Bill Ramey over at Batman on Film has posted a rather disconcerting report this morning regarding the status of Christopher Nolan’s involvement with a third film in the lucrative Batman franchise. The info, which is hardly concrete, comes from one of the numerous Bat-related sources Ramey has acquired over 12 years of focusing his site on the development of these films.
Ramey hedges his bets and writes what we all know, that “it is far from a given” that Nolan will return for another go. But he offers a few bullet-pointed reasons from his source that certainly make a lot of sense. Among them, says Ramey’s guy, “the death of Heath Ledger rocked Mr. Nolan hard,” and the project is back to square one with a virtually non-existent story due to the initial planned inclusion of the Joker in the third film.
It has been reported that Warner Bros. has a shortlist of preferred directors to step in should Nolan decide to walk away from the director’s chair. The studio is going forward on this whether he is or not, we can all be sure of that. “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder was one of those names, but Snyder’s people told Ramey he has no interest in tackling the project (thank God). But if not Nolan, then who?
Before I start this wave of spit-balling, I have to say at the top here that nothing is settled. Nolan may be content to move from “Inception” to the next stage in his career and leave the Caped Crusader behind, or he may eventually come back around to the project, rendering all of this moot. But if the studio finds itself in the unenviable position of seeking out a replacement, I think all involved should think a little harder about this.
Snyder, after all, has too stylized a sensibility to seamlessly step in and continue this story. Someone with a combination of visual storytelling panache and commitment to realistic imagery is what we need.
David Fincher was rumored to be in the hunt in those pre-“Batman Begins” days, and though he can have a definable thumbprint as a filmmaker, he’s also proven he can be slightly more anonymous in that role. Darren Aronofsky was developing an awful “Batman: Year One” project years ago, though I think the scale of these films is a bit beyond him for now.
A completely outside-the-box possibility is Fernando Meirelles, but that would be a risky move. Then again, tapping Nolan from the outset was risky, so maybe the studio is willing to gamble just a little on a proven artistic talent.
Paul Greengrass would be a real coup. He had his sights set on “Watchmen” for a time and he straddles the line of art and commerce nicely. With some level of involvement from a skilled screenwriting team (rather than streamlining the narrative into one long set piece like he did with the last two “Bourne” installments), he could really spark yet another franchise. But there’s really only one guy on my mind for a gig like this.
Even though he’d never do it, I think the folks at Warner Bros. owe it to themselves to approach Michael Mann. Mann makes films about people defined by what they do, molded by their professions, and in some sense, trapped by them. I’d say that describes the Dark Knight to a T. Furthermore, Mann has a similar (though certainly superior) cinematic vocabulary to Nolan’s. Even if it becomes as simple as “Mann needs a paycheck” in the wake of “Public Enemies,” all I’m saying is, he would bring a lot to the table.
Anyway, like I said, this is all worthless speculation for now. Best case scenario, Nolan returns and we get another film in a couple of years. But in lieu of that, I certainly think there are options and I hope people in a position to seek out those options are actually thinking about this and not just throwing money at it.
Who do you think would be a good replacement should Christopher Nolan decide to walk away from the Batman franchise? Have your say in the comments section below!
Comments
70 responses to “Nolan out for third Batman? Who could step in?”
I know you’re a Greengrass guy, Kris, but I just can’t imagine Batman with a handheld camera. And that’s what he comes with, right?
Hopefully, Nolan stays on board. But, if not, Mann would be a very good choice. Possibly the best choice.
Other possibilities that haven’t already been mentioned: Bryan Singer, Tom Tykwer, Alex Proyas, or maybe Alfonso Cuaron ( I love what he did with CHILDREN OF MEN).
Like you, Michael Mann and Paul Greengrass were the first to pop into my head. In addition to those two, I also came up with Alfonso Cuaron. He proved with “Children of Men” that he can do a dark, urban movie, and he has a knack for getting some great performances out of his actors (look how he elevated the game of the kids in Harry Potter!). He’ll need a good screenwriter, but I think he’ll be able to get the look and feel of Nolan’s Gotham down easily.
aw, david beat me to it!
Cuaron is a great call. The right mixture of grit and the somber.
The peripheral information on this Bat-fallout tells us Team Nolan had at least a broad idea of a Batman 3 in which the Joker played a prominent role. My theory of a third installment (before DK came out) expanded on the “Freaks vs. Gangster” battle for the Gotham underworld. The Joker would appear in a padded cell until breaking free for the conclusion.
If Heath hadn’t died, I think Nolan would already be on board and the team would be at work. Who knows, it might have pre-empted Inception.
