Can you imagine if The Dark Knight was the last Batman film for actor Christian Bale? Clearly no person plays more into the monumental equation of a trilogy starring him than director Christopher Nolan. Bale recently spoke with EW about a second sequel to Batman Begins, or as the odd interviewer incorrectly called it, Batman “film number six”(I counted seven, Peter counted eight with the Adam West film)…
Interviewer: So do you think there will be a part 3 of Batman?
Christian Bale: Um, look, let’s wait and see…Interviewer: Or, I guess it’d be part 6.
Christian Bale: No, no, no, no, no. [Smiling] Part 3 is what I’d consider it, yeah, I don’t say part 6. Batman begins — that was the beginning there, with all due respect to the others. We are re-creating this. You know, obviously the decision is out of my hands. I would, knowing the Dark Knight story, I would like very much to complete a trilogy. And I think that knowing the story of The Dark Knight, it leaves you anticipating something that really can get very, very interesting for a third. Now, the question would be: Is Chris going to be doing it? Because to me I find it tricky to imagine working on it without it being a collaboration with Chris.
Sounds good, but it won’t be cheap. Bale was signed for three films way back when, including a Batman “team-up” movie. There was a time when a third film in Nolan’s series was strongly rumored to be the trial of the Joker (screenwriter David Goyer even said so back in 2006) but that piped down even before Heath Ledger’s passing, and Two Face’s appearance in TDK would also negate it.
With general interest already through the roof for TDK partially due to the best early trailer of the summer flock, and one of the strongest viral campaigns ever, the first sequel is going to rock registers and hopefully fanboys’ minds as well. A third film would be ideal and everything points to it happening with Nolan and/or Bale at this stage. But hey, it’s Hollywood, nothing is a sure thing.
Discuss: What are the chances we’ll see a Batman 3? If Christopher Nolan suddenly (and uncharacteristically) said, “I won’t do another Batman film unless it’s the last one…and I mean ever!” would that be worth a Warner Bros. handshake?
March 17th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin in Part 3!!!
March 17th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Yeah, like why make movies that rock and entertain people? Howzabout he makes a movie about a rag-tag group of [competitive sports] players and against all odds helps them to win the championship and learn a valuable lesson, yeah, thats the way to go.
But seriously, its gonna make a truckload of cash even if it sucks, which it wont, because they have the same star and director on board (and writer?). So there will definitely be a third, after that I think they will wanna move on. They keep making spiderpuss movies even tho they suck ass, ffs.
March 17th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
They have to do a Batman 3…and i really dont want to wait another 3 years for it…They will probably follow the whole holiday killer thing from the long halloween….eckhart claims he turns into two face and kills people like vigilante justice…basically what he does in the long halloween…what they should do is follow that story and add in something like the sequel to the long halloween…dark victory which would be awesome…
March 17th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Maybe I’m in minority here, but I think they should stop while they’re ahead. Seriously. I’ve been burned too many times by part threes, and this might be The Empire Strikes Back of Batman movies. If they make a part three, now that from what I understand all the pieces will be in place*, they should make it a one adventure Batman movie that doesn’t strive to cover every portion of the Batman story in one film as they usually make them.
*meaning that at the end, Wayne Manor, Bat Cave, the Freaks, everyone will be in place to create an ongoing series.
I’m a fan of two movie series, I don’t think threes work very well in these films. You could argue THREE ACT STRUCTURE, but I don’t think the third act works with a separation from the second.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
my side of it is they should do a third but it is very time consuming.its almost been 3 years since begins. not only that but tdk is going to be good, its very hard to question that, so nolan and bale are going to get some of their dream jobs and wont have time to waste waiting for the third to be announced.
