I heard there was a new villain announced for the next BATMAN movie if so who? Also any other news about it?

Answer 1

The name of the new Batman project is supposed to be titled "The Dark Knight" and Heath Ledger may play The Joker.

(This was posted 7/31/06)
Batman 2 Update: Ryan Phillipe as Two-Face?

Also, the Penguin is unofficially confirmed for Chris Nolan's sequel.

Batman-on-Film says a Warner Bros. insider has confirmed the Joker and the Penguin will be the main villains of the sequel to Batman Returns.

"I can confirm (as I did a few weeks ago) that while an offer has been made to Heath Ledger, Ledger has not signed any deal, and is reluctant to do so (at the moment.) Ledger is not a lock," the source says. "It seems Nolan has been listening to you guys when it comes to casting his other villain, however. I can confirm that an offer has been made to Phillip Seymour Hoffman for the role [of the Penguin]. Yet Hoffman has indicated that he may not get involved in the sequel."

Earlier rumors had the Penguin being a British arms dealer/mob boss with his eyes on Gotham's underworld.

Meanwhile, the insider added that Ryan Phillipe may be inline to play Harvey Dent, Bruce Wayne's district attorney friend who becomes Two-Face after being horribly scarred by an industrial accident.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/articles/2890.asp

(This was posted 8/15/06)

More Dark Knight Details, Joker News
Producer Chuck Roven talks about Heath Ledger and the schedule for making the Batman Begins sequel.

Chuck Roven, producer for Batman Begins and the Dark Knight sequel, talked about the new film with Superhero Hype and Heath Ledger being cast as the Joker.

"We're really thrilled about Heath Ledger playing The Joker. As Chris Nolan said, the great thing about Heath is he commits himself fully and totally to everything he does. He's just a brilliant, brilliant actor and you know this Joker is a very interesting dark fellow."

The film is due out June 2008. "We are supposed to start shooting what we call a preshoot, which we know what that is, in January and then the main body of the movie is going to start in March," he added.

Roven didn't give many more details or comment on whether Philip Seymour Hoffman (Capote) had been offered the role of the Penguin. "One of the things that we have always done--we did it with the first 'Batman' movie in which we were involved, 'Batman Begins'" he explained, "[is] we don't comment on any rumors because it takes all the fun away."

That goes for the rest of the cast as well, although Christian Bale has been confirmed as returning to the role of Bruce (Batman) Wayne. "We are hoping, depending upon everyone's schedule and other aspects of what it is they want to do with their careers, that we're going to get most if not all of them who are alive back. Meaning 'alive in the movie', not really alive… sorry. We're supposed to get them back if we can. The script is in the process of being written. There isn't a screenplay that exists right now, so I can't really tell you much more than that. Certainly Christian Bale is going to play Batman and Bruce Wayne."
Bob Gough
8/15/2006
Source: Superhero Hype

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/articles/2926.asp

Answer 2

Heath Ledger as The Joker

Answer 3

there is theory that Riddler, Catwoman and/or Black mask stands out as the villains. i have even heard a Killer Croc rumor. The Riddler might want to artwork yet he might want to seem too very resembling Ledger's Joker and his risky lack of life traps and intricate puzzles might want to seem too gimicky for Nolan's "life like" approach of Batman. Catwoman might want to artwork yet I doubt that we can see her because Nolan needs to end the movie series and that leads me to believe that he will stay away from a love pastime for Batman/Bruce Wayne. i imagine in my opinion that we can be seeing mob appropriate villains like Black mask and Penguin; both can artwork in the Nolan videos. Black mask became a professional businessman and Wayne rival in the comics that used the blackmask as a cover for his criminal pastime. an same will be carried out in the movie setting up a rival for both Bruce Wayne and Batman who wears a black mask over his head to hid his identity. The Penguin will be Oswald "The Penguin" Copplepot; against the law boss who's overweight and wears black suits (resembling a Penguin for this reason the nickname. remember mob bosses have had nicknames in the previous like Al "Scarface" Capone). because the police are literally searching for Batman per chance Black mask and Penguin start up a mob conflict bringing Gotham into further chaos. Catwoman can make an visual attraction as a masked cat burglar that Batman apprehends. I doubt that Nolan would have a "major" villain in the action picture because that he needs to deliver closure in the third movie. of direction it really is basically my hypothesis yet i might want to need to make certain the mob be the villains because that he began his marketing campaign adversarial to the mob in begins. And the Riddler determining Batman's identity became used in the darkish Knight and that i doubt Nolan might want to recycle that. back who's popular with yet i comprehend that Nolan's next Bat flick gained't disappoint.

Answer 4

They really need to stop this nonsense.

Live action movies of super heroes are horrible. They should take a page from the Incredibles movie and go CGI. They can do SO MUCH more.

Answer 5

its the joker it says so at the end of the movie on the playing card

Answer 6

I hate that they are redoing the joker that really sucks

Answer 7

August 1, 2006
More Batman news! Does the movie have a title? Yes! It's The Dark Knight, bro! Is Heath Ledger officially The Joker? Sure! Is Philip Seymour Hoffman willing to play The Penguin!? Maybe! (says Batman on Film):

"It seems Nolan has been listening to you guys when it comes to casting his other villain, however. I can confirm that an offer has been made to Phillip Seymour Hoffman for the role. Yet Hoffman has indicated that he may not get involved in the sequel."

