1. The Future of the Franchises
The Dark Knight Rises introduced us to rookie cop John Blake, an idealist made from the mould of Commissioner Gordon. Following the reveal in which we learn that his legal name is in fact 'Robin', the film's final image is that of Blake stepping into not only the Batcave but, crucially, the next instalment. Nolan has passed the baton (The Bat on?) along with the proviso, it would seem, that Blake should feature prominently in the next chapter. Mendes takes a remarkably similar path with his ending, only this time it's a character's surname that constitutes the reveal. Having announced her retirement from field work to become Mallory's secretary, Bond's former partner introduces herself as 'Eve Moneypenny'. Indeed, the penny drops...but who will cash in next? Despite Nolan's emphatic exit from Gotham and Mendes yet to confirm his future plans, the two franchises will almost certainly return. They've made far too much money, won far too many fans and, with credibility back in the cape and the Midas touch restored to MI6, earned enough accolades to keep them, and us, coming back for more.
