Yesterday, a screener for The Dark Knight leaked all over the interwebs, so the entire world has officially enjoyed Chris Nolan’s Batman sequel. Nevertheless, let me whisperSPOILER ALERT” in your ear like a geeky Craig Mack. In a couple of  new interviews, co-star Aaron Eckhart has revealed the ultimate fate of Harvey Dent and Two-Face per the ending to TDK and this second sequel we love to speculate about…

“[My character is] dead. I couldn’t even get the words out of my mouth. ‘Hey, Chris, am I–?’ ‘No. You’re dead. You’re dead,’” Eckhart told AICN. “…Well, it’d be easier than anything to bring him back, but… it’s like Chris said on the tour. He wasn’t thinking about the next movie when he made [THE DARK KNIGHT]. All the vegetables were in this stew. I think that this franchise has shown that it doesn’t have to bring back characters. I mean, there’s still Catwoman. I’ve heard Angelina Jolie really wants to do Catwoman; I think that’s a great idea. I’ll be a happy audience member this time.”

Do you guys agree with Eckhart that it’d be “easier than anything” to bring Two-Face back for the next installment? Like most of us, I’ve had this debate with friends. Given, Two-Face’s arc in TDK is swift (some fans have said too swift) and his final scene in the film is dubiously played (so is The Joker’s), but I feel that infection would have set in and killed him if a character ultimately did not.

One of my minor quibbles with TDK is that Two-Face’s appearance in the film entertains a Dick Tracy-type cinematic reality, whereas The Joker, his goons, and Lt. Gordon are based in a realistic universe that’s drawn comparisons to Heat. Having Two-Face return for another film would only reinforce this extension of disbelief. One of the counter arguments to this is that Dent, beloved by his peers and the city, could be medically treated and make a still-conflicted return with lots of scarring and facial reconstruction. And of course, there’s the chance, albeit small, that Eckhart is setting us up here for a similar surprise. So, Dent’s done, but what about Nolan?

“He never said he’s going to make another one. I’m sure they drove the Brinks truck up to his house and dumped money on his lawn. But I think Chris wants to go out and make other movies, too. And he should. He’s an independent filmmaker at heart.”

Money on the lawn? Meh. Nolan is probably sitting poolside in a purple beret next to an original work of Francis Bacon, demanding that Warner Bros. put his “face on the one dollar bill.”

Discuss: Eckhart’s statements aside, do you think Two-Face should return? If so, in what state and what’s his new arc? As it stands, was TDK’s take a definitive one for this major character? Is there a chance Eckhart is being sly? Angelina Jolie for Catwoman? How many films do you expect Nolan to make before a second sequel?

  • h2opr00f
    “SPOILER ALERT” in your ear like a geeky Craig Mack

    Awesome line hahaha
  • charles
    Well I think they'll bring him back. But for now the Two-face character is dead. I say that only because the series for now is dead, they haven't announced a new film! If they do I'm sure Nolan will do and Riddler and Two-face film.
  • erik
    I think 1-2 films would be a good amount of time before we see the next installment. We need Nolan refreshed and wanting to come back on his own, not be pressured by studio execs who just want him to churn out another cashcow. As for Catwoman, I'd personally rather have Kate Beckinsale play the part.
  • The Addict
    Should they bring him back? Absolutely - the Harvey Two-Face character was barely even explored in TDK. The way that would be best to go with it is to up the split-personality aspect and really have him torn between who he was and what he's become.
  • Superman
    This is like batman forever all over again.
  • Mattieo4
    Anyone else spot two (count 'em, two) 1989 Joker references in Hunter's last paragraph?
    Very sly my friend, very sly.
  • Wintermuted
    Brevity can be genius. Leave it be.
  • Zach
    Oh geez....I hate Catwoman. And I could never see Jolie play catwoman, no, please no.
  • Joseph Fritzl
    they killed him off, and the makes you believe he is dead. id rather see new characters and new stories rather then a weak justification of 'oh he really was alive and we did this and this and this and oh shi- two face is back' thats some saw faggotry right there.
  • Joseph Fritzl
    christ, i missed a word. whoever is doing moderation should add 'and the MOVIE makes you beleive.. to my post. sorry / thank you
  • rudy
    If we're talking Catwoman -- give me Jessica Biel.