As much as I like Philip Seymour Hoffman, he almost seems too obvious. When you're picking sort of a pudgy little guy for The Penguin, there aren't that many choices in Hollywood. The beautiful and famous tend to hate fatties. So, in case Philip Seymour Hoffman rejects the role, I'd like to be the first to congratulate Jason Alexander on winning the role of The Penguin by default. Sorry, Louie Anderson.


July 21, 2006
According to the fabulous Latin gentlemen at Latino Review, the role of the Joker in the sequel to Batman Begins has been offered to the Australian star of Brokeback Mountain, Heath Ledger:

We were first to tell the world that Brandon Routh was going to be the new Superman. Now here we are at it again as we just got word from A VERY TRUSTED SOURCE that the offer last night was officially made to Heath Ledger to star as The Joker in the Batman Begins Sequel!
Funny that he'd be wearing more makeup as a crazed murderer than as a homosexual, eh? Funny if you're a homophobe! Think about it, bigot.


July 11, 2006
Speaking in an interview with Turner Classic Movies, Sir Michael Caine got on the subject of the work he was doing with director Christopher Nolan and mentioned offhand that he'd be making "The Joker" next year:

"I wanted to work with him and then Christopher Nolan who directed Batman is doing a smaller film called The Prestige about magicians and it's very interesting. And we're going to make The Joker next year."

Now ordinarily this might mean something, but you have to keep in mind that Michael Caine is very old and probably doesn't know what he's saying anymore. Caine calling the movie "The Joker" doesn't make it its name any more than my Grandma calling me "Gary" makes that my name (it isn't even similar). Sometimes you just have to face that the elderly aren't making any sense. Sometimes they're going to do things like mix up movie titles or wander around your yard muttering about clovers. There's a fine line between hot movie scoops and the onset of senility.


February 14, 2006
Several new rumors have popped-up about casting in the next Batman film. First, Brad Dourif, who played Grima Wormtongue in Lord of the Rings, may be up for the role of Dr. Arkham. Bob Hoskins, too, may have landed a part as Italian mobster Salvatore Maroni, presumably because all Italian mobsters are fat, little, bald men, and you can't have Danny DeVito in every Batman. Finally, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, the scientist who becomes The Joker's sidekick Harley Quinn, is rumored for Emily Watson. Emily Watson? Isn't Harley Quinn supposed to be a young, sassy, little cutie? I like Emily Watson, but not for this role. Is there a villain known for being kind of quiet and homely?

February 6, 2006
Someone named "Alexander" tells SuperHeroHype that he's a grip on the set of Christopher Nolan's The Prestige and has overheard some secret Batman meetings between Nolan, Christian Bale, and Michael Caine. And what did "Alexander" hear? Apparently, "Alexander" claims to have heard the name Paul Bettany followed by Joker, and Jake Gyllenhaal followed by Dent. Let's not get too excited here, "Alexander." Hearing a name and a role doesn't necessarily mean they're connected. I mean, my name is often mentioned with "strange pervert" and "sex offender," but that doesn't mean it's true. At least until my court case.

Gyllenhaal seems a bit young for Dent, doesn't he? Still, I hope he's cast, because when someone says something about "Broke-Bat Mountain" I'm going to punch them blind. Even if it's "Alexander."



January 13, 2006
Moviehole has some cryptic news about the upcoming Batman Begins sequel, including hints at who they want for the upcoming Joker role.

"This is the first screen appearance for this character in the Batman films and she has a very close connection with a major character in Nolan's first Batman movie. She will be out for revenge against Bruce Wayne and Gotham in a major way. As of who the studio is looking at for this role, let's just say that she is nominated for a SAG, a Golden Globe and is on her way to an Oscar nomination as well. She is also in fact five months pregnant and will be in tip top fighting shape once production begins to roll early next year but not before she throws a few coins in a fountain".

We're also told that every actor in town is interested in playing The Joker in the next film. Chris Nolan is pretty keen on getting 'a name' though.

"As you know, there are many actors who want the chance to do this character (The most requested Batman character next to Batman himself.) The studio is eyeing a major, major actor and Christopher Nolan himself is said to be just as excited as they are in nabbing him for the role. Who is he? Let's just say that he has a major film coming out this summer and it's a sequel to one of his biggest hits. In fact, his performance in the first movie was nominated for an Oscar. YES, they are looking at HIM if he is available for the role and rumor is that he might be interested depending on the script, which is being written right now".


I don't see why they have to be so mysterious about this crap. Do they want Gwyneth Paltrow to play the Joker? Judi Dench? Stop with the games!

A few more Batman rumours to chew on [Moviehole]

UPDATE: The best guesses we've got so far are Rachel Weisz for the role of Ra's Al Ghul's daughter Talia, and Johnny Depp for the role or the Joker.