The cast list is beginning to be finalized for the latest Batman film, directed by Christopher Nolan and set to be released in 2005.
Batman/Bruce Wayne....Christian Bale Alfred....Michael Caine Scarecrow....Cilian Murphy Unnamed villain (Ra's Al Ghul? The Reaper?)....Liam Neeson Love interest (Talia Al Ghul? Rachel Caspian?)....Katie Holmes Commissioner Gordon....rumours have circulated around everyone from Chris Cooper to Dennis Quaid to even Morgan Freeman
The Edge from U2 is also reportedly playing a role in the film, but this will likely be just a small part or glorified cameo. It does bode well for U2 involvement on the soundtrack, at least.
Also, a weird item on IMDB says that Nolan is setting Gotham City in England, since most of the cast have British accents anyway. That'd be an odd choice, but since Batman isn't an intrinsically "American" superhero as, say, Superman, I could see it work. They'd have to get an English guy to play Gordon, in that case....I could see someone like Jim Broadbent doing it.
Thankfully, no mention of rubber nipples on the Batsuit or a Bat-credit card. Damn you, Joel Schumacher!
Wait…if it’s MLK Jr. Day AND Pat Patterson’s Birthday…who gets the token win here?-- Matt "Excalibur05" Hocking on a match between Mark Henry and Rico
MH: What’s a clever way to say that I have a penis? CJ: Uh…Mark, nobody’s going to buy that shirt. MH: How about if I say that I’ve got…a…uh…? CJ: Coming up with T-Shirt ideas is hard Mark, why not leave it to the WWE marketing department. MH: I know! I’ve got it! CJ: Got what? MH: Stank! That’s Mah Stank! I’m gonna make a fortune!! CJ: “That’s Mah Stank”? MH: On the front it’ll say “Can You Smell It?” and on the back it’ll say “That’s Mah Stank”. Everybody’ll buy it because they’ll think it’s a Rock shirt. CJ: You know…you might be on to something there, sad to say. MH: I can’t wait to show mah stank to Trish.
You know, I have a feeling that Spanky didn’t quit, he was fired. Why? So they could repackage Mark Henry as “Stanky.” Think about THAT! --Matt "Excalibur05" Hocking, 1/19/04 Raw Satire
Apparently, the film will open in Gotham City for a tussle with Scarecrow, then move to London for the majority of the film whilst he takes on Ra's Al-Ghul. So it's set in England for the most part, but they haven't moved Gotham over there.
Also, whilst I love Liam Neeson, I'm kinda down that the initial rumors of Daniel Day-Lewis being interested in playing Ra's didn't play out. Can you IMAGINE DDL playing a Bat-villain? Awesome. Oh well, could be a LOT worse-Sly Stallone as Croc, anyone?
(edited by oldschoolhero on 13.2.04 1246)
"You're A Big Hunk Of Hero Sandwich, And You Wanna Save The Girl!"
Originally posted by oldschoolheroApparently, the film will open in Gotham City for a tussle with Scarecrow, then move to London for the majority of the film whilst he takes on Ra's Al-Ghul. So it's set in England for the most part, but they haven't moved Gotham over there.
Also, whilst I love Liam Neeson, I'm kinda down that the initial rumors of Daniel Day-Lewis being interested in playing Ra's didn't play out. Can you IMAGINE DDL playing a Bat-villain? Awesome Oh well, could be a LOT worse-Sly Stallone as Croc, anyone?
(edited by oldschoolhero on 13.2.04 1229)
Liam Neeson is a pretty decent consolation prize, although after having seen Gangs of New York recently, DDL as a devil's incarnate would just MAKE the movie and would make Christian Bale look heroic if only by default.
And as far as a young Jim Gordon, I'm going to make one choice and stick by it:
Originally posted by Big BadThe Edge from U2 is also reportedly playing a role in the film, but this will likely be just a small part or glorified cameo. It does bode well for U2 involvement on the soundtrack, at least.
While were tslking about the new movie, which I am still unsure if I will like it. But anyway, their is also another Batman tv series coming out, and news about U2's The Edge's involvement in that:
From Scifi.com
"The Comics Continuum Web site reported that Rino Romano will voice the title character in Warner Brothers Animation's upcoming new animated series The Batman. Other voice cast will include Kevin Michael Richardson as Joker, Allastair Duncan as Alfred, Steve Harris as Evan Bennett/Clayface, Tom Kenny as Penguin, Ming Na as Det. Ellen Yin, Gina Gershon as Catwoman and Adam West as Mayor Grange."
and
"Irish actor Liam Neeson is currently in negotiations to take a major role in the next edition to the Batman franchise, The Edge has also landed a major role with the Caped Crusader...
When the next Batman movie hits the big screen Irish man Liam Neeson may be lined up beside Aussie Christian Bale and another Irish man Cillian Murphy in director Christopher Nolan's film.