    Not sure if this has been mentioned but I think Nolan could re-do Mr. Freeze as a villain.....played by John Malkovich.
  • jimbo stewart
    Dent is dead. Though, I could see them coming up with some baloney way to bring his character back. I just can't see it happening without undermining the story.

    I would love to see Clayface, but he's way too unrealistic for those movies.

    Too bad they can't have different directors making different Batman movies simultaneously.
  • kevin
    I think that the new "theme" of the next movie could be CONFUSION lol

    this one was chaos

    the next movie could be confusion.

    Is batman really a killer and not a hero, etc. perfect set up for a riddler.
  • J Productions
    I really think Two Face will return in the third one. He was built up great and to have him not return after a small amount of screen time as Two Face would just be disappointing. Eckhart did such a great job that he just has to come back. Two Face has tons more to explore. I want Two Face and Riddler in the next one. No Catwomen, ever.
  • I do think that his character went by a little too quickly... Then again I can't see him being brought back. What more is there left to say about Harvey Dent? It seems to be his room for growth as a character is over. I'm just hoping there's an extended cut or deleted scenes in the DVD release.
  • edog
    What I hoped the relaunch would do would be set up the Batman films in the vein of James Bond, meaning the series does not live or die by who plays Batman, who directs the film, what happened in the previous film, etc. The first two movies do that reasonably well, though killing villains would, of course, string the series' potential longevity without getting into the more ridiculous of Batman villains.

    One loss in having Two Face killed is the Harvey Dent rehabilitation and Two Face resurrection that was so artfully tackled in Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns."
  • I think they should leave well enough alone, Two Face is dead, but if Batman Survived the fall maybe Dent did also, nah other wise his exposed eye would be twitching, no man can hold his breath for a long time, for the next batman movie they Should put the Riddler in there and make him dark and psychotic, since the Bat movies always have two villains in there, with the exception of the craptacular Batman & Robin, the second villain in the next movie should be Hush, he's not too colorful and doesn't have a gimmick really, plus for the emotional side, he's Bruce Wayne's childhood friend and that could cause issues and maybe make Batman challenge his no kill policy, and my choice for the role is Zachary Quinto, from heroes, he's sinister looking and has an awesome voice, forward this suggestion to David Goyer and Chris Nolan.
  • GregoryV
    Agree, Two Face should remain dead. I do believe that his story arc was short lived but he doesnt have to terrorize hell for a next possible film. But you know, WB would probably want the Two Face character be in a colma and surprise everyone like Charles Xaiver fate in X3.

    Nolan should make 2-3 films before coming back to The Dark Knight. After watching a lot of his past films, he's become my new favorite director with great releases. I think it's because he's still in mind an independent filmmaker with an awesome writer called his brother.
  • A Better Class of Criminal
    People need to understand that the story was about Harvey Dent, not Two-Face. Nolan doesn’t just use villains to use villains. He uses them only in order to suit the storyline.
    Two Face fit the story line in that he was the mirror image of an alternate Batman. A hero who, after so much grief, loses faith in the system and seeks revenge. Two Face was only one part of the character arc, and to bring him back only to have him be a villain would be pointless.
    In my opinion Eckhart was the legitimate Harvey Dent/Two-Face, and he played the character in a very realistic manner. To bring him back would undermine the realism that Nolan has attempted so well.

    As far as I’m concerned the next villain should be the Riddler, coupled with either the Penguin or Catwoman (or both if Nolan can pull it off). In fact, an opening with Harley Quinn would be an interesting way to bridge the gap between the Joker’s chaos in the first film to the next one.
    But in the end it’s up to Nolan, he hasn’t led us wrong so far.

