Warner Brothers to reboot Batman franchise after "The Dark Knight Rises"

[Jay 35,467]

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Batman-Reboot-Being-Planned-After-Dark-Knight-Rises-23926.html

I guess it kinda makes sense, but wouldn't it also make sense to continue in the same world, just with a different writer/director? Unless Nolan plans on killing off Batman

[Red 74]

It makes sense to me. I wouldn't want the next director to try to copy Nolan in any way, he needs to be able to do his own thing. The problem lies in over saturation, with JL movie and the new Batman so close to each other. The studio needs to allow for breathing room.

[Brónach 1,281]

True, there's nothing wrong with making new adaptations as long as there's something different to each other. I'd like a more openly fantasy/horror based Batman this time.

[TownerFan 4,981]

It's not a surprise. From the studio's POV, Batman is a huge franchise (i.e. moneymaker) that should be kept alive. WB will probably go the Spider-man route and will try to rejuvenate the franchise in some way or another.

[Red 74]

It's hard to know what the ending is going to be, but I seriously doubt it involves killing off Bruce Wayne.

[Charlie Brigden 6]

I wrote about this today, and I am enthusiastic.

[crocodile 7,733]

It's hard to know what the ending is going to be, but I seriously doubt it involves killing off Bruce Wayne.

Breaking his back, perhaps?

Karol

[Red 74]

It's hard to know what the ending is going to be, but I seriously doubt it involves killing off Bruce Wayne.

Breaking his back, perhaps?

Karol

That's the word around the campfire. But I don't see it as the ending; doesn't really fit the "rises" aspect.

[crocodile 7,733]

Well, Catwoman is probably responsible for that.

Karol

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,483]

Keep it going like the Bond series.

[Ollie 1,004]

This will probably be the new norm, once a story arc is done or the first film fails, the series will get a re-boot.

I await the Next Gen cast once J.J, is done with TOS.

[Wojo 2,450]

Too bad Batman Beyond never caught on, or WB could wait for Bale to age (or just bury him under a lot of makeup) and have him pass the torch to and mentor a younger caped crusader.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

I think it's the best route to take with any franchise. Just don't retread the same story too often. In the next Batman "series" I wouldn't want to see the Joker or Two-Face.

[King Mark 3,559]

I vote for no more Batman movies for 15 years

[Koray Savas 2,250]

That's too extreme. I think 4 years is a good gap.

[Wojo 2,450]

In this economy, whatever Hollywood can do to keep itself in business is fine by me.

At least I can elect to not see it.

[A24 4,183]

Haha, I know Snyder wants to do Frank Miller's Batman. That sounds like a reboot. Who knows, I might even become a Batman fan.

[crocodile 7,733]

He would be a good choice to make Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns adaptation. The graphic novel is just perfect match for his sensibilities.

Karol

[Romão 2,244]

I'm not sure The Dark Knight Returns will be next, but I'm certain it will happen in a near future. If they want to start telling new Batman stories on the screen, might as well avoid another origin movie, and go for isolated and self contained stories like Long Halloween (and its sequel, which is basically part of the same story)

[Charlie Brigden 6]

Haha, I know Snyder wants to do Frank Miller's Batman. That sounds like a reboot. Who knows, I might even become a Batman fan.

Parts of Batman Begins are already Frank Miller's Batman (Year One). Much better than the overrated Dark Knight Returns.

[Matt C 451]

Too bad Batman Beyond never caught on, or WB could wait for Bale to age (or just bury him under a lot of makeup) and have him pass the torch to and mentor a younger caped crusader.

That sounds like a great idea (and a reboot I could get behind, unlike The Amazing Spider-man). Unfortunately, the WB isn't going to go out of its comfort zone for its prized franchise.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,776]

Filmmakers will bore us with another origin story. They love the juicy pathos it lets them work with.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[crocodile 7,733]

Hope this doesn't happen.

Karol

[Jay 35,467]

I can't imagine Bale wanting to play Batman again after the conclusion of the Nolan trilogy, certainly not if its some lame teamup movie Nolan has nothing to do with

[tharpdevenport 4]

I'm really sick and tired of Batman. Too much goddamn Batman, too much rebooting in Hollywood in such short spans of time.

[Richard Penna 3,247]

I'm tired of reboots, generally.

It's like hollywood is so scared to try original ideas that it just keeps making the same movie over and over. If it does well, get the director to do another one. If it doesn't, get a different director. Repeat.

