Of course my pick for the riddler is Johnny Depp. Before overlooking him lets remember his performances beyond the pirates of the carribean. Lets think sweeny todd, public enemies, and many more serious and psychotic yet intelligent roles he has done to perfection.

I say riddler is a serial killer (not out of passion for the kill but for the sake of using the bodies as a statement to the police that he is dangerous and must be taken seriously and to send batman his riddles and continue his game) having his strings pulled by the joker, VIA Harley Quinn, as a former psychiatrist at Arkham and now possing as a defense attorney. Lets give batman some love interest struggles with Selina Kyle and Harley QUinn, both of whom have hidden agendas and prove to him that his life is an eternal battle with the crazies of Gotham. Toss the Penguin in as a villian for both Batman and Bruce wayne. He is Oswald Cobblepot a fellow man of wealth and a prestiegous lineage. And the underworld needs a new boss. Here we can introduce many lesser villians to step up for the challenge, those the public wishes to see but could not possibly carry an A-list hollywood epic such as this must be. So hush, dark mask, scarface, etc., can all show their faces. I go with Bane being hired by The Penguin to help take over the criminal element of Gotham as the new King Pin. Bane is intelligent and with his venom [4] injections he is a summit of power not to be underestimated. Now for Batman’s inner termoil with taking his next step lets toss selina in as the catwoman the anti-hero who will show him that he can bend even his own rules to save his beloved city

These are all very do-able possibilities. Will they happen? I doubt it but the fact is that this movie is being made regardless of what we have to say about it. If it is good or not entirely depends on Nolan. And listen closely to the actors. They are in closer proximity to this story than they let on. PR dictates that they are permitted by contract to “leak” little tid-bits of information as determined by the Nolan/WB camp. When an actor speaks on a film they are involved in by contract all they can speak of is what the execs give them permission to say, or they are fined or worse. Freeman is a veteran actor and knows how to play his orle very well within relation to the public. Now that does not go without saying that they also are told to discourage some rumors that are closer to the truth. Johnny Depp as the Riddler is looking more and more like one of the established elements for B3 and the more hype created either way will only add to their current objective.

Finally, the only true rumors are those not discussed by the involved actors (meaning involved by contract not by rumor). So I only believe what I see these actors releasing to the public. They are the poster-children of their projects sent forward by the execs to create a stir. And when an Idea sticks the most they pounce. Mark my words, there is a story in place here, a script has already been started if not already finished, and the buzz will continue untill the day it is released into theaters. The more we discuss it and create rumors for it, the longer it will stay in our mindsa and the longer the studios will have to finish said project. We keep these things going, not the studios or the actors. The public demands and the public is supplied. Nothing more nothing less. Because at the end of the day, when it is all said and done, we are the ones who will put the money back into their pockets. Some will be disappointed but the majority will find satisfaction. The studio can not afford a let down such as this. Expect a bigger budget, a more ellaborate production, and plenty of major league support from hollywoods A-list.

As for this, I’ll wait for official confirmation from Nolan or WB before I weigh in.

I would love to see a recast of the joker too, but I believe (though am not sure) that Nolan has said no one else would play the joker. That was not long after the movie’s release and he may have still been emotional, but I doubt he will want to use the joker again now that Ledger is gone.

The Dark Knight was a great movie, but also probably Nolan’s least artistic movie. I believe that trend might continue into the third movie. And I also believe it will have a weaker storyline because what he truly wants to do with it, he can’t. Therefore I think the next movie will have a weaker storyline than The Dark Knight and be less artistic than Batman Begins. That’s why I think it will be his worst movie. That’s not saying it will be bad because I have every confidence that whatever Nolan does with the third movie will be at least the third best filman in the Batman franchsie. Discussing Nolan’s worst movie isn’t discussing a bad movie. I still think the third Batman will be great if Nolan does it.

Or Christopher Nolan can just recast the Joker and keep his original storyline. And I hope he does. I loved loved loved what Heath Ledger did with the Joker in “The Dark Knight” and I am saddened that we lost such a great actor too soon, but I would hate to see the character absent from Nolan’s Batman series. Christopher Nolan has a knack for finding the best actor for the role. So I know he could find an actor to take the character in a new and worthy direction.

Odds are a recast will probably not happen due to public and fan outcry. But if the character was included in his outline for Batman 3, then I hope Nolan does recast.

Concerning Morgan Freeman’s comment, like Caine and every other actor before him, I wouldn’t put too much faith in those comments. The actors most likely don’t know much.

As for the news post referring to Batman On Film’s January 2010 rumor. Stop it. Batman On Film doesn’t know any more than we know.