Summary
- Nolan didn’t have anything planned beyond the Dark Knight trilogy, but it’s still fun to imagine a villain for a fourth film.
- Various casting ideas for potential Dark Knight 4 villains include Leonardo DiCaprio as the Riddler and Stephen Lang as Deathstroke.
- Kenneth Branagh as the leader of the Court of Owls and Jake Gyllenhaal as Hush (Tommy Elliot) (who had been in the running for Batman before the role went to Christian Bale).
Although Christopher Nolan Dark Knight The trilogy ended in 2012, and it’s fun to imagine who they might have chosen as a potential villain. Dark Knight 4. The Dark Knight Rises In 1965, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) retired and John “Robin” Blake (Joseph Gordon Levitt) took over the role of Batman. As such, many have theorized about what a fourth chapter could have looked like, with a new Dark Knight (and new enemies that would endanger Gotham City).
From Nolan Dark Knight The franchise was always intended to conclude as a trilogy, and there were never any official plans for one. Dark Knight 4However, the finale still sets up a dynamic future with a whole new hero taking up the mantle of the Dark Knight. With that in mind, here are our casting picks for 10 villains who would have been perfect for a potential role. Dark Knight4.
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9 Riddle
Leonardo DiCaprio
Near
It was initially reported that Riddler was considered ahead of Tom Hardy’s Bane for The Dark Knight RisesHowever, the change to Bane came after it was felt that Riddler looked too similar to the Joker. However, Leonardo DiCaprio was also reported to have been considered for Riddler, having played the lead role in Nolan’s film. Beginning Just a couple of years ago.
A new, more serious version of the Riddler finally hit the big screen with Matt Reeves. The Batman and actor Paul Dano. However, it would have been fascinating to see what dark charm DiCaprio could have brought to the Riddler had he been used in a potential film. Dark Knight 4While he’s certainly a dynamic protagonist, DiCaprio has also proven himself to be an incredibly capable (and often show-stealing) antagonist, traits that would have been perfect for a Nolan-esque Edward Nygma.
8 Black Mask
Chico Pearce
Near
Roman Sionis, also known as Black Mask, from DC Comics is one of the few crime bosses who constantly operates in Gotham City. Sionis, who has previously appeared in live-action films, is best known for his role in the 2020 film Birds of prey where he was played by Ewan McGregor. He is described as a truly unhinged and volatile being in Birds of preyIt would have been very exciting to see Nolan’s version of Black Mask, perhaps played by Memories Guy Pearce, who takes over organized crime after the end of the Falcone and Maroni crime families.
7 Penguin
Alfredo Molina
Near
While it’s hard to top Danny Devito and, more recently, Colin Farrell, someone like Alfred Molina could have brought an incredibly compelling Penguin to life in Nolan’s universe. Having already brought Spider-Man’s Doctor Octopus to the big screen (who is widely regarded as one of the best live-action Spider-Man villains of all time), one would imagine that Molina would have had no problem playing Oswald Cobblepot. The Penguin’s true power isn’t that he’s just another crime boss. He’s also capable of handling eccentric supervillains, as well as the inner workings of Gotham’s underworld.
6 Deathblow
Esteban Lang
Near
Many will agree that Stephen Lang was born to play Slade Wilson’s Deathstroke. He is best known for his role as Colonel Miles Quaritch in James Cameron’s film. Avatar In the Marvel movies, Lang knows how to play the kind of villain you love to hate. So it’s not hard to imagine Lang in Deathstroke’s iconic black and orange tactical suit, ready to take out his next target (even if it’s the Dark Knight himself).
Plus, Deathstroke is the kind of down-to-earth DC villain who could fit well into Nolan’s universe. Perhaps Slade could be hired by one of Gotham’s crime bosses to take out Batman, a real challenge one could easily see Lang’s Slade relishing. Beyond Nolan’s universe, perhaps Lang could be cast as the DCU’s Deathstroke, seeing as how the previous DCEU tried and failed to make Joe Manganiello’s Slade happen with a few teases that ultimately went nowhere.
5 Harley Quinn
Cristina Ricci
Near
Although she only lent her voice to Catwoman in the Amazon animated series Batman: The Caped CrusaderChristina Ricci could also play an attractive Harley Quinn in live-action. It’s not hard to imagine Ricci playing a more realistic version of Harley with connections to Heath Ledger’s Joker in a potential film. Dark Knight 4. Maybe this Harley never met the Joker personally, but she fell in love anyway and was inspired to start a life of crime in Gotham City.
