• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Zack Snyder wants to make "The Dark Knight Returns"

JacksonArcher

JacksonArcher

Vice Admiral
Admiral
Zack Snyder, director of Dawn of the Dead, 300 and the upcoming Watchmen, has expressed his interest in adapting another one of Frank Miller's graphic novels, this time The Dark Knight Returns.

Says Snyder:

"I said I'm interested in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns," he commented. "That's really my favourite comic book."
Click to expand...

Snyder has approached Warner Bros. about adapting the graphic novel, but admits the unlikliness with the current franchise being led by Christopher Nolan.

I think this could be very interesting, even if we didn't get another Nolan-directed installment. Imagine this as if it was a sequel to The Dark Knight. It is set twenty years after the events and ending of that film and we find a much older, now retired Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement as the Batman.

It'll likely never happen, but I wouldn't mind a Synder-directed Dark Knight Returns after a third Nolan-directed Batman installment. What does everyone else think?

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a139234/snyder-eyes-dark-knight-returns-movie.html
 
The Dark Knight Returns was a great story but I never thought it was a good Batman story. Ditto with Year One. I don't think that Miller had a good grasp on the character and the less said about All Star the better.
 
Anything can be re-tooled; but Superman plays a fairly large part in DKR. Even setting aside all the other obstacles to getting this film made, I'm not sure WB would be very comfortable having their first Batman/Superman crossover being in this context. Specifically, the unflattering light in which it shows Supes.
 
I really liked Year One (it is my favorite graphic novel tied with Watchmen and Long Halloween/Dark Victory) but I think Nolan took the best parts and interpolated them nicely in Batman Begins.
 
They should do it before Clint Eastwood dies.

Although it can't be in Nolan's continuity - Two-Face is dead.
 
Considering this is my favorite Batman comic I've read (which hasn't been too many), I'd see this in a second with Snyder at the helm.
 
Haytil said:
They should do it before Clint Eastwood dies.
Click to expand...

I swear to God, the first time I saw the trailer for Gran Torino and he asks the kids if they've ever "thought [they] messed with the wrong guy", I thought he was going to rip his shirt open and we'd see either the Batman logo or the Punisher's skull shirt underneath.

Only Eastwood can make "Get off my lawn" sound like a threat and not a joke. Well, Lance Henriksen probably could, too.
 
I think they should let Snyder do it, with Superman, but not for about 10 years or so. Let this decade be about the Nolan films, as the 90's were about the Burton and 3/4 films.

I think one day it could be interesting to see, though. If they let it be closer to R than PG-13, it could get really interesting. I'm picturing it with Sim City vibes in terms of darkness.
 
How about Sylvester Stallone directing The Dark Knight Returns?

Batman - Sylvester Stallone
Joker - Wesley Snipes
Two-Face - Kurt Russell
Commissioner Gordon - Bruce Willis
Superman - Kiefer Sutherland
Green Arrow - Dolph Lundgren
Alfred - Roger Moore
Dr. Wolper - Chuck Norris
The Mutant Leader - Arnold Schwarzenegger
 
Hoo-boy.

If it got made, it could either be the greatest thing for Batman ever (Dark Knight included) or the worst thing since 'Batman and Robin.' And you all do realize now that Snyder's mentioned this, all Nolan has to do is to say he's out, and the WB to say 'Hey, Snyder, come make Batman 3!' I do see how it could fit well in the universe Nolan's established, but it's a dangerous ledge to walk between brilliant and crapfest. Color me cautiously optimistic but doubtful we'll ever get a true-to-source DKR.

Daniel Day-Lewis would be inspired casting though, JacksonArcher. Aragorn, do I detect some sarcasm in that casting?
 
I thought everyone was doing everything in their power to get away from Miller's bitter, murderous, anti-American, ridiculously Objectivist, utterly psychotic, gun-wielding, pro-fascist, thug. Even the regular comic book nerd-sheep have begun to tire of this character misstep.

It's like he read The Watchmen and really hated Alan Moore's statement that superheroics isn't worth it because, while they may help people, eventually someone's gonna take it too far and people will get hurt. I can just see him thinking "Grrrr. There's no such thing as too far! Grrrrr!". It's like he thought Rorschach should have been shown in a more positive, sympathetic light and been made the main hero.

Although, I must admit, every time I see All-Star Superman on the shelves it makes me grateful for the ending of DKR. Because even I enjoy the idea of that smug, all-powerful, Silver Age tool getting taken down a peg by a mere mortal.
 
Last edited:
A Snyder-DKR flick would be brilliant. I'd love it. But only if Superman is in it; how else would you end it otherwise?!
 
I would love to see a Snyder made Dark Knight flick...but hopefully not in the style of Sin City like Miller chose to film The Spirit in. Superman needs to be in it since he does have an important role to fill in that book. I don't see this happening for the reasons already pointed out and Warner Bros is also looking to relaunch Superman so I doubt this will see the light of day in the next five years. I would expect the next Superman movie to be out before this...
 
My personal preference is to see this done as one of Bruce Timm's DC Universe animated films. Let's be honest, it seams much more likely than a live action adaption, especially since Timm has already done a portion of DKR. Even IF Watchmen is a success (and I hope it is) I can't see the studio taking such a radical departure from Nolan's take on the franchise and frankly, I'm not convinced that DKA would even work as a live action film.
 
Might as well do it now. I don't think the next Superman movie should be a factor. Everyone should realize that Warner Bros. probably won't be able to get their shit together for another Superman movie for ANOTHER 19 years.

Hicks said:
I think one day it could be interesting to see, though. If they let it be closer to R than PG-13, it could get really interesting.
Click to expand...

At times, I felt that The Dark Knight really skirted the edge of the PG-13/R barrier.

Thrall said:
It's like he read The Watchmen and really hated Alan Moore's statement that superheroics isn't worth it because, while they may help people, eventually someone's gonna take it too far and people will get hurt. I can just see him thinking "Grrrr. There's no such thing as too far! Grrrrr!". It's like he thought Rorschach should have been shown in a more positive, sympathetic light and been made the main hero.
Click to expand...

To some degree, I kinda agree about Rorschach.
 
Hicks said:
I think they should let Snyder do it, with Superman, but not for about 10 years or so. Let this decade be about the Nolan films, as the 90's were about the Burton and 3/4 films.

I think one day it could be interesting to see, though. If they let it be closer to R than PG-13, it could get really interesting. I'm picturing it with Sim City vibes in terms of darkness.
Click to expand...
I agree. I'm intrested in seeing waht Snyder would make out of it, but not until Nolan is officially done with it. And I think he's got another film in him at least.
 
I think The Dark Knight Returns would make an excellent animated movie...and I do dig the Daniel Day Lewis suggestion for Bruce Wayne/Batman for a live action movie. Would Lewis consider the part though if he was offered?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top