What's next for Batman...

Discussion in 'Science Fiction & Fantasy' started by Warped9, Jul 22, 2012.

  1. Warped9

    Warped9 Admiral Admiral

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    Superhero movies have pretty much hit a zone for the past several years. I don't think it's likely we'll see a return of obvious camp like we saw in the first run of live-action Superman and Batman films from 1978-1997. I think the exceptions are superhero films that are one-offs and/or wholly original stories like V For Vendetta or Kick-Ass.

    The general tone now, at least for the more familiar mainstream characters, pretty much mirrors the comics: done generally straight with varying measures of humour. And no matter how dire things get in the stories in the end it's all obviously "just for fun." With this approach it's hard to get seriously worked up over the fate of the characters.

    Note in recent reboots such as The Hulk and Spider-Man the general tone stayed pretty much the same even if individual story elements were changed to suit the new take.

    But Chris Nolan broke with the current convention. By the time of Batman Begins in 2005 we had already had two X-Men and two Spider-Man films to establish the new overall tone. Nolan seemed intent to tone down the tongue-in-cheek aspects and keeping it to a minimum. The Batman tends to be accepted as a generally darker kind of superhero and lends himself well to Nolan's kind of storytelling. It also helps that Nolan's story has a distinct beginning, middle and end for the character rather than being left open ended like most other films. He also didn't leave much room for the idea of too many untold Batman tales set within the framework of his larger story. That said TDKR is left somewhat open ends, but not necessarily for Bruce Wayne and perhaps the Batman as well. It's possible Nolan could oversee a followup of sorts to his trilogy without being closely involved as director, maybe, and it wouldn't necessarily be Batman.

    So does the next followup project or reboot follow in the Nolan style or will Batman be brought back into the mainstream tone of other superhero movies? Could we get a John Blake as Batman or perhaps as Nightwing? Could be get to see Anne Hathaway return solo in a Catwoman feature (something I'd like to see). Could we conceivably see a retro looking period piece? (another thing I'd like to see)

    Thoughts anyone? What do you thing is likely and/or what would you like to see?
     
  2. Agent Richard07

    Agent Richard07 Admiral Admiral

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    Ideally, I'd like ot see more movies set in the Nolanverse. I'd accept something with John Blake or Catwoman and I wouldn't mind seeing other major villains included that weren't done, like the Penguin or the Riddler. A Batgirl movie or trilogy set in Nolan's world would also be more than welcome. She has a compelling story.

    Batgirl Begins...
     
  3. Kirkman1987

    Kirkman1987 Commodore Commodore

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    I do think there is more to be fun to be had with the gritty Nolanverse, but without Bale or Nolan I'm not sure how interesting it would be.

    I really don't want to see spinoff films with side characters.
     
  4. Gotham Central

    Gotham Central Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Warner Brothers has quietly said that they will NOT be doing any films staring female heroes since they don't bring in the bucks. So no Batgirl films. Actually, I doubt that Nolan wold go near that since he ws extremely hesitant to go anywhere near Robin.
     
  5. Gotham Central

    Gotham Central Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Folks...the Nolanverse is DONE! The end.

    Warner Brothers has already stated that their next goal, post Man of Steel, is a Justice League film. Man of Steel will probably be adjusted to make room for that possibility and Green Lantern is headed for a soft reboot as well. The Next Batman you see will be done so as to fit in with Justice League.

    WB is clearly pleased with what Nolan did, but they want a JL film and WB does NOT allow multiple versions of its characters to be featured in the same medium.
     
  6. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Just so. It's pretty obvious that Warner Brothers now wants to emulate the kind of shared universe strategy Marvel is doing. Nolan's films stood on their own in the way most pre-Iron Man superhero films did (and X-Men and Spider-Man movies will continue to do). The door has been closed on Nolan's pictures, they went out rather well, time to move on (and most importantly it's quite clear Nolan doesn't want to spend any more involvement in the Batman films, so what's the point in keeping non-Nolan material 'in continuity' with what he did?)
     
  7. M'rk son of Mogh

    M'rk son of Mogh Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I just want to see Batman out of the generic overly detailed armour and go back to something more streamlined from the comics.
    Heck, even take a page out of the designs from the Arkham games.
     
  8. Mr Light

    Mr Light Admiral Admiral

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    I really enjoyed the Nolan Trilogy of semi-realism, but I'd like the next take on it to go in the other direction, and have a Batman that can exist in the world of Superman and Wonder Woman and what have you. One where he can have a meta-human villain. And side kicks. Without it being campy of course. Something like the tone of the DCAU.
     
  9. ALF

    ALF Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Loved the Nolan films, but I'm ready for it to be handed off to someone else.
    Dare I say it, maybe a return to the TV serial for Bats and co?
     