    And he should do another film, if not two, before he comes back. Wait until he is ready, and has a story. I’m already stoked to see it.
  • Agent J
    I agree with A Better Class of Criminal.
  • kenton sam- there's another key next to the comma. use it.
  • alex
    i like the direction they took with the first two films by not neccessarily having big names hollywood stars. angenila joile wouldnt do catwomen any justic although jessica beil has be an underated actress i think she could pull it off. Although johnny depp in any film is appeallin an him playin the riddler could bring the same excitment and darkness heath ledger did with the joker...
    sucks we are havin this disscussion about next villian because everyone an there mommas would rather have heath ledger back then anyone else.

    rip
  • That sucks, two face was great in TDK. Eckhart's performance was way better than Ledgers.
  • Joe
    BAAAAAAAW.

    Now that I've done that, Nolan should get about a year off to do other projects, but I want to see another Batman in 2011 or so.
  • Iron Matt
    Dent was clearly dead. To bring him back would undermine the carefully, and beautifully constructed thematic elements and subtext from the film. I felt that Aaron Eckhart was tied with Heath Ledger in that film for best performance (which is hard to do in a film full of outstanding acting)... perhaps even better.

    As far as a villain for a possible third Batman, fans are seriously limiting themselves when they say suggest Riddler, Catwoman, Penguin and the like. For example Hush is a plausible villain that could wonders in Nolan's universe and could easily provide a unique and original story. David Goyer's interpretation Killer Croc was excellent and could easily fit in to a third Batman, as well. Victor Zsasz and Deadshot work as well.
  • sproks
    If people want to bring back Two-Face for the purpose of exploring the Two-Face character, make a Two-Face film. But hijacking the hoped-for sequel to do that? No way. The villains need to continue to act as challenges and reflections of Bruce Wayne/Batman, not the other way around.

    Frankly, I can't see the next film spotlighting any particular villain because of the way TDK ended. The obvious continuation looks like a Batman vs. Gotham storyline since Batman would be seen as a bona fide criminal (2 cop murders and the highly popular DA?) by the general populace, not a hero or protector of his city.
  • They should most definitely not bring back Two Face, it doesn't make sense. He was perfect in TDK and I do think the arc was complete.

    And, please, in the name of all that is holy and good, stop talking about Angelina Jolie as Catwoman.
  • guy
    oh wow i couldnt see it before but when i start to think about it... imagine a last clip showing harvey puff out a slight breath or something along those lines... build the anticipation like when the joker card was revealed in the begins
  • Alex
    If you read the article, Eckhart says Harvey Dent is dead...but Two Face could be very much alive (and in Arkham) for a third film.
  • A Better Class of Criminal
    Woah.

    I can't believe people are saying Eckhart was "better" than Ledger.
    As good as, maybe. A solid second place, definitely. But better just isn't plausible.
  • Henry Jones Jr
    Where do people keep coming up with lines like "Dent was clearly dead" or that "bringing him back would undermine the...film"??? He was no more dead in the film than Commisioner Gordon was. Nobody seems to have had a problem accepting that little plot twist.

    Bringing him back doesn't undermine anything. In fact, it plays directly into the story's conclusion. Gotham needs a hero and a villain. Dent was the hero. Thus Batman/Gordon fakes Dent's death and hides him away, preserving his savior status, while Batman becomes the villain. They would have every reason to have faked his death. The fact that the movie did not definitively lay the character to rest, at least no more so than they did Gordon, leaves open that possibility. Two-Face's eventual escape in Part 3 would be one hell of a plot-twist, and seal Batman's new role as the villain when the cover-up is revealed.

    Even more ridiculous is this "I feel that infection would have set in and killed him" line. Really? So we're supposed to suspend disbelief enough to believe that a man dresses up as a rubber bat to fight criminal clowns but we can't get past the infection thing?!? Huh??? Slap some Neosporin on that shit and he's ready to rock.

