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An update over at Batman-On-Film has begun to circulate around the interwebs scaring fanboys around the globe. Christopher Nolan has yet to commit to a third Batman film, and at this point he still isn’t interested in making another installment in the Batman series. GASP. I know that might come as a shock to some of you. Conspiracy theories have been flying around that Nolan committed to direct a Dark Knight follow-up when Warner Bros greenlit his sci-fi actioner Inception. That is not the case, nor has it ever been the case.

I’ve had this confirmed to me by almoat a dozen different sources, some high level people that would know. If Warner Bros had signed Nolan for Batman 3, you would have heard about it by now. That kind of announcement has the power to effect Time Warner’s stock price. A company could not hold on to a secret that large. If it ever happened, a formal announcement will be made in short order.

Nolan barely signed on to direct The Dark Knight, and Warner Bros is hoping that screenwriters David Goyer and brother Jonathan Nolan will be able to conjure up a story good enough to convince Chris to return. But chris is very hesitant, and for good reason — he directed a movie that went on to become the second highest grossing film of all time. An action film that  won over fans and critics alike. Oscar-level performances, technical innovations and so on and so on. It would be almost impossible to top himself by any account. And to add to the pressure, third installments in film franchises have often been notoriously bad.

Will Christopher Nolan return for a third Batman film? No one knows. I don’t think even Chris himself knows for sure. Worse case scenario, Nolan might return as a producer and oversee the development. Best case scenario — we won’t see another Batman movie until at least the Summer of 2012. Either way, I don’t think we’ll see any developments until Inception is in post production.

  • todd flanders
    Hes gonna do batman beyond.
  • Batman Beyond and Batman Brave and the Bold are the two best Batman cartoons that have been on television since Batman was on WB kids..
  • TheMarquis
    Other than The Batman, weren't they the only two Batman cartoons since then?
  • I read somewhere that Batman Beyond actually had a script was almost green lit before Nolan turned in his "Begins" script. If they actually did make a Batman Beyond movie, the little 8 year old inside me would do back flips.
  • rainbowcemetery
    We don't need a 3rd film. Why this obsession with making neat trilogies?
  • Ghad
    Errr this is Batman, not Goodfellas. Theres no reason for there NOT to be a 3rd film.
  • rainbowcemetery
    Films should be made with the writers going to the execs saying "hey we've got this awesome idea for a 3rd film!" not a bunch of execs saying "we need to have a 3rd film- get on it!".

    If they haven't even got an idea for a story yet (or at least one that Nolan likes enough to sign on for) they should just leave it. I would rather watch BB and TDK over and over than see them "Batman and Robin" the 3rd hehe!
  • /ambient
    Ask Hollywood. They think its a new wave of storytelling. Don't make one, make three! Profit! Mothafookers!
  • Normally I would agree with you but at the end of TDK Nolan clearly sets up the story for a squeal so you can't blame people for expecting one and you also can't blame them for wanting Nolan to shit or get off the pot. I don't think the 3rd films needs Nolan as a director to be good but if he's not gonna do it he should tell WB so they can start looking considering others.
  • They should bring Joel Schumacher back!
  • bomberman
    I felt that there was zero set up for a 3rd Batman film in TDK. Instead, it felt like a stand alone movie
  • Ender
    Agreed. It was set up almost as sequel-ready as the end of Batman Begins. I'm cool with him bowing out after a 3rd, but I think he should finish what he started.
  • God dammit Nolan, sign onto this. I've said it before and I'll say it again. This guy could direct anything and I'd see it, but please don't drop Bstman so some hack popcorn director takes it!
  • That doesn't mean WB isn't holding it for him. Are you kidding? He made them one of the biggest blockbusters in recent history. They're not going to let him go.
  • He'll have to say something eventually. Absolutely anyone and everyone's gonna ask him about it while he's doing the press junket for Inception.
  • You're right. He's gonna have to say something to satisfy everyone.. and it better be "YES IM DIRECTING BATMAN 3".
  • Khuzud
    Calm down fanboiz. Heath Ledger isn't going to be in it...
  • y?
  • hah
    so?
  • Lawdog
    serious?
  • JoShmo
    chicken?
  • speakspell
    IMHO, the only way to follow this up is to scale it back.
    Also, the focus should be back on Batman.