an example of this is michael bay who did transformers , he has a few good jobs for him so it is sketchy he will be back for the 2nd
March 17th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
If the director decides to make a third film it may be a hit or not. 2007 was a year for trilogies. Pirates, Bourne, Spider-Man, Shrek, they were all succesful in the box office but i can’t say the same for 2008. Not a lot of sequels are coming this year. Movies from books, video games, or somethin’ have been made now. Even parodies have been made. TDK will be one of the first sequels this year. A tgird film sounds good to me though. A great title would be “Caped Crusader: Rise of the Riddler”. Sounds dumb but then again, it’s great to have a couple of crazy people here and there. Hopefully The Scarecrow will get enough screen time in TDK.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Gotham City might make a neat title.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
The Dark Knight is gonna be awesome and they’re definitely gonna make a third at some point. The movie is so hyped right now and I think it will deliver. I agree that the teaser trailer was great. In fact, it was one of the best ever. I loved the light breaking apart the bat symbol, that blue and black is a great color combo.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Unless the world start spinning in reverse and this film bombs of course there will be a part three. It’s rare to get a film of this magnitude that is both critically and commercially successful.
Providing they don’t go ape shit with multiple villians and sidekicks you can bet it’ll be pretty good too.
Oh and Gotham City is an ace title.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
hopefully we do see a third Bat-flick
and of course Mr.Nolan and Mr.Bale
ARE the Bat-Francise so, it would be very
smart of warner bros. to have a third movie
waiting in the wings!!!! finally we have a
comic book movie franchise us fans
can be proud of!!! (not taking away anything
from the SPIDERMAN movies but I think the
BATMAN movies: BMB and TDK set the standard
for comic movies!!!) I would like CLAYFACE
or BANE(played by JAVIER BARDEM) in the
third movie!!!!
March 17th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
i got no doubts for the third batman..im sure Chris nolan has a surprise 4 us in da ending..da same way he did 4 batman begins..
cuz warner bros. aint gona quit on a franchise such as batman so quickly.. N deyll do everythin in deir power to get chris n bale back 4 the third.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
part 6, she must not count Batman and Robin.
March 17th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
@ Allynd
It’s a “he” and I’m not so sure the guy can count period. Really off interview all around. ;)
March 17th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
two face’s story arc will climax in part 3, the joker will escape and torture gordon by stripping him naked and putting him in a cage in the zoo and make him watch his “wife”(not his daughter) get crippled by the joker…the holiday killer is taking out the gotham elite and batman and harvey two face are trying to eliminate him, movie will introduce cat woman as bruces love interest…not sure what story they would use for her…but this is where i think they are going with the franchise….they seem to have skewed the details a bit in this one as the joker scars dent not maroni….so i would think we will see the joker beat down someone in the gordon family ala the killing joke (which nolan seems to love )….i also think that scarecrow will be the only villain to die in the dark knight…i bet the joker kills him within the first hour of the film…probably at their fear gas showdown…
March 17th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
If Nolan’s at the helm, I really don’t see how it can go wrong. The first was amazing, TDK is looking to be amazing; I say go for it. With that said, if they want to keep the ‘realism’ there are only a few villains to choose from; Phillip Seymour Hoffman would be sick, Glen lol
March 17th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I’m waiting for “No Mans Land” to be written for the screen that has to become a movie or a trilogy.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I think there’s going to be a 3 and many more. I’ve got family who are some of the most highly acclaimed writers in Hollywood and I’ve gotten hear many plenty of idea’s that have been talked about how to move the franchise into the future.
Thinks that I’ve heard at one point about the Batman franchise is that Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot is someone who won’t be seen for sometime but is the mastermind pulling the strings in the 3rd film. The idea is that he’s more of a dirty businessman but he’s not the one thats directly going to get his hands dirty. My guess from what I heard and obviously if they still go in that direction is that he he won’t be seen at all or nothing more than cameo such as someone thats on a News Report or something like that or it could be that it’s just his name that comes to light after Batman discovers the real truth of whats really going on. Another thing about the Penguin that was mentioned that I remember is that the name Penguin isn’t going to be a name that would be used very often because they see it as a name that the media labels him and that were we will hear it but thats about it because to his fellow villains he’s the businessman/crime lord Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.
