John Blake (SPOILERS)

[Paul (ral)]

Couldn't agree more sir.

Thankfully the rumour has been debunked. What I find most shocking is the amount of "fans" who liked the idea...dumbasses!

[Bobthegoon89]

I'm infuriated by this JGL news/rumour. A massive disappointment. For once I hope it's a rumour. So many great people out there I'm sure to follow Christian Bale. What an utter disaster if this is real! The kid from "Third Rock from the Sun" as Batman!!! *gasp/sputter*

I was all for him as Robin and saddened we never got the full payoff of him in "costume" as a true partner to Batman. But this guy is no Batman candidate. I could accept this bizaare idea in the context of TDKR (only if however we never actually SEE the bloody guy in action in a future installment which now seems precisely what we're gonna get lol). There are certain types in casting the Caped Crusader. Had this guy come at another point with no Christian Bale Batman in existence, perhaps he could pull off a "Michael Keaton" and prove us wrong. He's following Christian Bale however! We need somebody smashing! A "Daniel Craig" after your "Pierce Brosnan"! As great as the last guy was! Somebody not afraid to make his own choices with the character or afraid of Bale's shadow! This choice will not achieve this. It's merely a safe move after the success of the Nolan trilogy. And safe choices mean quick death folks.

If this really means that we won't have Bruce Wayne in the JL movie it's the ultimate reason for me to skip it entirely (which I'm now considering).

We've just had the best Batman since Michael Keaton in Christian Bale and they go and potentially screw it up. Face it guys we don't need a Joel Schumacher this time. If Warners are going to seriously introduce a whole new Batman in a team up movie, not have it be Bruce Wayne and have him played by JGL just to cash in on Avengers, the series is going to implode all over again. Just like 1997.

For christ sake Warners do it correctly and it will continue successfully in an exciting new form! When will comic book companies (and now filmmakers) learn having a new guy in the suit is creative poison. Look at the terrible Clone Saga in Spider-Man with Ben Reilly. Terrible idea to replace Peter Parker and Marvel thankfully copped out of this nuts scheme. Same with Batman, Superman and any other character. Don't.....mess....with....the....basics.

[Bobthegoon89]

Couldn't agree more sir.

Thankfully the rumour has been debunked. What I find most shocking is the amount of "fans" who liked the idea...dumbasses!

Oh god Paul are you sure it's officially debunked? Please say so it will haunt me all night if not lol

[thecolorsblend]

For christ sake Warners do it correctly and it will continue successfully in an exciting new form! When will comic book companies (and now filmmakers) learn having a new guy in the suit is creative poison. Look at the terrible Clone Saga in Spider-Man with Ben Reilly.

Not to argue your point but though it may have been a stupid creative choice, it certainly didn't hurt Marvel's bottom line. The Clone Saga was a big seller. People tend to forget this but it's true.

To your point though, as far as the JLA movie is concerned, use Bruce Wayne or get out. And no, I won't suffer JGL as Bruce. Give us something and someone new.

[Azrael]

Agreed with you all, mixing the TDK trilogy with the new JL by having JGL in the role would be a dumb idea, even for the simplest of reasons that it wouldn't be Bruce Wayne, but John Blake, a character invented for the Nolanverse, a successor that worked only for the trilogy's finale.

With that said, I still detest this JLA movie concept. They should concentrate on how to pull off a few solid solo launch films for these characters before doing their crossover, Avengers worked because the audience already liked Iron Man, Thor, Captain America.

[Bobthegoon89]

I just think Batman in a team of super heroes has been a dreadful idea from day 1. He's just a man in a cape after all and he always looks weak in comparison to his associates. There is JLA story in which Superman, Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman fly out from the midst of an explosion. Batman on the other hand has to ride on a green "saucer" platform generatated by Green Lantern's power ring to be transported to safety. Can you imagine this on the big screen? 

His loner and tragic background is also reason enough to question his motives of being in a day glo super team.

[BatmAngelus]

Another reason why the John Blake Batman wouldn't be the same as having Bruce:

[thecolorsblend]

I just think Batman in a team of super heroes has been a dreadful idea from day 1. He's just a man in a cape after all and he always looks weak in comparison to his associates. There is JLA story in which Superman, Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman fly out from the midst of an explosion. Batman on the other hand has to ride on a green "saucer" platform generatated by Green Lantern's power ring to be transported to safety. Can you imagine this on the big screen? 

His loner and tragic background is also reason enough to question his motives of being in a day glo super team.

Props to you for honesty (even though it's a completely valid part of the comics). And personally, I'm starting to wonder just when the hell fanboys in general are going to be comfortable with the idea. They didn't like the idea of a Superman/Batman teamup film in 2000/2001 because the individual franchises should be established first. Then they opposed it because sequels for each needed to be made. Then they opposed it because each trilogy (or Nolan's trilogy at least) should be finished. Will there ever come a point where they just come clean and say they just oppose the notion? Sure, you're doing it but the rest of 'em all couch their "reluctance" in some pseudo-cinerati elite spankfest.

I wish they'd just cut the BS and tell me they don't want to ever see Batman onscreen with other heroes because it violates their perceptions of the character. Then I can point out how common it is in the comics (since the loudest dissidents tend to be the least comics literate), how the cinematic winds are blowing that direction whether or anybody likes it or not and then cordially invite them to rewatch the Nolan trilogy for the billionth time while the rest of us get something we'll enjoy more than yet another live action Batman in an immaculate universe without other characters.

Not flaming you here, you understand, just getting some stuff off my chest.

EDIT- Oh, and one other thing. Lest you think this exclusive thing is reserved only for Batman fans, permit me to say that Superman fans are at least as bad. Maybe worse. You just wouldn't believe some of the idiotic opinions that have assaulted my eyes over the years. It really is stupefying, not least because Superman (or Clark anyway) has been successfully teamed up with other characters in live action (Smallville) where pretty much every character pulled his weight and did things only that character could do. With several such examples already in the can, you'd think the argument would have defeated itself long ago. And you'd be so wrong it would hurt. So, again, not flaming you personally or even flaming Batman fans in general; I'm flaming idiotic fanboys who have absolutely no imagination.

[ElCuervoMuerto]

Thankfully it's been debunked (or at least denied by JGL's reps). Me personally, I like JGL and I do think he could pull off being Bruce. But at this point that would be odd and inviting audience confusion. It would be like if Chris O'Donell played Batman in Begins, or if Don Cheadle played Tony Stark. And I really do think the Nolan series should be it's own thing. It's done and it was great (my disappointment with TDKR aside). But it's time to move on.

[riddler]

Agreed with you all, mixing the TDK trilogy with the new JL by having JGL in the role would be a dumb idea, even for the simplest of reasons that it wouldn't be Bruce Wayne, but John Blake, a character invented for the Nolanverse, a successor that worked only for the trilogy's finale.

With that said, I still detest this JLA movie concept. They should concentrate on how to pull off a few solid solo launch films for these characters before doing their crossover, Avengers worked because the audience already liked Iron Man, Thor, Captain America.

Exactly. Each of their films left hints there were other superhero activities going on. Also it fit because they all have super powers to an extent; JLA is harder because you have superman and green lantern and the flash next to the grounded batman and green arrow. Not impossible to pull off but tricky without Batman constantly resorting to his utility belt.