In my opinion it has to be Nolan, Aronofsky and Fincher both could make an amazing movie they just wouldn’t be able to fit in Nolans universe and there talents should be on other original works. A sucsessful trilogy needs the same director the whole way through. (star wars, lord of the rings, indiana jones)
It all comes back to Heath, and the Joker.
You probably can’t replace Heath, though it’d be interesting to see the message board war this would incite.
So can you make a great Batman story without the Joker?
Of course you can, but the movie has to scale down, not up from TDK. I think Chris and his team envisioned B3 as an all-out war between the growing number of insane Gotham residents and what’s left of the Mob. With Batman and the now-hostile GCPD in between.
But you can’t leave the Joker out of something like that, not with him still alive at the end of TDK, presumably in Arkham.
Instead of making a bigger sequel, the answer is to scale down. Make a more intimate, singular story with Bruce at the center.
You can make a great Batman story without the Joker, but you can’t make a BIG Batman story without the Clown Prince.
Kathryn Bigelow.
I know, I’m still high on “The Hurt Locker,” but seriously.
Intriguing, Guy.
Dan: I actually think you can replace Ledger, as long as the character doesn’t have as much of the spotlight as he did in TDK. I don’t think it’s as precious as “the character should die with Heath,” personally, and never have. There are a number of actors I think would be sound choices, but that installment of The Lists has been held at bay at the risk of seeming…insensitive.
When I was watching “Revolutionary Road”, I couldn’t but think that Michael Shannon could step in to play The Joker, especially the way he talked and played his character in that film.
Save for the fact that Ledger’s death rocked a lot of people, the only thing in Ramey’s reporting that I find completely true and thus sort of depressing is the fact that the franchise is back to square one given Ledger’s death. That seems right. Why?
I’ve said this a million times here, but it’s so very clear that Nolan was going to continue the chess-game between the Joker and Batman in “Batman 3.” That the Joker, still like the shark Jaws, was going to cut through the narrative in the next installment and keep his word when he said, “We are destined to do this forever.”
Also, if that Calgary Sun newspaper is right in reporting that Inception’s budget is around 175 to 200 million dollars, then I’d expect some kind of handshake agreement between WB and Nolan to do the next Batman. I want nothing to do with this replacement director speculation.
Zack Snyder sucks. Mann is not all that superior to Nolan, Kris. Nolan’s getting close.
I know he has never directed a film but Jonah Nolan?
That guy over at Batmanonfilm also reported not so long ago that three seperate sources had told him that part of the Inception deal including him returning for a third film.
WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
What do you mean: “in the wake of Public Enemies” ?
In my mind, Greengrass would be the perfect choice; I’m not sure Mann, Aronofsky (particularly after that awful Year One script) or Fincher are people you would want to turn such a big franchise over to.
I still think there are other options like perhaps Eastwood (not sure he would do it, but he has a close relationship with Warner and was rumored to be interested in doing a Batman movie about a decade ago) or bringing Burton back with the new series; there also some more commercial directors like Peter Berg, J.J. Abrams, Philip Noyce, and Wolfgang Petersan (again also a close relationship with Warners and wanted to do Batman vs. Superman) who I could see taking it on and working as long as the script is strong.
Isn’t Wally Pfister interseted in directing?
The reports from BoF (which is a great site) have gone both ways. Even quotes from producers give the impression that Nolan’s in. So who knows what to believe. I can’t picture WB waiting till after Inception for Nolan to make up his mind.
GOD I HOPE NOLAN COMES BACK FOR THIS!!
If Nolan doesn’t return to Batman I think they should just go in a completely different direction with the franchise. Someone else emulating Nolan’s style wouldn’t go well. I’m still hoping he’ll come back, though. There are so many other stories that can be told about this version of Bruce Wayne that don’t have to involve The Joker. They can go back to Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson was fantastic and underused). Introduce his daughter Talia, telling one of the most intriguing love stories in comic history while having Ra’s launch a plot to destroy the eastern seaboard or some crazy thing like that. That could up the ante, making one hell of a Batman movie. They should steer clear of villains of a similar nature to Joker (Riddler, Penguin, etc.), because most people will just negatively compare the actors chosen to Ledger’s performance. Going back to the ‘Batman Begins’ villain who is nothing like Joker could work well in Nolan’s hands.
I think they’ll just wait as long as Nolan wants to wait to do it. He’ll undoubtly stay onboard as a screenwriter/producer but I certainly don’t hope they hire some newbie. Big names only.
Anyhow, about that Joker storyline, I still think it could be done the way I proposed earlier. Joker locked up in Arkham, takes on an apprentice (Depp, Shannon, anyone) commits suicide and lets the apprentice take over.