Another thing heard at the time is that they were ecstatic about getting Heath Ledger because they saw him as the Joker having many battles with Batman over the years and that after the Dark Knight that they were thinking of having a Joker film. The idea that was thrown around was that it would be a semi-origin film but that would also take place in the time of and right after the Dark Knight. Obviously it would be from the POV from the Joker and that ideally Batman would have a part in it to show the events of the Dark Knight through the Jokers POV. The joker wouldn’t play a big role at all, surely mentioned and maybe a cameo but thats about it.
The extreme basic outline idea that was being thrown around of how to connect the 2nd film to the 3rd is that Bruce Wayne/Batman is fighting on both fronts as both Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman and that he’s starting to slip up some because the lifestyle is taking it’s toll. Two-Face would be the main villain Batman is dealing with but there would be others lesser known villains under the control of Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot that would be causing problems for Batman but that the effect of is won’t play itself out until the future. On the other front Bruce Wayne would be dealing with Black Mask.
How I heard them talk about the Penguin / Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot is that he comes off as Keyser Söze type and/or the The Don and while he’s the man the major player in it all he’s not the guy in the headlines and I think if they go in the direction that they were talking about going in that the Penguin character will play a major plot but not so much in the actual act of it all.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
I’m pretty certain Nolan will do one more to complete this set he’s created. Along with Bale.
After that? if DC and WB decide to milk it, I won’t bother. Mainly because I don’t see any other director doing the character justice like Nolan did. I’d be happy with DC doing continuous animated add-on’s like the upcoming japanese animated shorts do out soon.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Mark you’re silly.
March 17th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
in nolan we trust. i’m down for whichever decision he makes, and i dont mind waiting years between films. you guys who bitch about waiting will be the first to bitch about what a shitty film it is if they rush one out. not everything has to be out RIGHT NOW. hoffman is cool, i always liked the bob hoskins idea for penguin, but i think nolan said no-way.
i really hope to see a third, but only if nolan directs. none of that produced by him but directed by another. it just wont be the same. if he leaves, they gotta restructure.
March 18th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Nolan said a few times before that if a character like the Penguin made it into the films, it wouldn’t be the freakshow circus character like in the Burton or comics. He would be some sort of famed mafioso gun-runner or something of the likes, his nickname will remain. I’d love to see Nolans take on the Penguin, The Croc, or even a character like Catwoman.
Nolan can take all the time he wants. The break after BB seems to have done him some good (I loved The Prestige too) and i’m really glad WB and DC are giving him all the time he wants. Good art needs to breathe.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:14 am
I agree with Captain Awesome-
As long as Nolan is involved with Bale- i can’t see them letting anyone mess it up. I believe they would walk away first, after making Batman credible again, it would be a tragedy if it went off the rails again.
But sadly the ‘Hollywood machine’ loves to bleed ideas dry! so i’m sure another director will be employed until it is killed as with the first run of films.
Bale won’t be involved unless Nolan directing- he is a damn fine actor and has credibility, even if they offer BIG money- i still think he’d walk away.
Hoffman- yes, think that would work.
Scarecrow should get more screentime- underused- and never really liked Two Face villan- maybe Tommy Lee Jones pathetic version put me off him!
TDK is going to kick ass- no doubts.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:18 am
When do actors not say this when asked about sequels? His answer is about as rote as you can get.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Yeah - I’ve always felt that Warner were revising the Batman franchise for a long haul! To make some great movies and a whole lot of cash! The fact that they have achieved this has to compel a third movie and the merits of the first two movies will surely make Nolan very protective of the third movie!
What with Two Face’s story to continue and a new bad guy - I dream of Paddy Considine as Parasite!
I just have this lingering thought of… what happens with Joker?
If he is gonna be so great in TDK then we will want more- could this ruin part 3?
