You're my only hope:
Here's yet another Batman 3 casting rumor for you to chew on, along with the Rachel Weisz as Catwoman gossip from yesterday. The Sun claims that Eddie Murphy has been signed to play the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf is set to play Robin. This is entirely untrue.
We spoke to a proven industry source of ours earlier tonight who confirmed to us not only that the rumor is a fake, but where and how The Sun got their information. Unfortunately, in order to protect our source's anonymity we can't tell you. Ain't that fun? But we're certain, there's no truth to this at all.
Besides, you don't need us to tell you that British newspapers have pretty much the worst track record ever when it comes to breaking movie news. They're nearly always wrong. Well they're wrong again.
I first saw this rumor on IMDB, which - let's be honest - is up there with Matt Drudge on the reliability scale. And I have to admit, the bad movie lover in me salivated at the thought of watching the current Batman franchise go all Bad Santayana and repeat WB's 1990s mistakes, pissing away their TDK cred by casting the one actor who might make Tommy Lee Jones' portrayal seem subdued.
But even I'm not credulous enough to buy the LaBeouf thing. Nolan's said repeatedly that Robin wouldn't be making an appearance in any of his movies.
That same proven source however says that Rachel Weisz is a real possibility to play Catwoman. That's not wrong. Also correct are the rumors that Nolan is actually ready to start making it. Our insider insists that the movie is further along than we've all been lead to believe. Nolan is back, Bale is back, and so is Michael Caine. The rest is still up in the air.
WB is definitely antsy to get the third installment out in the next couple of years, but word is Nolan's not feeling the same pressure. As for the rest being "up in the air." I'd be surprised if the suits behind the second highest grossing movie in U.S. history balked at reuniting the winning team.
Though Terrence Howard might disagree.
What’s with re-hashing the same villains? I’d much rather see a portrayal of Killer Croc, Clayface, Bane, or Hugo Strange/Solomon Grundy. I get that Hollywood isn’t going embrace the likes of Batzaro, Mazie-Zeus, or the Condiment King. But there’s such a wealth of untapped bad guys in the Batman universe that it’s a shame to double-dip on both the Riddler and Catwoman. And even if that’s the route the movie makers are going, fine. At least have the decency to give me more Ra’s al Ghul.
The only thing better than Eddie Murphy as the Riddler would be Kim Kardashian as Talia.
“I don’t see why Johnny Depp should be the new villain. I think we should bring back FFrank Gorshin. Kids will want to see the original Radioactive Man.
“I keep telling you… he’s 75 years old (b. 1933 in Pittsburgh) and he’s dead.”
“Granted…”
The reason Nolan is not using any new villains is that he doesn’t like them. He wants to use villains that are real people, not crazy genetic mutations or something. At one point he said he wouldn’t use the penguin, because he was too unrealistic. I could see him maybe using Bane, but enemies like croc and clayface don’t stand a chance in a Nolan film.
“bad Santayana” nearly made me do a spit take. Well done.
I don’t know exactly how the love lives of Bruce and Selina will work against the ever-broader political/ philosophical canvas that Nolan seems to be creating, but if it gets Rachel Weisz into a catsuit, sign me up.
A friend of mine just saw recently a rumor that Johnny Depp was being considered for the Riddler and when asked gave a non-denial denial answer. He would be perfect, IMO.