Yes, this is slightly contradictory to “Don’t Let Christopher Nolan Become the Next Sam Raimi.” However, if either Christopher Nolan and his writer brother Jonathan, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine or Morgan Freeman don’t return for part 3, then why bother? Threequels often go awry because the original filmmakers or actors move on and the studio replaces them with hacks (paging Joel Schumacher and Brett Ratner). Every one of these guys is instrumental in the success of this franchise. Yes, even Caine and Freeman are integral. Their roles may be small. Yet, their performances lend a level of gravitas and credibility that has helped Nolan’s Batman transcend the popcorn flick stigmata.
Perhaps Christopher Nolan will top the awesomeness of The Dark Knight. However, if he does, that will truly test the limits of how much awesomeness the human mind can take. And I wager that such awesomeness can kill.
I don’t know how you top Heath Ledger’s Joker, in both performance and character. Two-Face was a viable option. But noooo. Christopher Nolan had to create an epic and include Batman’s two greatest foes within the same film and kill off the one who could truly follow-up the Joker (Two-Face IS dead, deal with it). So since Nolan blew his wad, there’s a decent chance the next villain could be a major letdown, After all, how do you create villain who can inflict more pain on Batman that what the Joker did in The Dark Knight? Yeah, well his special lady friend already got blown up. So that’s out the window. Most people believe the next villain will be the Riddler, the Penguin or Catwoman. All fine villains. Yet none as good as Two-Face or the Joker. And don’t expect a recasting of the Joker. No actor in the world has the balls to try to fill Ledger’s clown shoes. However, whatever actor decides to take on the villain role in the next installment better bring their best game. The Ledger comparisons are a certainty.
