The Dark Knight Rises Anticipation Station

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

I'm kind of excited about seeing Selina in this depiction because of Nolan and Goyer reading "Dark Victory" and using that and "The Long Halloween" for source material reference. I love how Jeph Loeb used and wrote Selina in those graphic novels. Also I could see Darwin Cooke's redesign working very nicely in Nolan's universe.

 

[DigificWriter]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

I like the casting of Hathaway, but am reluctant to automatically jump to the conclusion that she's going to be playing Selina/Catwoman as a villain for two reasons:
1) I'm having a hard time believing that the reports of Nolan and Co. casting for two female leads (a villain and a love interest) were completely false, particularly since those reports were published by some pretty credible media outlets (including The Hollywood Reporter). Operating under the assumption that said reports are true, Selina/Catwoman is likely the 'love interest' for Bruce Wayne that Nolan and Co. were casting for, which means that we're still waiting on an announcement of the female villain mentioned in said reports (I'm personally hoping it's Talia, and that Nolan and Co. cast Kiera Knightley in the role).

2) IGN published a report a while back concerning the character of Selina/Catwoman and her role in the film which mentioned that she would function as a sort of 'female Batman', filling the vigilante void left by his voluntarily becoming 'persona non grata' in Gotham.

As for Bane, I liked the Knightfall saga, but unless Nolan and Co. plan on adapting portions of that arc into their story, I have to confess that I'm personally stumped as to how they're going to utilize the character and make him feel credible as a villain. That doesn't by any means mean that I'm criticizing their decision, and look forward to seeing them surprise me, since they've more than proven that they know what they're doing.

 

[DarthPipes]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

Here's hoping one day they decide to do The Joker again. I understand not using him for this role but the using the Joker shouldn't have to stop because Heath Ledger couldn't stop shoving pills down his throat.

Classy.



I think using the Joker again in the Nolan movies isn't possible at all. The next batch of Batman movies, sure. But in Nolanverse?

No way.

Well, that is how he died.

Selina filling in the void for Batman is an interesting storyline.

Although I read Knightfall, I'm not really familiar with the Bane character otherwise. He'll definitely be a reimagining but I think it will work.

Still don't like getting a high-profile actor for Catwoman. I don't think this movie needs high-profile actors/actresses. New ones at least.

 

[DigificWriter]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

^ I'm kind of surprised by your attitude regarding the addition of another high-profile actor to Nolan's franchise, since Hathaway is joining a cast that is already full of high-profile actors (Bale, Freeman, Caine, Oldman).

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

@Digific I agree with your notions about Selina being the love interest and the villain at the same time. I referenced "Dark Victory" in my previous post. Bruce was dating Selina at the time while not having uncovered that she was Catwoman yet, in fact it would be some years before Bruce deduced her identity in this revised continuity. I don't think we're going to get a rehash of "Batman Returns" as some have been concerned with, that would be too easy to do. The Nolans and Goyer probably have something far more interesting in mind for us

 

[DarthPipes]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

^ I'm kind of surprised by your attitude regarding the addition of another high-profile actor to Nolan's franchise, since Hathaway is joining a cast that is already full of high-profile actors (Bale, Freeman, Caine, Oldman).

Maybe I should amend that. I mean adding high-profile actors. Having guys like Caine, Oldman, Freeman in prominent supporting roles is one thing.

Christian Bale was definitely known but wasn't a superstar yet. Bale became big because of Batman Begins. Heath Ledger was an Oscar nominee and definitely known but even he wasn't a superstar. He would have been if he hadn't of died. Aaron Eckhart wasn't well-known before he was cast. Katie Holmes was pretty well-known before the first movie but she wasn't a superstar movie actress.

Again, I could just be overreacting. But I remember when it was the it thing to add all these big-name actors to the next Batman movie back in the day and I think that was a disaster for the franchise. The franchise now doesn't have to add anymore big-time actors to the staring roles. Know what I'm saying?

 

[DigificWriter]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

@Digific I agree with your notions about Selina being the love interest and the villain at the same time. I referenced "Dark Victory" in my previous post. Bruce was dating Selina at the time while not having uncovered that she was Catwoman yet, in fact it would be some years before Bruce deduced her identity in this revised continuity. I don't think we're going to get a rehash of "Batman Returns" as some have been concerned with, that would be too easy to do. The Nolans and Goyer probably have something far more interesting in mind for us

I didn't say anything about Selina/Catwoman being both the villain and a love interest for Bruce in one; in fact, I was saying the opposite of that, since it's what seems to be the prevailing opinion/assumption at this point. If the IGN report I mentioned is in fact true, and the report about Nolan casting two female leads in TDKR is also true, then we're definitely looking at Selina/Catwoman filling the role of 'love interest' in addition to being a vigilante whose actions draw Batman back out of hiding, with another character filling the role of the female villain (which, as noted/mentioned, I'm fervently hoping is Talia).

^ I'm kind of surprised by your attitude regarding the addition of another high-profile actor to Nolan's franchise, since Hathaway is joining a cast that is already full of high-profile actors (Bale, Freeman, Caine, Oldman).