  10. Set Harth

    Set Harth Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Also, Bruce and Selina seem like an item at this point, so you really couldn't bring back Catwoman without involving Bale's Wayne.

    Or so we thought.

    Tricksy Nolan.
     
  11. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Personally I thought The Amazing Spider-Man was closer to Nolan style than to the Avengers-verse movies. Yeah, the Lizard was more fanciful and Spider-Man delivers some wisecracks but I thought that movie had a different tone to its brethren.
     
  12. DigificWriter

    DigificWriter Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I don't think we've seen the last of Batman as a solo film property, but I do think that the next time we see the character on the big screen will be as part of a JLA film.

    If and when Batman does return to the screen in a solo film, though, I don't think a return to the' Nolan'-verse is as out of the question as some people do.

    Speaking of the JLA, I highly doubt that next year's Man of Steel is going to have any connection to a JLA film if and when it materializes, primarily because Christopher Nolan has said that he has absolutely no interest in being even remotely involved in or with the establishment of a shared universe akin to what Marvel's doing with the MCU, so if the MoS franchise is still going when a JLA film materializes, we'll more than likely see a completely different and unrelated version of Superman involved in such a film if Warner Bros. and DC want to have the character included.
     
  13. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I don't think anyone wants to retread the ground Nolan covered. I think a good filmmaker is going to want to bring his vision to life and not play in someone else's sandbox. Another reason is the Joker would be pretty much off-limits and probably not even Bale is going to want to do the Bale voice again. :)
     
  14. DigificWriter

    DigificWriter Vice Admiral Admiral

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    The Joker was only 'off-limits' because Christopher Nolan did not feel it was appropriate to re-utilize the character following Heath's death; if someone did step into Nolan's shoes and do a continuation of the universe he established with the Dark Knight Trilogy, they would in no wise be beholden to the personal choice that Nolan made.

    Anyone stepping into the 'Nolan-verse' would also in no wise shackled by what had come before except in that they would have to maintain a balance between striking out on their own and remaining true, spiritually, to what Nolan had established, which would not be that difficult a line to walk, IMO.
     
  15. Mr. Adventure

    Mr. Adventure Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Not that it's against the law or anything but I think it would awkward and you'd always be second-guessed even if you didn't outright offend some people.
     
  16. DigificWriter

    DigificWriter Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Hmm. There would be risk involved in returning to the Nolan-verse, and in bringing back the character of The Joker, but I don't think the risk would outweigh the potential reward to a significant enough degree to stop them from doing it if they so chose.

    I do think that the risk associated with both ideas (returning to the Nolan-verse and bringing back The Joker) would be effectively and significantly minimized, though, by using the setup that Nolan provided to finally bring a variation of Batman Beyond to the screen.
     
  17. Gojira

    Gojira Commodore Commodore

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    I think they should use Batman in a JLA movie. If Christian Bale wants to play the character again that would be sweet but not essential. He can be recast. If the JLA movie does well then whoever plays Batman could launch into another solo set of movies. By then we will be ready for them.
     
  18. Set Harth

    Set Harth Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I like this idea a lot. And they could keep the title because it would totally fit.
     
  19. NebulaClassGuy

    NebulaClassGuy Lieutenant Commander

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    I wouldn't mind seeing a new live-action Batman TV series, so long as it's done well. I'm with Warped9, in that I personally would like to see it set in the late 1930's or early 1940's, with Batman having more of a classic Lewis Wilson/Alex Ross Batman look, but that's just me personally.

    I'm all for new Batman feature films, but not in the near future... I'd give the franchise a few years before revisiting it, or rebooting it, as will most likely occur. With this last Nolan Batman, comes the last time I can foresee spending money to see a DC-universe film. I have absolutely zero intention of seeing the new Superman, because I personally loved "Superman Returns", and felt it was perfect, and see no reason to undo what that film did, as if it somehow hurt the franchise.

    But back on topic, I'm pretty sure the cartoon realm will be where any Batman projects stay for the time being, until the next big-screen film comes.
     
  20. Kegg

    Kegg Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I'd take it as a given that Man of Steel won't set up any Justice League stuff in the manner of the way the individual Marvel films have been setting up the Avengers for years.

    But just because he won't be involved in the Justice League movies it doesn't necessarily mean the new Superman won't be involved... or that, say, Zack Synder wouldn't be involved in some fashion.

    But at this point you're asking the question: Why continue the Nolanverse?

    You have a new director, a new Joker, and very probably a new Batman (unless you convince Christian Bale to take up the cowl again). The connection to the Nolanverse would mostly be that the film undermines the intent of how Nolan concluded his last movie.
    Where Batman finds peace at last by retiring for good.

    When you reach that point as a fan we're better off with a clean reboot. New Joker, new Batman, new director, new direction.