Nolan's future involvement with the series...

[Dark Knight Detective]

TDKR done be Burton would be epic.

[Grissom]

Epic to the third degree, I agree. The funny thing is WB does have Snyder on a short list as possible director and we all know Snyder has a great visual sense and sticks true (for the most part) to the source materials for his films, so basically they are going back to the sort of Burton root, if you will. They are looking for a director that can handle the story, action and have a great visual style. It comes around full circle. In terms of visuals alone, Nolan is surpassed by quite a few directors.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[Azrael]

I don't think Zack Snyder and J.J. Abrams would be suitable for Batman. The are more like "technicians", skilled directors and storytellers but not with much to "say". Burton and Nolan have their own "voice" as filmmakers (like Raimi or Del Toro that did excellent work with their comic movies), and I think the future Batman director should be someone like that, whoever that might be.

[TheBatMan0887]

And. Here. We. Go.......again....

Is WB going to repeat this over again!?

Even if it's great, if they hire someone else who will do it closer and do it like Burtons as you put it, in terms of looks or realism, it may become different. Will he follow the realism?

Just look at X-Men, Wolverine contradicts the previous A LOT!! Hydrolic unnaturaly driven claws, even on it's poster...then...bone claws? I believe Striker even stated that "all we did is give you claws". At this point X-men needs a reboot as making it closer with the crap done makes it worse. Unfortionatly marvel invented the ultimate line at the same time to adapt to ALL the films put out rather making corrections. These cheap mistakes even make it into Woverines stand alone comics.

Also, Hayter only did the final draft of X-men and is of MANY writers, yet they say it like he's the only one. Go look at movies.yahoo.com, it's official and not editable by small people like wikipedia or imdb. Its the film's only barrier from being bashed, "hey Snake wrote it". Such bull.

Maybe he'll follow his realism or whatever.

[Joker89]

If they get someone else to do the next Batman film, it will be a major disappoint. That simply put. It won't generate the same vibe as Nolans' films, and it will just be a commercial success.

[thecolorsblend]

If they get someone else to do the next Batman film, it will be a major disappoint. That simply put. It won't generate the same vibe as Nolans' films, and it will just be a commercial success.

And if Nolan chooses not to come back?  Is WB supposed to put the entire franchise on ice?

As for me, I could sooner believe Nolan's been given a deadline to respond.  He's had a vacation, a film of his has been greenlit (and may well have started production for all I know) and it'll probably be finished (or else close to it) in six months.  Methinks he'd better have an answer by then or else WB will move on with someone else.

In some ways, a hypothetical replacement has an even steeper mountain to climb.  Not only would they face the same basic pressures and risks as Nolan, but they'd have none of the good will from the fans and audiences.  On top of all that, they would take all of the blame when the film "underperforms".  And in the unlikely event the third one does somehow outgross TDK, the director would probably not get much credit for it since he's simply continuing (in some way or another) Nolan's storyline.

You have to wonder how many people would be insane enough to take something like that on.  I mean, seriously, who needs that kind of pressure?

[Paul (ral)]

Does Nolan even need that kind of pressure?

There is no chance in hell that the third film will come close to TDK in terms of box-office performance.

WB may well wait for Nolan in any case. What are the percieved reasons for the success of TDK? Nolan, Ledger and The Joker.

We only have 1 of those now - so they will wait. WB are too scared to do anything else - and always have been.

[thecolorsblend]

Disagreed.  Warner Bros. is made up of moneymen.  Smart business says to strike while the iron is hot.  That looks like it breaks down to a movie every three years.  Right now WB has unspeakably good market penetration with Batman so they can maybe swing four years.  But after that, they'll lose their edge.  WB cannot afford that if they want to maximize on what they've built with the franchise.

Right now, I'm sure their basic attitude is "whatever you say, Mr. Nolan".  But if Nolan doesn't come up with a timeline, there will come a point when WB will find another director.

Keep in mind though, this all presupposes that Nolan hasn't sat down with them to talk about Batman; he may very well have.  Who knows?  There may very well be a plan in place right now and there's simply nobody who's ready to talk about it yet.  But if he hasn't done that, their patience will eventually tire.  For the good (and longevity) of the franchise, they'll find someone to continue the series.

Even if it's not Nolan.

[The Dark Knight]

Well said, colors. Agree with all of it.

[Paul (ral)]

i wasn't suggesting that WB wait indefinitely colors so i agree with you there, but i wouldn't be suprised if we had to wait an extra 2 years