Some ‘Dark Knight’ Fans Just Can’t Let It Go, Thankfully

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 22, 2008

I am thinking of starting up a rehabilitation center for people who are addicted to speculating about what may or may not happen with Christopher Nolan’s Batman franchise. I feel that I would be a great fit to head up such an effort, as I would also be a client. It could be like my own little Hair Club for Men, only with more hair, as evidence by my FSR bio picture.

Further evidence of this growing speculation epidemic comes by way of a portfolio over at DeviantArt for a user named Josh MC. You see, Josh is both fan and artist, a very dangerous combination. He has drawn up a few really cool posters for what he thinks might work for a third film, which he has titled “Gotham City.” Not a bad title, sir — and the picks are very intriguing as well, yet not as intriguing and breathtaking as the art. Lets take a look at one artist’s take on where Chris Nolan and crew should go in the third film. Also, just click any of the images below to be taken to the much bigger versions.

First up is “Doctor Who” alum David Tennant as The Riddler. The character is an obvious choice, as he has been at the front of many of the rumors, but Tennant is an interesting choice. Ask 5 people walking by you in the halls of the interwebs and at least 3/5 will tell you that Johnny Depp is the right man for the job, but this presents a unique take, one that didn’t strike me at first, but actually makes sense. Tennant has the right sensibility to pull of such a role, but I feel it being a bit too light. Not Jim Carrey in tights light, but lighter than Depp could play it.

Next is “Heroes” and “Veronica Mars” star Kristen Bell as Harley Quinn. Now, I’ve heard some pretty solid rumors from in and around the camps that made The Dark Knight that say that script treatments with Harley Quinn as the key villain had been passed around, but nothing beyond that. That said, the character of Harley fits right into the current story-line: The Joker goes to Arkham, spreads his — um — vision of the world and gets himself a girlfriend. Then she gets out and seeks revenge. Something like that. As for Bell, I wouldn’t have thought of her prior to seeing her on “Heroes.” But now, I can see it working. Think about here character Elle and her fetish-like need to shock people. That’s not far off from the insatiable appetite for anarchy that Harley possesses.

And finally, here comes the oddest of the lot: Oscar winner Marion Cotillard as Catwoman. Ultimately I don’t see Christopher Nolan using Catwoman, Penguin, Mr. Freeze and/or Poison Ivy, as those characters seem to be truly soiled at this point cinematically. He took a big risk with Two-Face, but pulled it off beautifully. Not that he couldn’t make it work, I just believe him to be more sensible than that. That said, Marion Cotillard would be an odd choice. As well, while I love the effort put into making her look like she might fit into this franchises aesthetic, this just doesn’t work for me. Catwoman is a sexier character — and this doesn’t quite do the trick.

All in all, you have to hand it to Josh MC, because he’s a damn good artist and a true fan. The fate of Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film is still, without a doubt, undetermined, but that will not stop fans from all sorts of feats of speculation, nor should it. I say keep them coming — these sorts of things make a slow news day entertaining.

You can see more of Josh MC’s work over at DeviantART. Thanks to Slashfilm for the hat tip.

What do the rest of you think of these cool designs?

Read more articles by Neil Miller