    There's an amazing story to be told - the superhero as an outcast, compelled to protect the very people that cast them out. The Catwoman would be the perfect for this too - the relationship between Bruce/Batman and the Catwoman would beautifully explore the blurred lines between hero and villain.
  • Of course.
  • jason B
    i can't believe this is shocking news - or new news at all - to anyone. we've known this for quite some time.

    a 3rd film shouldn't be seen as a way to top TDK. it should be looked at the same way the batman comic books are presented: many different titles with many different interpretations of bruce wayne. BB & TDK 's linear narratives are quite different, leading to significantly different styles for each.

    why not have a third different style of narrative for the third film? that way it wouldn't be 'topping' TDK, & the challenge for nolan would be in HOW he tells the story. i dunno, in any case, with or without another batman:

    IN NOLAN WE TRUST

    btw...at this point, i applaud WB's intelligence to leave nolan alone for the time being. let him do whatever the fuck he wants. but i wonder how long this patience will last.
  • jason B
    @ peter

    "Worse case scenario, Nolan might return as a producer and oversee the development."

    i can think of much, much, MUCH worse "worse case scenarios"...
  • Yes, technically, but I'm saying realisticly, the worse we can expect is for Nolan to produce
  • Yes, technically, but I'm saying realistically, the worse we can expect is for Nolan to produce
  • jason B
    if they pulled a 'hobbit', with nolan in the peter jackson role, who would you be happy having in the GDT seat? maybe alfonso cuaron? harry potter POA & children of men feel like he could 'get it'. i'm still waiting for jonah nolan to step up & direct, that might be cool. it'd have to be someone who wouldn't go FX crazy and realize the psychological side of these films are way more important that the action - especially if we got the riddler.
  • bubbajosh
    I have a hunch Nolan won't be on for a third, reason being there's honestly no success to be found in a third movie (with the exception of Return of the King, which was actually the third part of an overall single film).

    Warner Bros. would do well to just let the Nolanverse Batman die and come back to Batman four or five years down the road. On second thought, perhaps there's more to tell with a third film, especially since Batman's technically a criminal. Remember that Frank Miller gave Zach Snyder approval on doing a film version of "The Dark Knight Returns".
  • blaze
    no to Zach Snyder he just going to copy everything he wont bring in new ideas at all
  • jason B
    how is ROTK a 3rd part of a single film? its a book on its own. there's an overall arch, but each book is separate.
  • He knows he can't top The Dark Knight.

    I am not even a fan, but he set a damn high bar for himself.
  • dannyboy
    heres something people need to stop pushing Nolan to do another Batman movie it will take time for him to think of a good story for the next batman
  • themovies
    Well i do hope he does return. It was likely known after tdk he was going to go do that film he is currently working on and then probably take a few months off for another break. And any batman 3 from him wasnt likely to go down to 2012/2013 any way. I personally think with the right amount of time chris, jonah, and david could come up with a good logical story and bring in and update any villain like riddler, catwoman, peguin, etc..... and hit it out of the park again. And after tdk made so much money i bet wb is willing to do what ever it takes to keep nolan on board and keep him happy. I am sure they dont want to go through the mess of getting batman going again from the ground up or having a joel S/ratner guy come in and mess with the quality/look of a series. I know since the movie did make so much and heath death took a big blow to chris and all invovled nolan should have the time to do his own things be all charged and ready/willing to go a 3rd round with bats. Hopefully he will do it. I would hate to see batman fall apart again. Right not it is only stable dc comics series wb has currently.
  • Egger Buckland
    Whatever. If they're going to make another one though they should do it while the iron's still hot. Nolan isn't interested? Too bad, but life goes on. There's no fucking way there will be a Batman Forever level of discordance with the two Christopher Nolan directed films.

    If anything, finding a fresh director could be just what the series needs to stay interesting.
  • "Worse case scenario, Nolan might return as a producer and oversee the development."