I wait to see…
March 18th, 2008 at 7:19 am
How about:
Batman 3: Joel Schumacher Has Nothing To Do With This Film
I like that title.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:02 am
I would like to see a third movie that would redeem my favorite Batman villain, the Riddler. BF was terrible.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I just think if they were really serious about this,they could have started filming these back to back much like the other trilogies that have been out as of recent. That would work better and the timing would be just right.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
I’m eagerly waiting to see this one. Not only because I consider myself a (moderate) fan of the character but especially because the rumored plot, with its numerous characters, sounds like a train wrect waiting to happen. Christopher Nolan better not mess up a potentially great franchise for WB.
In my opinion Batman Begins had an average box office performance. However, the mostly favorable reviews from critics and fans alike saved it. Plus one wouldn’t expect Warners to give up on such a lucrative franchise rite? So if The Dark Knight performs much better than expected and the crowd reception is very, very positive I’m sure the suits at WB are going to greenlight a second sequel.
It would be wise of them to forego the idea of a JLA movie at this time though. Perhaps they can pursue it after the third Batman flick or they could make the very unnecessary Batman Vs Superman flick.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
That interviewer obviously didn’t know what he was talking about. The plan from WB and Nolan has always been three–Bale was being very typically diplomatic in his answer, just not making any promises. All signs point towards the end of The Dark Knight setting up a third film. Harvey Dent will become Two-Face, probably at the end, and Cillian Murphy filmed only for a week (1-2 scenes), which is a possible (probable, I hope) set up for him to return in the third. I think it would kill not only audiences, but Nolan, himself, to leave something unfinished.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
EW updated their article to say “Batman 7″ now instead of 6. /Film is very powerful!! Kudos on correcting them.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@ Matt
Indeed. ;) Thanks for the update man.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
I prefer these new “LESS” Cartoony/cheesy versions of Batman, they seem more serious and can be taken more seriously. Bale does a better job, great voice for “Batman” as well.
- E.T.
Evil_T0NY Fan/Sci-FI/Geek Site
March 18th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
There is going to be a batman three cause i know the main writer. Contracts for it are already out and its going to be filming real soon. Just so you all know. Its going to be a great movie.
March 19th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Will the Batman suite have nipples on it?
March 21st, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I like the idea of a third film ONLY if Nolan and Bale are on board. And from what I hear TDK sets up for a sequel even more than Begins did. “Shadow of the Bat” would be a great title!
March 25th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
April 1, 2008. What could be better for the Joker? Any word on the upcoming new ARG next week? The Joker cakephones expire March 29th. By April Fools’, you will see something cool, I logically deduce…
April 4th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
well… there would be 9 if they made a TDK sequel. The fisrt batman movie came out in 1943 with Lewis Wilson plays the caped crusader and Douglas Croft as bird-boy. The villian was Dr. Tito Dako (J. Carrol Naish)
then Adam West did 1
Michael Keaton did 2
Val Kilmer did 1
and then theres the one that should have never been made… Batman and Robin with George-o 8(
Christain Bale has done 2 so far
hasnt there been more different actors playing batman then james bond? 8P
April 25th, 2008 at 4:23 am
i am expecting a two face with a realistic un-even acid burn and his coin to help his 2 dualing personalities deside. He should get it with the jokers little flower acid lol…he is good because he is one of batmans most realistc characters along with joker… he should be slick clean smart villian on one haf killing for business and strategy using what he knows law to destroy evidence and set batman up while the other brutal and messy very sloppy rather bludgent people with a hammer or use a saw acts on pure impulse revenge with out thinking much…they should keep the villians real…i don’t want to see a mr.freeze in the future with a stupid suit and a fish bowl on his head …he should be a cold blooded killer keep him bald with round red wire frames and kill people with weapons made from ice so the evidence melts away giving this serial killer the name mr freeze…kills woman in the likeness of his wife wich is dead and he keeps preserved in a freezer
May 12th, 2008 at 4:09 am
I actually like that idea for Mr. Freeze, that’s a pretty well thought out concept. Doing that along with Two Face would be a fairly unique combination as well. The vision behind these films seems so strong that I have to imagine they already have a part 3 and part 4 concept sitting somewhere.