I’m surprised its taken this long for the issue of B3 to hit the forefront (and this is 0nly the forefront of movie blogs). Consider Iron Man 2 will likely be in the can before WB makes any kind of announcement on another Batman film.
Do you think WB has a clear-cut timetable for Nolan to make a decision? There’s no way they wait until Summer ’13 to release B3 unless they have Nolan in the fold. And if we do have to wait that long for the TDK followup, Inception better be damn good.
Dan, I think we all know Inception will be damn good, haha.
Good for Nolan to walk away. He’s done all he can do there.
The chance to complete a successful trilogy, something that Spielberg, Lucas, Coppolla, Raimi, Zemekis, and others could not do, is the challenge that Nolan won’t be able to pass up.
I would argue Lucas and Spielberg succeeded in that, but as far as the superhero genre is concerned, NO FILMMAKER has done it yet. Which is why I find this article so disheartening. IMO Nolan is our last chance to have a complete, successful comic-book trilogy.
but where can a trilogy go without the Joker? Where’s the escalation, a theme that seamlessly connected Begins to TDK? I’m for recasting the Joker in a smaller, yet crucial role.
What makes a trilogy successful? Box office? If so, then Coppola, Raimi, Zemeckis, Spielberg and Lucas have all done it. Quality? It’s subjective so it’s impossible. I know I’m not the only one who thought Batman Begins was weak.
It’s a combination of good reviews and good box office that make it a complete success, the only way to make it objective IMO. Not really sure how Back to the Future 3 and Godfather 3 fared with critics back in the day…but as of today it seems only Spielberg and Jackson have managed perfect trilogies. Wachowskis failed, Raimi failed, Lucas failed (with his prequel trilogy), and the X-men and original Batman franchises suffered horrible replacement directors on their third outings. Unless Favreau does three Iron Man pics (which I doubt), Nolan is our last chance to end the superhero threequel curse.
I think this is all BS. However, I think Mann is an inspired choice, as is Greengrass, who has proven he can take on an already existing mythos (i.e. Bourne).
However, what about Tony Gilroy? He’s a terrific screenwriter. My only worry is that this would be his third movie and I doubt he can direct action (though neither can Nolan).
I honestly think I’d rather suffer not knowing Batman’s fate after “The Dark Knight” than suffer through a third movie directed by anyone other than Nolan.
They’ll probably bring back Schumacher. Just to piss me off.
“I’d expect some kind of handshake agreement between WB and Nolan to do the next Batman”
This has been reported long ago, but who gives a damn about a handshake agreement in this town?
Truth be told, and as a Batman fan, I’d be happy with Nolan walking away from the franchise after TDK. It’s a beautiful ending that could be picked up by other filmmakers at a later date if they wish.
“I know I’m not the only one who thought Batman Begins was weak.”
No, you’re not, but those folks are all crazy people.
Nick: I don’t think Gilroy would touch this with a 10-foot pole.
These Batman movies don’t interest me in the slightest, but I’m pretty sure they can have anyone to direct it and it will be a hit, most super-hero movies end up becoming blockbusters. And Ledger can obviously be replaced, there are several people who could do a competent job.
I think the only issue you’d run into with if you recast The Joker NOW is someone doing an impersonation of Ledger’s Joker — that would be my fear.
But I’m with Kris, if Chris is done, then lets get another GOOD actor and the story can be picked up several years after TDK story-wise. The thing about Chris and his “one movie at a time” mantra is that he’s telling the truth. While both BEGINS and TDK are open-ended, they are complete movies.
(And as far as the “handshake agreement” reports, they were disclaimered to be “rumor” — though could have been “We’ll do this movie with you as long as you give us a def answer when it’s done.”)
Hopefully Nolan comes back…
Though I do think Alfonso Cuaron, David Fincher, and Michael Mann could do def it justice…
No matter who is picked I think it has to continue to be in Nolan’s style so the audience stills knows it is apart of this current universe. The script, DP, crew, and previous movies will help with that for sure.
Def a far-out choice, but could Soderbergh maybe do it? Not sure he can pull off the action, but can do both big and small movies well.
I am sure he can do a super-hero movie that focuses on characters/moral/environment, but can he do Batman. I think he do a mix of gritty and flashy/big, not sure how it would meld with Nolan’s vision though.
One can “up the ante” in Bruce’s personal life with a character like Catwoman or Talia by making him challenge his previous notions of justice due to his love for the criminal. Rachel’s character being off’ed opens-up this possibility nicely. Yeah, it’s a theme that has been done numerous times, but I’ve come to trust Nolan as someone who can give a fresh take on tragedy. I agree with Dan that it’s got to be scaled-down, and it can be done if Bruce wrestles with the personal dilemma of: do I act for my own good (love), or for the good of the majority (justice)?