Maybe I should amend that. I mean adding high-profile actors. Having guys like Caine, Oldman, Freeman in prominent supporting roles is one thing.

Christian Bale was definitely known but wasn't a superstar yet. Bale became big because of Batman Begins. Heath Ledger was an Oscar nominee and definitely known but even he wasn't a superstar. He would have been if he hadn't of died. Aaron Eckhart wasn't well-known before he was cast. Katie Holmes was pretty well-known before the first movie but she wasn't a superstar movie actress.

Again, I could just be overreacting. But I remember when it was the it thing to add all these big-name actors to the next Batman movie back in the day and I think that was a disaster for the franchise. The franchise now doesn't have to add anymore big-time actors to the staring roles. Know what I'm saying?

You're right that they don't 'have' to cast high-profile actors in the film, but still find myself surprised by what you said since you seem to be making the assumption that Hathaway was cast purely because she's high-profile and not because she was the best actor for the role of Selina/Catwoman as Nolan and Co. have envisioned her.

 

[CaptainCanada]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

Nolan seems to prefer casting high-profile actors, judging by his filmography. And while Hathaway right now is more known than Bale or Ledger were at the time they were cast, I don't know if the difference is really that big.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

My mistake then. I must have misread that part of your post. I have been hoping for Taila since the rumors of her being in the film first started...though I fear those might be just rumors. Also Tom Hardy was reported about a month ago as not being the main villain in the film, not sure if that was true or not. So many rumors and not enough confirmation as far as I'm concerned.

 

[23skidoo]

Re: Anne Hathaway is Selina Kyle - The Dark Knight Rises

I'm pretty happy with these actors. I am a little suprised by the Hathaway casting though, I know she's gone twoards the heavy dramas now, but I don't know if she's done action before.

You've never seen Get Smart?

I think Hathaway is the perfect choice. I've noticed a tendency for people to forget Catwoman is a comic book character. I even heard someone in a radio report today say the character was ORIGINATED by Michelle Pfeiffer (I'm sure fans of Julie Newmar will love that). Insert face-palm here.

Anyway, Heath Ledger didn't impersonate Jack Nicholson or Cesar Romero with his Joker. Hathaway won't pretend to be Halle Berry or Julie Newmar or Michelle Pfeiffer. She'll make the character her own.

I know very few people read comics these days, but I read the current Catwoman comics regularly, and in my opinion Hathaway is a dead-on accurate choice with the way the character is being portrayed these days. I also keep hearing Catwoman being referred to as a villain in the new movie. How do we know that she will be? She hasn't been a villain in the comic books for going on 20 years. Anti-hero, yes, but then so is Batman. She's the DC equivalent of Black Widow - she changed sides ages ago. She's more likely to be portrayed as an ally in the film (especially assuming the film picks up where Dark Knight left off, with Batman on the lam), which again makes Hathaway a good choice because odds are she won't be playing a big bad. If she was, they wouldn't have needed to cast a Bane. (Pfeiffer's Catwoman wasn't the big bad in Batman Returns, either - she was a victim who went loopy; Penguin and Christopher Walken's characters were the villains in that film.)

Alex

 

[DigificWriter]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

My mistake then. I must have misread that part of your post. I have been hoping for Taila since the rumors of her being in the film first started...though I fear those might be just rumors. Also Tom Hardy was reported about a month ago as not being the main villain in the film, not sure if that was true or not. So many rumors and not enough confirmation as far as I'm concerned.

It's all good.

Regarding Talia, she is one of the few Batman villains who makes sense in the role of female villain (which I do not believe is going to be filled by Selina/Catwoman; see below for why). If you take Talia out of the equation, there are very few other female Batman villains who would work as part of Nolan's universe, and I personally happen to believe that one of them - Harley Quinn - is someone that Nolan won't touch because she is very similar to The Joker.

People seem to be making the automatic assumption that Selina/Catwoman will feature in TDKR as a villain, but, if the IGN report that I mentioned is true, she is, in fact, not going to fill that role at all, and will, instead, serve as a 'stand-in' for Batman whose vigilante activities draw him back out of hiding; she can also function very well as the 'love interest' character mentioned in the reports about Nolan and Co. casting for two female leads (which, as mentioned, I am having a hard time believing were false).

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Anne Hathaway is Selina Kyle - The Dark Knight Rises

Selina started off as a villain...a thief really and has in recent years been a Batman ally and now is allied with Batman Incorporated. She's still a thief too.

 

[DarthPipes]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

@Digific I agree with your notions about Selina being the love interest and the villain at the same time. I referenced "Dark Victory" in my previous post. Bruce was dating Selina at the time while not having uncovered that she was Catwoman yet, in fact it would be some years before Bruce deduced her identity in this revised continuity. I don't think we're going to get a rehash of "Batman Returns" as some have been concerned with, that would be too easy to do. The Nolans and Goyer probably have something far more interesting in mind for us

I didn't say anything about Selina/Catwoman being both the villain and a love interest for Bruce in one; in fact, I was saying the opposite of that, since it's what seems to be the prevailing opinion/assumption at this point. If the IGN report I mentioned is in fact true, and the report about Nolan casting two female leads in TDKR is also true, then we're definitely looking at Selina/Catwoman filling the role of 'love interest' in addition to being a vigilante whose actions draw Batman back out of hiding, with another character filling the role of the female villain (which, as noted/mentioned, I'm fervently hoping is Talia).