    Two-Face may indeed be dead, and if that's the case, it's the director's personal choice to take the story in that direction. Nothing more, nothing less. His death, or survival, could successfully be argued for either way. Stop with all the definitives already.
  • krackajap
    If they do end up bring him back, I'd love to see it done like in The Dark Knight Returns where even though his face is healed, Dent is still scarred to the core and he will forever be two-face. They could do something interesting by also tying it into Bruce no longer wanting to be Batman but eventually finding out that he's not choosing to be Batman, rather that he IS Batman at the core.
  • jj gonzo
    Maybe TWO FACE can be in a coma and
    after he wakes up does not remember
    anything and goes ape shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BIEL as catwoman!!!!
  • South Texas Terror
    I enjoyed everything about Harvey Dent and enjoyed little about two face (especially that last scene). So having two face in the next movie would be weak. Aaron doest even come close to ledger in TDK enough said. I would like to see woody harrelson as the riddler (natural born killers) and put Bain in there since he was just a cameo in the older movie.
  • Bringing him back would be a mistake. They allready rushed his ark in TDK. THey cannot re-do it in a sequel that would ust be stupid.
  • evergreen
    WTF is with all the (misguided) wishful thinking?

    I'm gonna echo what some people have already said in that Harvey Dent (aka Two-Face aka Harvey Two-Face aka 'That Guy') had his complete story in TDK.

    For them to bring him back would retroactively diminish the conclusion of TDK, which was perfect. What the fuck is he gonna do?

    "Oh, I just lost the one love of my life because the people I trusted didn't do what they were supposed to do and all I've ever done is good and OH YES I just lost half my FUCKING FACE. Let's go help BATMAN!"

    No, he's gonna go after Gordon, the guy who refused to let him do the checks on his unit. And when Batman is faced with the choice between the kid and Dent, he chooses the kid. (Whether he breaks his 'one rule' is a topic for another post.) JESUS. Let it go. He's done. IMO, it wasn't rushed; it all made sense, but some people just want more (not in quality but more of Two-Face).

    In Nolan I Trust, so whatever he decides to go with, I have total faith but in the meantime that we have nothing, there's just a couple of things to keep in mind:

    Before TDK, Eckhart said this much: that he was interested in reprising his role (SOURCE: http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0265713/), with no mention of this info he already knew, about him being dead, misleading some people as to what happened. That means he's probably not above helping Nolan hide whatever ideas he has about Dent with part three, if any at all.

    So yeah.

    Okay, I'm gonna go watch it again. TOODLES!
  • J Buuutlerr
    LOL

    Dent's dead in the story. The Joker's dead in um reality. And Angelina Jolie wants in as cat woman.

    Hahahahaha

    Seems like God has cursed any future batman film. >)
  • Goobity
    Nolan should continue to put all his effort into making brilliant films that he's interested in. The Batman franchise has been around since the 30's. It can wait for a follow-up.
  • Jon
    I really don't go to movies to see Angelina Jolie. I just go to fantasize about sleeping with her. So seeing her as Catwoman would be too distracting. She won't be able to immerse herself into the character. If she couldn't do it for Beowulf, she won't for this.

    The only way Nolan's going to make another film is if he gets really inspired. Anybody want to meet up outside of Nolan's house and put a big "question mark" spotlight in the sky? ;)
  • orange cinema
    i'm curious what everyone else thinks den't death toll is, because i keep hearing one's that are quite different than mine.

    i've got 3: the cop in the bar, maroni's driver - which lead to maroni. so that's 3. he did not kill ramirez like alot of people think, so is 3 the same number everyone else has?
  • orange cinema
    4 if they pin dent on him.
  • Ash
    Keep Angelina Jolie the hell away from a batman sequel please!!! No one could play catwoman only Michelle Pfeiffer!!!

    The whole thing with cat woman is she is first a clumsy, slightly dumb and unnoticed character and then she becomes cat woman.

    Does Angelina Jolie look clumsy, slightly dumb and unnoticed??? No. Keep her away. She can't act anyway. She was only good in Girl, Interrupted and that was it.
  • TheDarkWizard
    It would be pointless to bring 2-face back ! What would he do? Revenge on batman? I don't think so! It would ruin TDK if so. btw, abetterclassofcriminal was right, 2-face was just the right character to fit in the story between the corrupter and the righteous.

