Before I begin I’d like to apologize for my English. I’m from Spain and although I think I can understand English rather well (both spoken and written) my grammar is somewhat… improvable.
Ok, first of all I must declare myself as a Nolan-lover, not only because of the Batman films but also because of others like Inception, Memento or Insomnia. In my humble opinion he has done two great achievements in his career: First he proved that a comic book film doesn’t have to be lame or stupid when he made Batman Begins. Like it or not it is impossible to deny that this film has signified a turning point in comic book filming. Nolan proved that you can stick to the classical comic book characters idiosyncrasy and approach them in a realistic and non-goofy manner. I’m not saying that EVERY comic book film before Begins was stupid, but the world is a better place without new “Superman 3 and 4s”, “Batman Forevers”, “Batman and Robins”, “Spidermans”, “Daredevils”, “Punishers (this one shouldn’t have been called “Punisher”, it should have been called “Punishment”)”, etc.; and (in contrast) with very enjoyable “Ironman 1 and 2s”, “Incredible Hulks”, “Hellboy 1 and 2s”, “Sin Citys”, “Watchmens”, and so on. Nolan’s second great achievement has been to prove that comic book films (alongside with science fiction and action-packed films) can make great movies by themselves, even outside their genre. This he made with The Dark Knight and Inception, which were deep, complex, emotional, and at the same time entertaining, thrilling and ass-kicking.
So… let’s give it up for Nolan, people!
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9553/christophernolan001.jpg
(That’s him, amazed after reading my article).
After making this passionate statement I move on to the good fan-fic stuff. I know it’s pointless really to think about the future of the Batman’s franchise after The Dark Knight Rises, but sometimes when you are a bit of a nerd (and much of a Batman freak) you just can’t help yourself. I’m afraid a new reboot will be the answer, though I hope someone capable would try something different while following Nolan’s steps and not obviating his work. This someone capable could perfectly be Darren Aronofsky, or some other director maybe younger but with his same dark and gritty style.
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7425/darrenaronofskydescarta.jpg
(Here’s the Aronofsky fellow, not believing his luck after spying out of Natalie Portman’s changing room. The guy is such a Peeping Tom, but hey, who can blame him?).
This is more or less the story with which I’ve come up with, I’d like to know your opinions and read your contributions: I’ve just finished reading Greg Rucka’s “Gotham Central”, and I’m completely enthusiastic about it. I believe that a movie that showed us Batman a bit more from the cops of the Gotham Police Major Crimes Unit’s perspective would be highly interesting. Maybe we could witness the investigation of some weird case involving a Batman classic villain such as Mister Freeze (I love Rucka’s version of the character), Calendar Man or Deadshot. When the case reaches its peak, Commissioner Gordon would light the Batman signal and call upon his masked friend, which would appear to us as spectators as would appear to the policemen at the top of the M.C.U. building: as a mysterious voice, a black blur, a presence that will make even cops feel uneasy. To the eyes of most policemen Batman would be something like a very special SWAT, a special law-defender like themselves but with unique skills and privileges. This, of course, many of them would not like. Many wouldn’t even trust him but tolerate his presence because Jim Gordon endorses it. Detective Harvey Bullock could play the role of a tough cop that doesn’t trust Batman and that would rather take matters in his own hands. Bullock could also be the third vertex in a hypothetical love triangle that would involve Batman, Catwoman (I hope she is portrayed in TDKR somewhat like in Darwyn Cooke’s short story “Selina’s Big Score”) and him. Bullock could be portrayed by the Scottish actor Ewan McGregor.
http://img852.imageshack.us/img852/2929/216ewanmcgregor20070202.jpg
(Here is Detective Bullock pointing at us his deadly hair-drier. Just picture him with a bit of scruffy facial hair, a hat and a bit more muscle).
