Sequels?

[Azrael]

Truth be told, I'm looking forward to Arkham Asylum 2 more than Batman 3. That game is my ideal version of Batman, and I think they should move to that type of interpretation after Nolan. Killer Croc and these types are commonplace, the setting is a Burton stylised netherworld, and the tone is dark. You have unlimited potential. Bottom line, I want more fantasy.

i'd love a return to the feel of batman returns but the fanboys would bitch. they think thats all batman movies can be now. all realistic and sh*t. i'm not buying that.

Neither. Arkham Asylum put Nolan to the sword, IMO. It showed him up.

Batman Returns really is a one off in my opinion. I cannot see them going anywhere near it again. Which is both a pro and a con. The film is therefore unique, but we are never to see its kind again.

I get 9/11 happened, but how long are we destined to follow this narrow minded track of realism? Last time I checked, films and comics were escapism. During the war, people went to the cinema to forget their troubles. We need to expand our horizons.

Fantasy is in need of a comeback, and as Arkham Asylum showed, it does not have to equal Bugs Bunny. People need to lighten up and have some imagination. I am sick and tired of people critisizing comic book aspects such as Penguin commandoes. They either don't GET it, or are mightly self conscious for some odd reason. 

Use the Batman universe to its full potential. Don't restrain yourself because it won't be "realistic". Hell, you could go and set the film on Mars. I'm not recommending that at all, but point is, the only thing that matters is if you connect to the characters and their struggle on a human level. Stop caring what people think and unabashedly present the comic world for what it is.

It is what it is. It is not real and never will be. So make it what you want - in this case a Gothic netherworld, and have fun with it. I read quite a few comments online, at one site particularly, where they frequently state embarrasment about the stereotypical comic book crowd. I feel that has crossed over onto the big screen as well, as Nolan's Batman films lack the charm and spirit these films require, IMO. They're cold, dull and mechanical chores that purposefully try and to shake the comic book tag.

Well said TDK, my feelings exactly. The city is called GOTHam anyway. Not to mention that one of the most praised elements of the game were the Scarecrow hallucination levels - i.e. literally a netherworld.

One has to admit, though, that a "realistic" Batman is an easier sell to a more mainstream audience. The potential audience for a video game like AA are hardcore gamers, people that already have a background in fantasy and sci-fi, the potential audience for a movie is everyone.

Good post TDK. I am a little conflicted when it comes to realism and fantasy, I think there is a common ground.

Marvel will show WB the way to go this year and next....as they usually do!

Marvel is puting out Thor - as far from reality as one can get!

[Catwoman]

what i meant is more a return to the dark but not taking itself so seriously batman. there are some parts in batman returns that i find myself giggling at. i'd like to see something like that, or maybe something like what baman and robin could have been without the puns and nipples.

[The Dark Knight]

maybe something like what baman and robin could have been without the puns and nipples.

Well, I can see myself retaing one aspect of crow-BaR. The warped design of Arkham Asylum, with lightning and rain lashing down upon it. I liked that. Expand that idea across the whole film.

[Seantastic]

Just read this, and I gotta be honest, I so want to see tis, lol, and hopefully we get to see the script sometime;

"When a fifth "Batman" film was planned, Joel Schumacher was going to return as director and he wanted to use the Dr. Jonathan Crane/the Scarecrow as the main villain, Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn as the supporting villain, and have Jack Nicholson reprise his role as the Joker for hallucination sequences. Jeff Goldblum and Robert Englund were considered for Scarecrow, and Madonna was considered for Harley Quinn, who was initially written as The Joker's Wife and not called Harley Quinn. It was rumored that Schumacher had cast Steve Buscemi as the Scarecrow and Jenny McCarthy as Harley Quinn. When Dr. Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat was included in a version of the script, Schumacher and Warner Bros. both reportedly loved the characterization of Man-Bat so much that Schumacher wanted Mark Linn-Baker for the role. Martin Short was also considered by Warner Bros. to cameo as Dr. Jervis Tetch, though it is unknown if he would have become the Mad Hatter. Chris O'Donnell was contracted to return as Dick Grayson, who would have become Nightwing, but George Clooney declined to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, saying he thought that "Batman & Robin" had "killed the (Batman film) franchise." It is also rumored that Alicia Silverstone had passed on reprising her role as Barbara Wilson/Batgirl, despite being contracted to appear in another film. However, Warner Bros. dropped Schumacher as director and decided to scrap any plans for a fifth "Batman" movie. "

Now, that would have kicked major ass

[The Dark Knight]

Now, that would have kicked major ass

Meh.

[Matuatay]

I seem to remember hearing that they wanted Alicia to return for 'Triumphant' in a shorter stint because Batgirl was going to be killed off in that one, which would lead to a major rift between Batman and Robin and eventually lead Robin to go off by himself to become Nightwing.   And yes, in the middle of all this, Scarecrow somehow gets Bats under the influence of his fear toxin which causes Bats to have hallucinations of The Joker and Harley Quinn is out for revenge against Batman for killing her husband/lover/whatever. 

Personally I would have loved to see this come to fruition.  As for that logo, if it's legit, maybe it's supposed to some how represent Batman and Nightwing?  That's all I can make of it.  Never have seen it before tonight so it's new to me.

[Slash Man]

On the topic of Triumphant, what he said.^ It seems like they had a clear plot in mind, and they would effectively work away from Batman & Robin, but while still keeping continuity with the rest of the series. At least that's the best place to go at this point. The execution of it all is the big "if" though...

On the topic of future Batman films in general, I agree with the consensus. Comic books are... well, comic books. It was an interesting experiment by Nolan to see 'what if these could exist in any old city,' but it's ran its course. I'm glad he's not waring out his series. Though an atmosphere like Burton's was great because they made it believable, yet still artistic. You wouldn't see anything like it in real life, but the movie made you think you could. Hell, a movie that makes you believe that a man dressed as a bat can swing around a city fighting crime is a prime example of an effective Batman movie.

[Silver Nemesis]

Schumacher's now saying he wanted Nicholas Cage to play Scarecrow.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/nicolas_cage_was_sought_for_the_scarecrow_role_in_aborted_batman_sequel/

[The Joker]

Very odd.

B&R came out in 1997 right? Wasn't Tim Burton's Superman Lives being prepped around this time for a Summer 1998 release?

Kinda odd to think WB would be OK with Schumacher approaching their pay-or-play contracted Superman as a Batman villain in movie #5.

[riddler]

I can confirm I saw the yellow bat logo. Maybe it would have made more sense had we seen the film; in batman forever the big tie in with the logo was being surrounded with a question mark, in batman and robin it was being frozen (both awesome teasers BTW).


Superman returns was slated for 1998 at the earliest, Cage was attached for around 5 years and finally passed circa 2002-2003. It would have worked with him as the scarecrow had it been heavy in the makeup; each of the male villains in the original series aside from the riddler and somewhat the joker had enough makeup to disguise the actors. For instance you could have had Danny Devito play a character in triumphant and not everyone would recognize him.

It would have been interesting to see. Schumacher has made some films with the dark gothic atmosphere, no clue why he didnt bring it to Batman (well yes I do, WB wanted it kiddy). In the end I think Schumacher just goes off on too many bad ideas when you throw money at him; elaborate silly sequences, always signing the biggest star instead of the bes; blame WB all you want but they wanted Patrick Stewart or Anthony Hopkins as Mr. Freeze, schumacher pushed for Arnold.