[Koray Savas 2,250]

Well yeah, no one likes pouring millions into a movie that will just fail. Franchises have established fan bases, ergo guaranteed ticket sales.

The film industry is a business first and foremost.

[Jeshopk 8]

I want a version of Batman where he never gets buddy buddy with the cops. I know Commissioner Gordon is a classic character and all, but they dumped Robin plenty of times, so why not Gordon?

[MSM 116]

I want a version of Batman where he never gets buddy buddy with the cops. I know Commissioner Gordon is a classic character and all, but they dumped Robin plenty of times, so why not Gordon?

In the reboot Gordon will be the bad guy.

[Jeff 0]

I have no loyalty or aversion to a particular franchise in the comic book world. I'm not a fan of comic book stories in general. However, if a studio turns out a good incarnation of a superhero, I will watch the movie, regardless of whether it's an original film, a reboot, a remake, or a sequel/saga. I don't mind watching Michael Keaton play Batman but I'll never sit through Kilmer/Clooney again. I like the Nolan entries enough to watch them from time to time and I'm 90% sure I'll see DKR. A reboot will have to earn my ten bucks like any original movie does.

Similarly, I like Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in Spiderman, but if the trailers for the reboot don't catch my interest, I won't go out of my way to see the film.

[Matt C 451]

It doesn't seem like that's the case anymore, if this HitFlix report pans out.

It's actually pretty clever, and a good compromise between Nolan and WB. I'm not going to spoil anything for those TDKR virgins out there, but the link is pretty spoilery.

[Admiral Holdo 16]

That is exactly what I hoped would happen.

[Matt C 451]

That is exactly what I hoped would happen.

It is convenient. You have rebooted Batman in a sense, with a different actor, but isn't contrary to what came before it.

[Wycket 36]

Yeah, I'm not sure why everyone just assumed just because Nolan was done that the continuity was going to be reset again. The way Rises ended was clearly to allow a new director to come aboard and do their own thing while at the same time following what was already done.

[crocodile 7,733]

That's really lame. This Batman idea, I mean. But then, what did I expect?

Karol

[BloodBoal 7,538]

I expected "not lame"!

[Wycket 36]

How is it lame exactly? You'd rather have other tired reboot where the origin is retold and the Joker is once again the villain. After seeing Amazing Spider-Man I definitely don't want to see something like that again.

Coming from the perspective of reading the comics, I feel that Nolan did a great job of bringing Batman from the book to the screen. Books like Year One and Dark Knight Returns feel so close to Rises in terms of tone and structure that I really hope the next director can continue that trend even if it means veering more fantastical. Nolan has already proven that there is room for the more kookier characters (Two-Face, Scarecrow) can be adapted and not feel out of place.

[Brónach 1,281]

I'm not interested anymore.

[crocodile 7,733]

How is it lame exactly? You'd rather have other tired reboot where the origin is retold and the Joker is once again the villain. After seeing Amazing Spider-Man I definitely don't want to see something like that again.

I just don't want it all Marvel-ed up. Blake takes on a mantle of Batman, because that's a plot point in those films (Batman as a symbol). You get a nod to Robin as well. That's it, the end.

There's plenty of room to make your own Batman. Heck, comic books do that all the time, and many of them with great success.

And, besides, JLA just wouldn't make sense in this universe. Worse yet, it would make Bruce Wayne's legacy meaningless.

Karol

[Wycket 36]

See, this mentality is really mind boggling to me.

The whole point of Batman in the Nolan films is that he would be a symbol that could be used to fight crime. That what this proposes to do and continue on with a story that many, including myself, are quite enjoying and have no need to end. Wayne's legacy at this point is Batman, and to simply disregard the last film and just restart the continuity to me lessens the effect of Rises all the more. This has comic book basis as well, as people like Jean Paul Valley and Dick Grayson have been the Batman for an extended period of time in the comics. I don't see how this is any way what Marvel does.

As for Batman of the Nolan universe fitting in with the Justice League, its really no different than Batman would at any time. Batman has always been pretty down to earth yet has had no problem interacting with the Justice League. Hell, there's nothing saying a JL movie would involve anything too extreme anyway. They might be smart and realize it needs to be more grounded while at the same time fantastical.

