Batman Sequel Title and Casting Confirmed!

comingsoon.net ^ | August 1

[pcottraux]

Batman Sequel Title & Casting Confirmed! Source: Warner Bros. Pictures August 1, 2006

As a follow up to last year's blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures' The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Christopher Nolan revamped the Batman franchise in 2005 with the immensely successful Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the title role, which chronicled the early years of the superhero. Nolan first garnered attention from critics and fans in 2000 with the groundbreaking drama Memento, which he wrote and directed. He went on to direct the thriller Insomnia, starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and recently wrapped production on The Prestige, with Hugh Jackman and Bale.

Bale was most recently seen in the ensemble cast of Terrence Malick's The New World. His other credits include Little Women, Portrait of a Lady, Metroland, American Psycho, Laurel Canyon and Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun, which was his first starring role.

Ledger most recently earned Oscar Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award nominations and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in the award-winning drama Brokeback Mountain. His other credits include Casanova, Monster's Ball, Lords of Dogtown, The Brothers Grimm and The Patriot.

"Chris' unique vision is what made 'Batman Begins' such an outstanding film and we could not imagine anyone else at the helm of 'The Dark Knight,'" said Robinov. "We also can't wait to see two such formidable actors as Christian and Heath face off with each other as Batman and The Joker."

"I'm excited to continue the story we started with 'Batman Begins,'" added Nolan. "Our challenge in casting The Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale's Batman is going to be incredible."

Production is set to begin on The Dark Knight in early 2007.

[pcottraux]

Heath Ledger will be the Joker:

Unconfirmed, but also a strong possibility:

Not only will the Joker be a villain, but there's a strong chance that the Penguin will be involved as well. It has been confirmed that Philip Seymour Hoffman has been offered the role, though reports indicate that he was not interested.

Bob Hoskins has also been rumored for the role.

According to what I've read, Harvey Dent will be the D.A.--a good guy--during this coming sequel, and around the end we will see the tragedy that turns him into two-face.

There are three reliable candidates to play Den/Two-Face:

Liev Schreiber:

Josh Lucas:

Ryan Phillippe:

[digger48]

He already played a Poker

[pcottraux]

Indeed.

[MotleyGirl70]

Josh Lucas:

Never heard of this guy but he's cute. Those eyes...

[pcottraux]

He recently starred in the "Poseidon Adventure" remake.

He was also in "A Beautiful Mind" and he played the villain in "Hulk."

[MotleyGirl70]

I saw "A Beautiful Mind' but I don't remember him.

I'd see this Batman movie if they cast him.

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"Glory Road"...that's another he was in recently.

In "A Beautiful Mind," he started off as Russell Crowe's college nemesis, but by the end of the movie they were friends.

[MotleyGirl70]

Yes, now I remember him from "A Beautiful Mind".

[pcottraux]

Yeah, they sit down and play some board game, and Russell Crowe loses, and says "The game is flawed!"

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Lainey.

[MotleyGirl70]

Oh, and Happy Birthday to Lainey.

I'll let her know you said so :)

G'night, p.c.

[pcottraux]

I'll send her a card.

Just looked at your homepage...she's adorable. Not sure how old my cat is...probably about 7 or 8.

Note how fat his head is.

Goodnight, MG.

[MotleyGirl70]

He's cute...is his nickanme Fat Head? Lol.

[pcottraux]

His name's Leo, and in that picture, he's enjoying his own personal bed. He makes the rest of us sleep on the floor.

We don't have any pictures of him where he isn't laying around waiting for his next meal...because that's all he does.