If anybody knows Christopher Nolan, then you will know that his films are top draw quality in every department down to the finest detail. He likes all of his film to link together with an effortless smoothness that doesn't exist in other films. His title has an epic meaning with the "story" which he will work on up until filming until he is satisfied with it to his high standards. I will be taking all of this into account to try and work out which villain(s) will be appearing in the final isntallment in his epic saga,
The Dark Knight Rises..
Let's firstly have a look at the title of the film;
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. Now we now this will have a significant role within the film and will be ascerned to one or a couple of characters' development in the film. The first film
Batman Begins was the beginning of Batman's story, having a relevance to the theme of the movie. The second movie,
The Dark Knight had a few meaning with the story and really extended the boundries that Nolan has set. The Dark Knight is a common nickname for Batman himself so there is your first link to the story. The second is the contrast of Batman and Harvey Dent, Dent being the White Knight of Gotham and Batman the Dark. It could also mean Dent becoming evil or a rogue towards the end of the film after the loss of Rachel and turning from a White Knight into a Dark Knight. So this definately means that the title will have significant meaning to one of the characters at least. Which One? Let's find out.
The first and obvious character to associate this title with is Batman. At the end of The Dark Knight, he was on the run from the police after taking the blame for the murder's committed by Harvey Dent. What could this mean when the sequel opens? Well, there is a number of possibilities I think could happen. Firstly, could Bruce be so down with despair at what has happened to Harvey, Rachel that he has given up being Batman perminantly due to not being able to do his job without being arrested by the GPD. Then when a new major threat arises, he needs to come out of retirement and return to haunt criminals that haunt the streets and RISE AGAIN. Another theory is that Bruce has continued his war on crime even with GPD after him for killing cops. Then maybe at the climax of the film, Gotham learns about what Batman has truly done to protect Gotham and after saving the city once again, is considered some higher calling and is put on a pedastal rising high above any political figure.
The only other meaning that the title has with a character is if it is a villain. In the last film, both the Joker and Harvey Dent could've been considered "The Dark Knight" so it is safe to assume that one of the new villains will be also.
The first villain I would associate with that title is
BLACK MASK. This theory is my strongest one and the one I could see happening. Black Mask is the alter ego of Roman Sionis, a rich playboy who murdered his parents to steal their fortune and company. After his waterproof makeup scarref and poisoned hundreds of women, he was a wanted man and turned to crime. Now in The Dark Knight, the Joker almost single handedly dismantled all of Gotham's mobsters. He took out Gambol, the Chechen and possibly countless others. He also persuaded Harvey Dent to possibly kill Sal Maroni and the main players in the mob were down, leaving a fight for rights in their wake. Now, this would be an epic movie to make with all of Gotham's old Mobster guard fallen and now the rise of the freaks taking over like Black Mask, Penguin etc in their place. Now if Black Mask's origin is explored in this movie, then his Black Mask ego rising to become the top mobster in Gotham could be considered The Dark Knight Rises.
The next villain is
HUSH. Another theory that is strong because of the parallels between Hush and Batman as well as Hush and Bruce Wayne which could lead to Hush finding out his secret identity and causing even more mayhem. Being an even darker vigilante than Batman if could call him that, then his sudden Rise much like The Joker's sudden rise in the last film could be considered The Dark Knight Rises.
My last single villain theory is
HARVEY DENT / TWO FACE. Everbody knows his story from The Dark Knight so I won't babble about that, but what is to say that he didn't survive that fall at the climax? Batman did so how come Harvey didn't? He could have faked it and when in the ambulance on the way to the morgue, wakes up and escapes. Gordon and the Mayor still hold the funeral service in spite of this to keep his repuation in tact. The opening sequence of The Dark Knight Rises could be a back log showing his faked death and escape becoming Two Face, the anti hero with a massive grudge against Batman now. This can be considered the DEFINATIVE RISE of THE DARK KNIGHT.
My final theory is that what if the title is not linked to one single character, but to a massive event and the rise of a single DARK KNIGHT in Gotham. This theory could lend itself to the 3 villains I theoried before as well as others.
DEACON BLACKFIRE has been touted as the possible villain recently. He could also be a strong candidate because living in the rough parts of Gotham possibly in The Narrows and then thrown out of his home so that they could create "Arkham City", now he has nowhere to live and wants revenge on Gotham. Living in an underground settlement in the sewers of Gotham, he and his army take revenge on Gotham for forcing them out. He could be the dark knight of Gotham Rising from the sewers with his army.
IF Tom Hardy is playing the main villain in The Dark Knight Rises, then he is over qualified to play each of these villains mentioned above. In my Poll on who
ComicBookMovie members wanted Tom Hardy to play in the final installment, Black Mask won the vote with an overwhelming numver. I would be happy to see Hardy play any of these but more so Black Mask and the rise of the Freaks theory for a number of reasons. Firstly, I think that storyline would be an awesome thing to watch, Black Mask vs Penguin and other for control over Gotham. Batman trying to fight them as well as stay one step ahead of the police and try to work with Gordon. That sounds epic. The other reason is because if this Rise of the Freaks theory happens, then it potentially leads to a Batman universe than can be joined by fantastical characters like Green Lantern, Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman and Aquaman movies in a single unvierse to rival Marvel's and bring about the rise of the Justice League movie.
Let me know your thoughts on who you think the villain will be and why?