[crocodile 7,733]

I do understand what you're saying, but that's exactly what I liked about Nolan's films - they're not like comic books and the concept of superhero doesn't exist in them. Bruce Wayne was doing something quite unique in that world. Because if there were superheroes in that world, he wouldn't have to invent Batman. At least that's why Nolan never wanted to do any crossover stuff.

Karol

[Delorean90 34]

Yes. Someone said elsewhere that it also brings into question--where were all these superheroes this whole time? Superman's gonna be sitting on his hands when Gotham is being held hostage by a nuclear weapon? Riiiiiiiiight.

But the more important thing to me is that the trilogy really was Wayne's story--TDKR crystallized that. The idea of Batman as a symbol and "a hero can be anyone" were all themes that the Nolans and Goyer wanted to get across and integrate in this story, not ways that they could keep the series going. The latter is similar to Ratatouille's "anyone can cook." That doesn't mean we're going to get endless sequels of different animals and God-knows-what-else as chefs, it means that you shouldn't think that you are unable to have an impact just based on your circumstances or your or anyone else's preconceptions.

The trilogy is such a well-constructed, self-contained entity that I'd rather not have it string off into a big superhero universe. It wasn't set up for it, and I don't want them to try to turn it into one. It already stands on its own as a unique approach to the mythos. Let it be.

[Gruesome Son of a Bitch 6,483]

Adam West should play Alfred. Michael Keaton as Batman. Val Kilmer can play Commissioner Gordon. George Clooney can be the Riddler because Riddler in the animated series kinda reminds me of him. Christian Bale can be no one because he sucks.

[BloodBoal 7,538]

[Matt C 451]

Collider editor-in-chief Steven Weintraub also says: "Anyone who thinks Joseph Gordon-Levitt's reps would tell anyone the truth today is mistaken. Not saying rumor is true, just saying."

http://twitter.com/colliderfrosty

So... never take what actor's reps say for granted.

[Luke Skywalker 1,702]

I do understand what you're saying, but that's exactly what I liked about Nolan's films - they're not like comic books and the concept of superhero doesn't exist in them. Bruce Wayne was doing something quite unique in that world. Because if there were superheroes in that world, he wouldn't have to invent Batman. At least that's why Nolan never wanted to do any crossover stuff.

Karol

he should have invented his own vigilante "superhero"...instead one that has been crossovered several times...

[Red 74]

I seriously doubt the crossover is happening. Nolan's universe and the Justice League universe are not compatible, that's just the way it is. To bridge them would be undoing what Nolan created with his trilogy.

[Wojo 2,450]

Yes. Someone said elsewhere that it also brings into question--where were all these superheroes this whole time? Superman's gonna be sitting on his hands when Gotham is being held hostage by a nuclear weapon? Riiiiiiiiight.

This is probably the biggest reason why, for me, the single-character sequels based on members of The Avengers don't really work. Take Iron Man 3. So if Gandhi gets his hands on another mechanized soldier suit and starts threatening people with it. This sounds like it could be bad news. Why does only Iron Man (and his friend Rodie, I guess) have to save the day? Where's Thor? Where's the Captain? Where's Hulk, as he can smash? Hell, where's Reed Richards?

I know that Spider-Man and X-Men crossovers aren't possible because of studio rights -- and because the X-Men movie universe mentality of "humans versus mutants" doesn't really work if the human side has a genetically engineered superhero, four radiation-altered superheroes, a gamma-radiated superhero who can barely control himself, a god, a man with a robot suit, and a normal man who keeps running out of arrows. But in the Marvel comic world, the world is saturated with superheroes, which is why the Civil War idea works. DC has the same with its JLA. But Superman wouldn't fit in the Batman universe created by Nolan, or else Bruce would always ask him why he allowed Rachel to die while Harvey lived. Crap like that.

[Brónach 1,281]

Yes. Someone said elsewhere that it also brings into question--where were all these superheroes this whole time? Superman's gonna be sitting on his hands when Gotham is being held hostage by a nuclear weapon? Riiiiiiiiight.

This is probably the biggest reason why, for me, the single-character sequels based on members of The Avengers don't really work. Take Iron Man 3. So if Gandhi gets his hands on another mechanized soldier suit and starts threatening people with it. This sounds like it could be bad news. Why does only Iron Man (and his friend Rodie, I guess) have to save the day? Where's Thor? Where's the Captain? Where's Hulk, as he can smash? Hell, where's Reed Richards?

Thor is far away fighting The Doctor. The Captain is doing whatever in his film. I don't know about Hulk.