    I think Angelina would do fine as Catwoman, my only concern is how the character will play in the story. Anyway, The Nolans will surely do fine.
  • The Gajonka
    it will be three years BEFORE THE NEXT BATMAN. OK, MAYBE 2.5.

    YES, TWO-FACE WAS ABSOLOTELY KILLED OFF WAY TOO QUICKLY. HE JUST BECAME TWO-FACE.. THREE DAYS LATER HE IS DEAD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DISRESPECTFUL.
    TWO FACE MUST RETURN AND I AM SURE THE SCARECROW CAN FORMULATE A SERUM TO BRING THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE- I WOULD START WITH HIM. MURPSHY WOULD DO IT, IF ONLY FOR A BRIED APPEARANCE.

    COLE HAUSER SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AS A POSSIBLE NEW VILLAIN.

    TWO FACE DESERVES MORE OF A LIFE. THE WAY THIS ALL PLAYED OUT HE WAS NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO HAVE ANY GOOD STORIES. HE NEEDED TO TRAVEL THE WORLD, TAKE SOME TIME AWAY, PASS JUDGEMENT ON OTHER PEOPLE, LIKE A BARTENDER WHO WAS GIVING HIM A DIRTY LOK WHEN HE ASKS FOR A RUM SUNRISE POOLSIDE.... IN THE ISLANDS SOMEHWERE.


    NOLAN SHOULD BE CAREFUL THAT HE CRAFTS THE THIRD. THE SECOND ONE, I COULD FEEL SLIPPING AWAY FROM HIM AT TIMES. CASTING NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED BETTER FOR THE MINOR ROLES, WE NEED MORE CHARACTERS.

    HE SHOULD SUBMIT TO CREATIVE FANS A CONTEST WHERE WE WRITE UP IDEAS FOR HIM, IN THE FORM OF SCRIPTS OR QUICK TWO PAGERS SO HE CAN SELECT A GOOD IDEA FOR HIM AND THE FRANCHISE. WE OWE IT TO HIM, AND TO BATMAN. LETS MAKE IT BETTER, FOR HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US THAT AFTER , FILMS GET WORSE....

    THANKS...
  • Peter
    Batman is Dick Tracy with a mask on......

    Who would love to see a Dick Tracy movie made like Sin City?... That would be classic if done right, also it would have to be violent.....
  • Chuck
    Am I the only one here who thinks that Nolan will not do No. 3? We saw with Raimi and Spider-Man 3 how it gets complicated when the studio sees dollar bills and you want to incorporate a ton of villains to appease every group. That was a disaster.

    Crazily enough, Ledger's death is Nolan's get-out-of-jail-free card. He can say "The Joker has to be in the third one, and I can't imagine directing anyone but Heath in that role."

    Speaking of which, who in their right mind would take that role now? It was played to perfection by a man who is now dead. You would be crucified.
  • cLIFF
    I think nolan is taking his time not rush it and screw it up like rami did with spiderman 3
  • gocitizen
    someday....and you won't believe it, Christopher Nolan is going to rape all your childhoods. :)


    Have a nice day.
  • TheDaftPunk
    I really enjoyed the Harvey Dent / Two-Face storyline in TDK, and I feel that it was completed. However, I do agree that it was rushed, and it would have been nice to see more of Dent as Two-Face, but for what it was - it was still complete. I don't think he should return in a third Batman movie. If they didn't ambiguously kill him off at the end of TDK, and instead, left him obviously alive - Then I'd say it'd be okay to bring him back. But as it stands it'd be half expected, and a little silly to say he's alive.
  • sproks
    orange cinema, you're right; I forgot that Dent didn't kill Ramirez. But yeah, then the murder count would be at least 3. (Did Maroni really die? I didn't feel that was so conclusive.) Batman told Gordon to pin all the deaths on him and that would be especially where Dent was concerned.
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