Selected bits from a larger story in Variety. Though it is not cited, it looks like the script will be taken largely from Batman: Year One, with Chris Nolan at the helm of the project. Sounds good so far, they indicate that they will be buiding the characters and set designs from scratch. Considering Batman and Robin may be the worst big-budget film ever made (IMO), erasing that memory would be welcome. Might be tricky to do Year One without a lot of voice-over exposition, and I’m sure most of Gordon’s story will have to go (unfortunately).
I hope they are not forced to add a name actor super-villian character to sell it to the studio. A real story with character development may be a tough pitch.
The costume supposedly will not show up for at least 40 minutes into the movie. I think they could now do some good stuff with digital work, like white-out the eye holes and add the cape effects in post-production. Nipples? Eh, only if done tastefully.
No! No Nipples! I’m sorry but nipples can’t be done tastefully!!
But yeah I agree with everything else, I have high hopes for this one, good directore, good actors, good story to base it on, this Batman might actually work.
(And it would be cool if they gave him white eyes in costume.)
Well, Liam Neeson has just signed on. Though there’s no official word on who he’ll be playing, there are rumours that it could be Ra’s Al Ghul. And there’s still no word on who Cillian Murphy (from 28 DAYS LATER) will be playing. Actually, I don’t think they’ve officially stated who Katie Holmes will be playing either.
So, all we know for sure is that Christina Bale is Bruce Wayne/Batman and that Michael Caine is Alfred Pennyworth. Oh, and that they’re looked for an “enormous” Asian actor for a smaller role. (A minion of Ra’s Al Ghul?)
On the subject of nipples, I was more upset that Batgirl didn’t have them on her costume than the fact that Batman and Robin has them on theirs. Of course, any sexual focus in the Schumacher films seemed more focused on the Batman/Robin relationship than any sort of relationships involving women.
I just hope they won’t use Spandex for the costume. Or that “underwear on top of pants” look.
Heck, even a costume modeled after the current batgirl might be good. (Without the completely feminine aspects, of course. Like the wasp waist, or the pronounced bosoms.)
I was joking withn the nipple comment, I’m sure they will seek as much distance as possible from the last movie. No Robin, no Batgirl, no strobe light in the hood of the car, no Bat-Mastercard.
Had not heard about the other castings, Caine and Neeson sound like good choices. A tight story with Ra’s Al Ghul also sounds promising, I just hope they stick with that and don’t add other villians.
There’s also been talk that Dr. Jonathan Crane (aka The Scarecrow) will be a character in the film. Of course, they could be doing what the Spider-Man people have done, introducing other comic characters in small, non-superhero/villian roles, opening up the possibility of re-introducing them as major players in later films - e.g. Dr. Mendell Stromm (aka Robot-Master) in SPIDER-MAN, and Dr. Curt Connors (aka The Lizard) and John Jameson (aka Man-Wolf) in SPIDER-MAN 2.
I really hope they emphasize Batman’s intelligence instead of going for more and more outré gadgetry like the previous films did. Is it too much to ask that we actually see him be a detective for once? And while I’m at it, no more bulky fetishy leather Batman suits. No more. Even if you ignore or don’t mind the BDSM overtones, Batman should at least be able to turn his head!
A friend sent me a few e-mails last night. The WB is apparently working on a new BatMan cartoon. It features a young Bruce Wayne, just starting his crimefighting career. Penguin, Joker, Catwoman and others will make appearances as Bats faces them for the first time.
From the cast list included in one message, almost none of the voice actors from the last Bat series will be involved. I’m ever so pissed about this. Kevin Conroy does a great job on Batman and Bruce Wayne. Mark Hammil is a marvelous Joker.
There are other aspects of the show I don’t like (Bats will use many gadgets all linked and controlled by a special Batwave remote). But, considering the changes made on Batman The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and Justice League, I’m willing to give the show a chance.