Batman: where do we go from here?

The Dark Knight was excellent. I haven't spoken to anyone who didn't enjoy it. There were some cries that it was too long and too preachy, and also that Maggie Gyllenhall was a bit rubbish, but I challenge anyone to not enjoy that film as much, if not perhaps more, than any superhero film ever made. It was a complete film, and transcended the genre. In short, I loved it. A lot.

But where does the franchise possibly go from here?

Stop reading now if you haven't yet seen The Dark Knight.

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If you have seen the film, then you'll probably have guessed that the original plan of Christopher Nolan, his brother Jonathan, Heath, Cristian and Warner Brothers was that if this film was successful enough, they would make another, possibly final Batman film, completing a trilogy. The plan was, as you will also have guessed, to have the Joker as the lead villain once again in that final film. So far, so good.

Big success? Tick.
Studio ready to write a blank cheque for the next one? Tick.
Nolan to be given free reign on the story? Tick.
Ledger gives an iconic and stunning performance? Tick....

Only one problem, of course, which is that Heath Ledger is no longer with us....

This begs the question that has already been igniting fan imaginations across the ginormous global blogosphere: who will Batman face in "Batman Begins 3"?

Three options appear open to the film-makers, both with their own pitfalls.

1. Forget about the Joker. Make up something about how he is still on the run, or even in jail... and
1(a). Bring in a new villain, or two.

2. Harley Quinn

3. The nuclear option. Introduce a new actor as the Joker.

Right.

1. Could work, but would be difficult to just explain away such a character. The film was so fantastically setting up a third act with the Joker in charge. It could always remain the greatest film never made.
1(a). I have heard people suggesting new villains like Catwoman and the Penguin. How on earth could you make them seem 'realistic' in the way that they did with the Joker, Scarecrow and Ra's Al Ghul? I suppose it would have to be something like Catwoman being a vigilante who goes too far or something like that, but that's not very exciting. Also, would the whole romantic angle sit rather strangely with the memory of Rachel Dawes? I have a funny feeling they might try to tackle Catwoman though. The Penguin could be a crime boss, I suppose, but that's boring too. There have been wild rumours of Johnny Depp as the Riddler, too. These are totally unsubstantiated, but I suppose the Riddler could be in a similar mould as the Joker - basically a total nutjob with a sick calling card or something. But perhaps he would be just too close to the Joker. Unless they can think of another way of doing him. For the record, here is a (partial) list of other Batman villains from years gone by:

Doctor Death
The Monk
Doctor Moon
Anarky
Bane
Black Mask
Blockbuster
Calendar Man
Catman
Clayface
Cluemaster
Deadshot
Firefly
Hush
Killer Croc
Killer Moth
The Mad Hatter
Man-Bat
Maxie Zeus
Mr Freeze
Poison Ivy
Hugo Strange
Ventriloquist and Scarface


2. Harley Quinn, AKA "Harleen Quinzell" is basically the Joker's on-off girlfriend. Her appearance in The Dark Knight was rumoured, but seemingly pulled to avoid adding yet ANOTHER layer to the already complex story. Now, the character was originally pencilled in to appear in Joel Schumacher's proposed 'Batman Triumphant' (Batman & Robin sequel) - and was to have been played by Madonna. Hmmm. Perhaps this idea (minus Madonna of course) could be somehow resurrected for the next movie. It's also thought that Harley Quinn is in fact bisexual, and also having a relationship with Poison Ivy. Nolan could go crazy with that whole concept.

3. This one sounds ridiculous, but could just be awesome. If the Joker was to be recast, it would have to be someone with crazy talent, but also massive guts. Javier Bardem, anyone? Not sure if they'd ever actually do it though, but it might add to the mystique of the Joker as a character of pure chaos. Possibly.


The bad news for geeks like me is that we won't have any news at all on the next Batman project for at least a year, according to sources within Warner Brothers. I can't wait. And I have faith that if Nolan does decide to take on the very challenging task of a sequel to the juggernaut that is The Dark Knight, he will take his time to do it, and the characters, justice.