I really don’t know who could continue on the franchise after Nolan. I think it’d be very tough to ask another director to come in and try to mimic another’s style. I think the safest bet if Nolan isn’t to return is to put a new Batman off for a few years and then go with a more stylized representation of the character, the complete opposite of what Nolan is doing. We’ve seen the gritty realism that Batman has to offer, no I think it’d be fun to see something a tad more fantastical, maybe a film dealing with the likes of Clayface and whatnot. I personally feel that someone like Alfonso Cuaron could deliver this type of Batman film very well, the Batman: Arkham Asylum style.
Batman will not be picked up by a later date because of money. This idea that a director can just take the reigns from Nolan and make a good “Batman 3” is the kind of shitty thinking that will lead to a Zack Snyder directed Batman film. Nolan has stated that the Batman franchise is sort of his baby…Nolan won’t leave his baby.
Gittes: I think you’re being naively positive about the situation. Furthermore, I think you’re oversimplifying my view of a director taking up the reins. It’s not that precious.
I used to think David Fincher would do a good job with a Batman movie, especially after seeing the atmosphere he created in movies like Se7en. I don’t think that is what Nolan was going for, though. In my opinion, Nolan is a better story teller than David Fincher is.
Anyways, I agree that the only person who could pick it up and continue it on would be Michael Mann. I’m having a hard time believing he would agree to direct a Batman movie, though.
I don’t want Paul Greengrass or Zack Snyder anywhere near Batman 3. Let’s hope Nolan thinks long and hard about this and comes back for a third installment.
If he would want to I would say James Cameron because he’s as good as any mainstream director on earth. I could live with Sam Raimi, any other director is a crap shoot. Hope Nolan returns to finish is story.
chuck
I hope Nolan signs on for a third installment, to complete his trilogy. I’m sure there are ways to get at whatever themes he had planned without the major involvement of the Joker character.
Beyond that, I don’t much care if they never make another Batman film or if they allow another (artistically) accomplished director take a crack at the franchise, perhaps just going for a live-action, traditional Batman: The Animated Series feel. I think Nolan’s interpretation will be about as far from “traditional” (being set in a more photorealistic world, and whatnot) as Warners will be willing to go. And the director will probably be someone who establishes his reputation with smaller, critically-acclaimed film(s) in the next few years…not necessarily a well-known quantity at this point in time.
It would be an absolute travesty if Nolan did not finish this story off with a third film. There are ways to incorporate the Joker’s general themes, as well as the ideas of mob escalation, in a story which does not include him on-screen, in my opinion (A REAL interpretation of The Penguin comes to mind, for instance). Also, let’s not forget TDK’s open-ended fate of Harvey Dent (at least I believe it was open-ended). That being said, I think the only possible choice to replace Nolan for a third film is Michael Mann. Nolan showed a similar style to Mann’s with TDK. And, as Kris pointed out, Mann has an uncanny ability to delve deeply into the dark corners of moral character, while also creating stunning visuals. Mann would be as “seamless” as you could get.
From your list, I was most excited about Mann and Meirelles. I’d also consider Alfonso Cuaron.
just stop making bat films if nolan’s not on board. Give it some time to breath and then bring it back again. A new director would definitely kill it.
Mann and Cuaron would be interesting. I’ve liked all of Meirelles’ films (yes, even “Blindness”) but I don’t know if he could handle the scale of Batman. So if, god forbid, Nolan backs out from a third Batman, then Mann and Cuaron would be the best to approach. If they go anywhere near that effing Snyder asshat, I’ll be really tempted to burn that place to the ground.
But please Nolan, come back.
Probably so, and I do feel positive about the situation. However, I’m not sure any of us really know what the situation is.
This is an awful time to break news of this…kinda ruins my summer. The two Batman films that Nolan has put out are my two all-time favorites- I have never really been a Batman fan, but after Batman Begins & The Dark Knight I have become a big time fan of the Batman franchise!
Couple questions though:
1. When will Inception filming be complete (this fall?)?
2. Do you think by then, Nolan will have made a decision and Warner Bros. will have a date set for the 3rd Batman and/or found a new director?
Y’all seem to have all the background info with all of these other directors…I hope my questions/comments did not ruin what y’all had going. I apologize if I did, but your help would be greatly appreicated!
Thanks
Please, whoever it is, let it not be the following:
1.Michael Bay
2.Brett Rattner
3.Zack “The visionary director” Snyder
Kyle, don’t forget Uwe Boll-Ed Wood’s Ed Wood