Well, that could be one part of the plot. Another could involve the Joker. Yes, I know we all miss Heath Ledger above all things but his character should definitely be rescued for the Batman franchise. I’d love to see Jonathan Rhys Meyers play the Joker. He wouldn’t be the main villain, of course (that would be the one whom the M.C.U. department is looking for), but he should appear in some brief but very specific moments creating unbelievable havoc. At first Batman could visit him in Arkham, and see him as this grungy and extremely decadent version of Heath Ledger’s Joker after years of neglect locked inside the asylum’s madness. Why would Batman visit him? Well, maybe he would suspect his influence behind the crimes of the then unknown villain or something similar. The point is that first we would see this semi-wild looking Joker in the shadows, then witness his breakout of Arkham, and finally his new look: a more groomed but sinister looking Joker, with shorter hair and cleaner makeup, similar to Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” version of the character, sickeningly vain, sadist and almost homoerotic. Jonathan Rhys Meyers would portray magnificently a Joker like this one, and here is proof:
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9281/ss3068234photographofjo.jpg
(He likes wearing makeup anyway, he’s a natural).
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7186/jonathanrhysmeyers10jon.jpg
(He’s kinda Joker-ish by himself).
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/5351/070329tudorsvmed11awide.jpg
(He’s got very cold eyes; he plays exquisitely the bad-ass role).
A look at The Dark Knight’s artbook shows us a Joker quite similar to the one I have in mind for Rhys Meyers. Extremely sinister, macabre and vain.
http://img859.imageshack.us/img859/6109/jokerart1.jpg
(Short hair, cleaner makeup).
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7996/jokerart2.jpg
(The definition of “creepy”).
The third (and final) part of the plot would involve (yes, at last) fan-favorite Dick Grayson. Although I am a big fan of the Robin figure, I know that it is very hard to fit in a movie without being downright ridiculous. Why on Earth would a crime-fighting billionaire with quite an unhealthy amount of traumas want to adopt a preteen circus-boy as a sidekick? Clearly to make it look plausible and not laughable on screen you would have to change a lot of things from the original comic book story. First of all it would be interesting to read about real rich people who about children and find out about their motivation and furthermore, the way the rise them. Richard Grayson is supposed to be an extremely clever and skilled chap and, no offence, but I don’t know how high goes the intellectual rate run amongst circus-boys. Maybe the circus busyness should be the first thing to be removed from the movie. Surely you need a way of explaining Dick’s amazing physical abilities but, isn’t there any other possible way? Do you guys have any ideas?? Plus, why would the mob be interested in killing a family of trapeze artists??? And this is essential for the development of the story, and can also serve as an excuse to deepen into Bruce Wayne’s psyche. Old Bruce feels sympathetic towards the boy because he reminds him of himself somewhat. Tony Zucco should be the Graysons’ murderer as he is in Jeph Loeb’s book “Dark Victory”, and also serve as a link to all the mob business that goes on in the Nolan films. But perhaps Bruce Wayne should meet Dick sometime after the killing of his parents. Dick would be a young man in his middle or late teens, living in an orphanage (run by Leslie Thompkins, perhaps), having difficulty to find parents to adopt him being so grown up, timid, introverted, and with great academic aptitudes. His goal could be studying criminology, or maybe becoming a qualified cop, therefore gaining the means to find his parents’ murderer and handing him to justice. Bruce could meet him through his friendship with Leslie, instantly feel sympathetic towards him, and finally deciding to adopt him in order to offer him the best possible education. But of course Dick is a very clever young guy and discovers Bruce’s secret, and finally tries to prove himself as a worthy Batman’s ally.
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/9195/pinkbuscemi.jpg
(Steve Buscemi could play Tony Zucco. Why? Dunno. Doesn’t he look good for the role to you?).
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(Jeremy Sumter could play Dick Grayson/Robin, couldn’t he?).
The three arches or subplots would collide in a final battle similar to Dark Victory’s finale. Dick Grayson would appear for the first time with a primitive Robin-suit and help Batman fight the main villain and the Joker. The Joker would simply slide out of the action (choosing to live to fight another day), but he main villain would indeed be caught.
What do you think about all this? It’s only inventing for the pleasure of doing it, of course. I know there are several things I’m missing in my imaginary movie (like what would happen in the end concerning Zucco, etc.) but hey, I’m not Christopher Nolan, right? Maybe you could help me putting these missing pieces together.
Thank you so much for reading.