4 Silence
Jake Gyllenhaal
Near
Considering he had been in the running to play Batman before Christian Bale eventually landed the role, it would be some very satisfying metacasting if Jake Gyllenhaal was cast as Tommy Elliot’s Hush in a Dark Knight 4Gyllenhaal, a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, could easily play Thomas Elliot, the classic DC villain who becomes obsessed with Bruce Wayne’s life. Over time, Tommy came to see the loss of Bruce’s parents as a blessing rather than a tragedy, a dark perception that motivated him to try to kill his own parents.
Finally, an adult Elliot uses his surgical skills to give himself the face of Bruce Wayne. This could be an on-screen transformation that may include the return of Christian Bale to the franchise. This would take the proposed meta-casting even further by having an actor replaced midway through the film.
3 Hugo Strange
Jared Harris
Near
Hugo Strang is one of Batman’s most cerebral foes. A dark psychiatrist who also employs extreme hypnosis, Hugo Strange turns to a life of crime while also experimenting on his own gang of thugs. However, Strange himself also develops an obsession with Batman, believing that he could one day replace and supplant Bruce Wayne as a better, more effective Dark Knight, which would be very interesting for Nolan’s universe considering Blake’s status as Wayne’s successor.
Strange was also one of the first villains to discover Batman’s secret identity, a powerful secret that Strange attempted to sell to the highest bidder, another interesting angle for Nolan’s universe. Similarly, an actor like Jared Harris could make a perfect Hugo Strange, someone who can maintain high levels of intellectual intimidation paired with a dark gravity. This would be similar to his role as Professor James Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which also starred Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role.
2 Mr. Cold
Strong brand
Near
By coincidence, another Sherlock Holmes Mark Strong, a villain who is also no stranger to DC villain roles, could probably play a villain as intimidating and complex as Mister Freeze (in his sleep). It’s worth noting that Freeze is arguably the most “comic book” character on this list. However, Victor Fries’ correct portrayal could still fit quite well into Nolan’s more realistic universe, considering his personal origins and motivations.
In his attempt to save his terminally ill, cryogenically frozen wife, Victor’s life of crime is often motivated by his desire to obtain the resources he needs to develop a cure. He’s also suffering from his own affliction from a lab accident, so now he requires his own cryogenic suit to help keep his body at sub-zero temperatures. As such, the chance to see Mark Strong play such a complex and intricate DC villain would be absolutely incredible (a role he could perhaps take on for real in the upcoming DCU or Matt Reeves’ version of Gotham).
1 Court of the Owls
Kenneth Branagh
Near
Having worked with Nolan on Dunkirk, Principleand more recently OppenheimerIt would be very exciting if Kenneth Branagh were to play a prominent member of the Court of Owls. Having entered the Batman comics mythos in 2011, the Court of Owls is a secret cabal of Gotham’s wealthy and elite who guide the fate of the city from the shadows and beyond their owl-inspired masks. Discovering that their existence was something far more dangerous than a simple nursery rhyme, Batman became a key enemy of the Court the moment he confirmed that they were real.
The concept of Batman having to fight against the richest and most powerful members of Gotham’s elite sounds like an excellent concept for a potential… Dark Knight 4In that sense, the chance to see Branagh playing a leading member of his organization sounds like something pretty impressive and very dynamic, especially when you consider his more antagonistic role as Andrei Sator in PrincipleIn any case, the Court of Owls seems like a natural fit for Nolan’s universe if a fourth one is created… Dark Knight There has never been a film like this before.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight franchise, also known as The Dark Knight Trilogyis a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film series directed by Christopher Nolan. It is a darker, more realistic take on the Batman character, exploring themes of justice, chaos, and redemption. The trilogy revitalized the Batman film series and is often credited with raising the bar for superhero films, particularly through its exploration of complex moral dilemmas and iconic depiction of villains such as the Joker.
Created by Christopher Nolan, David S. Goyer First film Batman Begins Last film The Dark Knight Rises Cast Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Liam Neeson, Aaron Eckhart Character(s) Batman, Alfred Pennyworth, Commissioner Gordon, Lucius Fox, Bane, The Joker, Catwoman, Two-Face Video game(s) Batman Begins
Summary
The Batman franchise, also known as the Batman trilogy, is a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film series directed by Christopher Nolan. It is a darker, more realistic take on the Batman character, exploring themes of justice, chaos, and redemption. The trilogy revitalized the Batman film series and is often credited with raising the bar for superhero films, particularly through its exploration of complex moral dilemmas and iconic depiction of villains such as the Joker.
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