    How is that worse case scenario? Worst case scenario he has no involvement with the film at all.
  • Warner Bros is in the Christopher Nolan business. Yes, technically Nolan could have no part in a third film if he wanted to, but I would say realistically the worse case scenario is that he produces the film.
  • Agemoi
    im surprised no one has mentioned this, but Christian Bale has been signed on for 3 batfilms along with Michael Cane I believe. So if Nolan won't return the WB will need to find a competent director with style, vision, and who can tell a story

    I hope that doesn't happen, but a 3rd movie WILL happen with or without Nolan. Very unfortunate =

    But WB is very smart unlike FOX or SONY who have, esentially, become notorious for interfereing with production on 3rd installments or just any standalone film. WB is very conscious of their actions and know what fans and viewers alike want. So we will see a 3rd film eventually and as a fan that makes me happy, but as a critical film viewer it makes me a bit wary as to how the project will be approached.

    In any case, we shouldnt really be worried. (( yes i wrote thise as best as I could so i could sound coherent and undouchelike. =D ))
  • Agemoi
    I meant to say: we shouldnt be worried YET. Until it gets closer to 2012 and more news starts to circulate there isnt a whole lot to talk about or expect : (
  • no chance in hell do they need anyone else. nolan is the one.
  • Doc
    How is this news worthy when its the exact same thing we knew since last year? Geez
  • TheMarquis
    It's news now that we have more context.

    We know now that Inception will not be a little film like we thought, a time so that Nolan can sit and think and get his chops back. Inception, budgeted around 200 million as /film reported, is going to be HUGE. This means, with Nolan not contractually obligated, that he can bring out the "I'm too tired" card and it makes it more likely or more of a reason that he won't be doing the third batman feature.

    Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
  • Captain Thunderball
    Watch Pan's Labyrinth and Taxi Driver and tell me that The Dark Knight is a masterpiece. It's just not, it's a good movie, better than average, that is all. Over-hyped and over-loved, with shaky acting and blatant product placement. The only extraordinary thing about this movie was Heath Ledger's performance, Bale and Maggie Gyllenal were the worst things about that movie. Just because a movie is dark doesn't necessarily mean it's better than something like Spiderman and Spiderman 2. Those movies have better characterization than Batman and better action sequences.
    The Dark Knight also had some of the shittiest dialogue I have ever seen. "You either die a hero or live long enough to become a villain". People praise this movie for its realism, but they seem quick to forget the court scene with Harvey Dent.
    Other than that it's just a good movie. This movie could do without Nolan (although Bale said he wouldn't return). I wish Aronosky would have done it.
  • ----
    The problem I had with the film is mainly why a movie about a man who dresses up as a bat and fights an evil clown is trying to be so steeped in realism in the first place?
  • it's not that realistic, dude.
  • ----
    Compared to the movies that have come before?

    I'd say its pretty damn realistic.
  • Egger Buckland
    The Dark Knight is not a realistic film. It just isn't. If you can't acknowledge that you're probably seeing something that isn't there.

    Or you're not very bright.
  • realism is only a thing that fanboys care about.
  • I would rather they never make a Batman film again than not have Nolan direct a third film in the franchise. As mentioned above, TDK was a masterpiece that outweighed even the greatest expectations. I will forever remember the anticipation and build-up that came in the months before it's release and I have never felt more satisfied walking out of a theater.

    That said, I understand the pressure and obligations that Nolan has, but I would rather the movie come to him than for him to go to the movie. Even after Batman Begins there wasn't any guarantee that Nolan would be back to film a sequel, and just as he is doing with Inception, Nolan directed The Prestige in between Batman films as well.

    There is so much potential for a third film and the Nolans and Goyer are talented enough that I am sure they can find a compelling story. Since the rumblings began, I have loved the idea of Edward Nigma (The Riddler) being redesigned as a special investigator who is both reassigned to work with the Gotham Police to hunt down Batman and dealing with his own personal need to know who is under the mask. The end of The Dark Knight leaves so much to be explored and I hope that Nolan will find his way back to it.
  • TheMarquis
    I'd much rather see the Riddler as a cross between Simon Gruber from Die Hard: With a Vengeance and the Ice Truck Killer from Dexter, season one.
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