But that's not where the Irish connection to the Batman empire ends - U2's supreme guitarist The Edge is to perform the theme song to animated Batman series which will hit our screens in the autumn.
Neeson is currently filming Ridley Scott's epic Kingdom of Heaven."
(edited by XPacArmy on 13.2.04 1706)
(edited by XPacArmy on 13.2.04 1707) It's like a koala bear crapped a rainbow in my brain!
I don't think the new Batman film will take place in London. Nolan made it out in the Variety article that London would be one of the shooting locations to double for GOTHAM CITY. The general idea is that Gotham City will be a modern metropolitan city, and it will be shot in cities like New York, Chicago, Londan, etc. All of which will double for Gotham.
Judging from the script review that appeared online, I don't think the Lazarus pit or Talia are plot elements Nolan plans on using.
"Just a humble bounty hunter, ma'am." -Spike Spiegel
"The Comics Continuum Web site reported that Rino Romano will voice the title character in Warner Brothers Animation's upcoming new animated series The Batman. Other voice cast will include Kevin Michael Richardson as Joker, Allastair Duncan as Alfred, Steve Harris as Evan Bennett/Clayface, Tom Kenny as Penguin, Ming Na as Det. Ellen Yin, Gina Gershon as Catwoman and Adam West as Mayor Grange."
What's with the casting? Kevin Conroy & Mark Hammill are busy? Spongebob as the Penguin? Huh?
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
The new Batman cartoon is about Batman in his 3rd year as a crime fighter, explaining why Kevin Conroy wouldn't provide the voice this time around. The concept of the show is explained here.
Directed by Academy Award nominee [2001: Original Screenplay (Memento)] & written by David S. Goyer (the Blade trilogy). Expect Nolan to get a writing credit, too, as he's apparantly helping out with the writing duties.
Starring Christian Bale (American Psycho) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, 2-time Academy Award winner [1986 & 1999: Supporting Actor (Hannah and Her Sisters & The Cider House Rules)] Sir Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Katie Holmes (Pieces of April) as Rachel Dodson, Cillian Murphy (28 Days Later...) as Dr. Jonathan Crane, Academy Award nominee [1993: Actor (Schindler's List)] Liam Neeson as Ra's Al Ghul and 3-time Academy Award nominee [1987, 1989 & 1994: Supporting Actor (Street Smart) & Actor (Driving Miss Daisy & The Shawshank Redemption)] Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.
I am SO stoked for this. Considering that the people signed on so far have about 11 Academy Award nominations between them (and 2 wins, both Caine's) means that they have top notch folks working on this. Nolan's first two major films, Memento & Insomnia, have been extremely well-recieved (and filled with top notch acting by Guy Pearce & Al Pacino) and this one looks to be fantastic on paper. The scriptment that I browsed through online looks TIGHT. This could probably be the best comic book adaptation since the first Batman.
FLAMES: 30-20-5-3 for 68 points LAST YEAR: 29-36-13-4 for 75 points PACE: 43-30-6-3 for 96 points
"Oh well could be a lot worse-Sly Stallone as Croc anyone...
I have a better idea Killer Croc could be played by Chuck Wepner as the extortionist or have Arnold Schwarzenegger as primitive and no genius. And then you send in Rambo and Rocky to clean up the mess.
Christopher Nolan [Director/Co-Writer] (Following, Memento & Insomnia) David S. Goyer [Co-Writer] (Blade, Blade II & Blade: Trinity) David Julyan [Composer] (Following, Memento & Insomnia) Wally Pfister [Cinematographer] (Memento, Insomnia & Italian Job) Dody Dorn [Editor] (Memento, Insomnia & Matchstick Men) Nathan Crowley [Production Design] (Braveheart, Assassins, Mission Impossible 2, Behind Enemy Lines, Insomnia & Veronica Guerin) Peter Francis [Art Direction] (Enemy at the Gates, Harry Potter 1 & 2, Titanic & Hellboy) Lindy Hemming [Costume Designer] (Four Weddings and a Funeral, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Topsy Turvy, The World is Not Enough, Tomb Raider, Harry Potter 2, Die Another Day & Tomb Raider 2)
Nolan was Oscar nominee (Original Screenplay - Memento) Dorn was Oscar nominee (Editing - Memento) Hemming won an Oscar for Costumes for Topsy Turvy
So, if you include Dennis Quaid & Ken Watanabe into the new group of actors and techs, we get a grande total of 14 Academy Award nominations (and 3 wins). And that's not including the speculated U2 involvement on the soundtrack.
Man, this is gonna rock.
THE FLAMES: 31-23-5-3 for 70 points in 62 games IGINLA WATCH: 30 goals and 24 assists for 54 points in 60 games
Looks like Keifer is the only full-time cast member returning to the show next season. I, myself, like this idea, as it appears the show could be headed in a new direction and remain fresh. http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,14547,00.html