Nolan’s done with the the dark knight trilogy, doesn’t mean Hollywood wont do a spinoff with Blake as robin or more likely as nightwing since robin was never a solo hero but a sidekick. Which Blake kinda was his sidekick in THDR. Batman would of failed without Blake, Lucias Fox, and commissioner Gorden. Robin became nightwing after going solo an was batmans original sidekick. Batman tells blake in the third movie if he wants to do this he needs to wear a mask to protect the ones closest to him, doesn’t mean hes gonna wear batmans mask, batmans legacy is done in nolans trilogy. Whatever happens inless its a reboot is gonna stray off from the comics and cartoons and graphic novels ect. Nolan already screwed up the story line of batman and made it his own and well made it better in “my opinion”. Not to mention Hollywood loves to whore movies out plain and simple they’d be stupid to cash in the reboot already not when its set up for a continuation or spinoff. They did spinoff of the bourne movies didnt they. lord of the rings is done yet they are making the hobbit. not saying that this is nessary gonna be true here. Maybe Nolan is done with the dark night maybe he want to take the story in a new direction and retire the dark crusader, he got his happy ending, maybe its time for robins story, and the rebuilding of gotham, the need for a new hero, the way THDK was set up batman couldnt go on much longer anyways and he passed the torch to blake.
U know what it’s time for Batman Beyond to begin or to start the Terry McGinnuss Project Batman if you look at Justice League Unlimited episode Epilogue on you tube & bring that Batman & Terry storyline to life it will make some heads turn & worth more money if u cast Justin Beiber or some young dude who can look like Adam West or Micheal Keaton for all I care.
Actually, now would be the perfect time for Tim Burton/Michael Keaton/Danny Elfman to get back together and do one more Batman film-completing their own trilogy. Using Frank Miller “The Dark Knight Returns” as inspiration would be perfect!
Keaton (the best Batman) is now 60 years old. He would be a Bruce Wayne who’s retired, but due to certain-sudden circumstances, is forced to be Batman one last time. Spielberg and Ford did it with Indy 4 nearly 20 years after Indy 3, why can’t Burton do it? It would be HUUUUGE!
Brilliant read loads of ideas…But the only thing is that The Dark Knight rises implied in the movie when blake/JGL towards the end of the movie he was getting something from security when the lady said he should use his real name ‘Robin’… So Levitt could possilbly only be a sidekick not the replacement of the Dark Knight…But other than that thank you for the read it was insightful.
Blake is supposedly going to take up the batman mantle. They made his name robin as a way of putting Robin into the series without making it crap! So he becomes batman, cause batman isn’t just one person…he’s an icon. A legend that anybody can become. Obviously they aren’t going to do Batman 4, whoever wrote this article has no idea about movies and their workings. This is the end! A new batman movie will be made, no continuation! Just a new series all together. That last bit with Blake was the bow being neatly tied on this movie! Just a nice ending to let us wonder, that’s Nolan for you!
Seriously the best think to do is make a reboot or get Nolan and bale back on board. The bigger picture is the justice league. And I’m going to make this as clear as possible. You don’t plan to make a movie that big with batman not being Bruce Wayne…. remember there making it in response to the avengers. If they made the justice league using Blake as batman, then it just turns me off to the justice league and they probably would be digging a grave for themselves.