For quite some time now it’s been stated pretty matter-of-factly that trilogy-maker The Dark Knight Rises would be the final Batman movie made by director Christopher Nolan and likely the rest of his cast and crew, including star Christian Bale.
This was so sure that it had already been announced that Warner Brothers planned to reboot the franchise after Nolan and company’s departure…and it remains all but guaranteed (the departure; not the reboot) to this very day. But what fun would it be if it were ever that simple? A new quote from Bale himself has opened up just a sliver of “what if?” conversation, and you can see the quote below.
In the newest Batman-heavy issues of Empire Magazine, Bale is quoted saying:
“My understanding is that this is the last one. I think it’s appropriate, I think it’s going out at the right time. But…if Chris came to me with a script and said, ‘You know what? There is another story’ then I would love the challenge of making a fourth one work.”
There you have it. That teeny, tiny little door has been opened. Again, it’s pretty much set in stone that this will be the end for this cast and crew, but in Hollywood nothing is really all that surprising these days.
Oh, and to support this being the end for Nolan, he was also quoted in the new issue saying:
“What drew me to Batman in the first place was Bruce Wayne’s story, and that he’s a real character whose story begins in childhood. He’s not a fully formed character like James Bond, so what we’re doing is following the journey of this guy from a child who goes through this horrible experience of becoming this extraordinary character.
That, for me, became a three-part story. And obviously the third part becomes the ending of the guy’s story.”
So don’t get those hopes up too high for a fourth go of it with Nolan and Bale.
If you had the all-powerful choice to make, would you rather see Nolan and Bale return for a fourth Batman movie and risk tainting their legacy with a dud (assuming The Dark Knight Rises is as awesome as it looks)? Or would you decide to instead reboot the franchise with a new director and star?
Nolan, Bale, Batman and ‘dud’ cannot belong in the same sentence.
Comment by deb — May 30, 2012 @ 5:58 pm
Well as sad as I am to see The Dark Knight series approaching its end, nothing can describe just how excited I am to see a comic book movie franchise that will actually have a conclusion to its story arc rather than just having the hero fly over the horizon in search of a possible sequel. Especially when most times said sequel is never made leaving the story of the characters feeling unfinished or the sequels are shoddily put together to make a quick buck without a single thought for the original, Superman 3 and Batman & Robin spring to mind.
Comment by Bazzzinga — May 30, 2012 @ 7:14 pm
To be honest the only way they should make another Batman movie is with Nolan and co. Otherwise leave it alone for a couple of decades
Comment by Jordan Davis — May 31, 2012 @ 1:59 am
Personally, I hope the Bale ‘Gravelman’ voice is gone forever.
Comment by Anthony Samples — May 31, 2012 @ 11:46 am
Am I the only one that’s not impressed by what we’ve seen of Dark Knight Rises? It just falls flat w/ me. Maybe it’ll be great but I’ll reserve judgment till I see it. As far as a fourth in this series or a reboot…either way is good for me. I love BATMAN and will watch anything with that character in it.
Comment by NOBODY — May 31, 2012 @ 4:37 pm
The gravel voice rules!
Comment by NOBODY — May 31, 2012 @ 4:37 pm
Do you really want to wait 20 years for more theatrical Batman?
 Not me.
Comment by NOBODY — May 31, 2012 @ 4:38 pm
Good examples. Well said.
Comment by NOBODY — May 31, 2012 @ 4:39 pm
Nolan and bale! With the ending of rises! There is absolutely no way that they should turn down a fourth! They have way opened up the plot options!
Comment by Pupdogg1994 — July 21, 2012 @ 10:49 pm
Typically the reboot is the ‘dud’
So I would much rather see Bale and Nolan return to make another installment. I’m hoping after they see all the support and how well The Dark Knight Rises has done, they will come together and make a 4th movie happen.
Comment by Tyler Larson — August 9, 2012 @ 1:19 am
I really hope that Nolan makes another batman movie
Comment by Jacob Freiberg — November 26, 2012 @ 9:04 pm