^ I'm kind of surprised by your attitude regarding the addition of another high-profile actor to Nolan's franchise, since Hathaway is joining a cast that is already full of high-profile actors (Bale, Freeman, Caine, Oldman).

Maybe I should amend that. I mean adding high-profile actors. Having guys like Caine, Oldman, Freeman in prominent supporting roles is one thing.

Christian Bale was definitely known but wasn't a superstar yet. Bale became big because of Batman Begins. Heath Ledger was an Oscar nominee and definitely known but even he wasn't a superstar. He would have been if he hadn't of died. Aaron Eckhart wasn't well-known before he was cast. Katie Holmes was pretty well-known before the first movie but she wasn't a superstar movie actress.

Again, I could just be overreacting. But I remember when it was the it thing to add all these big-name actors to the next Batman movie back in the day and I think that was a disaster for the franchise. The franchise now doesn't have to add anymore big-time actors to the staring roles. Know what I'm saying?

You're right that they don't 'have' to cast high-profile actors in the film, but still find myself surprised by what you said since you seem to be making the assumption that Hathaway was cast purely because she's high-profile and not because she was the best actor for the role of Selina/Catwoman as Nolan and Co. have envisioned her.

My chief problem with the Hathaway casting is she doesn't strike me as the type for an action role. I don't think Anne Hathaway when I think of superhero film. I think they should have gotten an actress more suitable for an action movie. I could have seen her more as Harley Quinn. With that huge mouth and giant teeth, she looks like a female Joker.

Maybe I'll turn out to be wrong. I hope so.

 

[DigificWriter]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

^ Go check out Get Smart; the film, in addition to being freaking hillarious, more than proves that Hathaway can handle action.

 

[Frontier]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

I've got so many things swirling around in my head right now... questions and theories...

Theory: Bane will be a hired assassin brought in by the desperate Gotham mob to eliminate the Bat. They want brute strength. Someone who can physically take him on.

Question: How will they handle the accent? Will Bane suddenly be British, or will Hardy fake a South American or perhaps middle-ground, North American accent?

Theory: Venom will be a custom-tailored combination of steroids and PCP or something like that. No surging tubes or what not.

Question: Will he wear the mask, and will it be symbolic or functional? IE; will 'Bane' be a secret identity?

Theory: Batman/Bruce will be resistant to his feelings for Catwoman/Selina because he's still hung up on Rachel and her death, and convinced more than ever anyone close to him is doomed.

Question: Will Selina be a straight good-guy, straight bad-guy, or kept ambigious -- a cat burglar who steals for the thrill, but had a conscience and cares for animals and isn't a villian/bad-guy.

Theory: Any Catwoman costume will be far from the slick skin-tight plasti-leather of Michelle Pfiefer. Likely more like we've seen in recent comics. Leather pants, leath jacket, gloves, something to conceal her identity with a flare of something cat-tish. Nothing over-the-top, much more understated.

 

[DigificWriter]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

Question: Will Selina be a straight good-guy, straight bad-guy, or kept ambigious -- a cat burglar who steals for the thrill, but had a conscience and cares for animals and isn't a villian/bad-guy.

A while back, IGN had a report on casting that mentioned Selina/Catwoman, and were pretty specific about her role, mentioning that she would be a vigilante who comes to Gotham to fill the void left by Bruce/Batman's decision to voluntarily become 'persona non grata' in Gotham, with her actions being the catalyst for his 'return to action', as it were.

 

[Dream]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

Awesome news.

Catwoman is interesting because she can be so complex, being the lover/hero/villain rolled into one. There is a reason why I found Michelle Pfeiffer to be the only interesting female love interest in the first four Batman movies. I can't wait to see the new Catwoman's costume. Hathaway is going to be great!

Hopefully we get a much better Bane than that crappy one from Batman and Robin!

 

[Admiral_Young]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

^ Interesting. I like Frontiers theories about Bane. Especially about the mob hiring him...although the fractured mob might be weary about another "Freak" taking over their operation given what the Joker managed to wrought. His machinations helped to cause their downfall as well. I'm just very excited about this movie. I can't wait to hear more casting news and the first poster.

 

[JRS]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

Awesome news.

Catwoman is interesting because she can be so complex, being the lover/hero/villain rolled into one. There is a reason why I found Michelle Pfeiffer to be the only interesting female love interest in the first four Batman movies. I can't wait to see the new Catwoman's costume. Hathaway is going to be great!
Hopefully we get a much better Bane than that crappy one from Batman and Robin!

Indeed
I have been fan of Catwoman for a long time..and it will be really great to see Nolans take on her character.
Hathaway is a interesting choice to play her..but a good one

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Re: Third Nolan Batman film title announced!

I like the idea of Hathaway as Catwoman.

Know a little about Bane. Not sure about Hardy, but only time will tell.