Batman Begins Sequel News Roundup

[Tragic Past]

All news courtesy of the reliable Batman-on-film.com

Sequel Title News:(Feb.28th)
In regards to The Sequel’s title, I hit a friend of mine who works in the entertainment biz with an email, asking of his thoughts on this “BATMAN 2” rumor. Although he’s not close to the Batman project at all, he usually has good insight to things such as this -- plus he hears a lot of industry scuttlebutt too. “It is most likely a working title,” he told me. “ “But it [numbering the sequels] seems to be doing fine for the SPIDER-MAN films.” He added, “But using ‘2’ is short and to the point. And it is the second film in this series.”

[Tragic Past]

More Sequel Title News:(Feb. 27)

Here's what our insider told BOF recently regarding the sequel title. "They [Warner Bros., Nolan] may go simply with BATMAN 2. It hasn't been used before and it is #2 in this series." I checked, and "batman2.com" is registered to Warner Bros. and has been since 2000. If it was going to be one of the rumored titles mentioned earlier today, I assume the studio would have nabbed the domain already -- especially when they were first rumored. We'll see...

BOF was told that we can stop being concerned about BATMAN STRIKES, ESCALATION, or ATTACKS as the title to the sequel. I’ve also heard what it could be -- which I’m not ready to reveal just yet -- and it’s different from what we are used to with Bat-movie titles. It sort of makes one say, "Might as well." Let me do a bit more checking, so stay tuned.

[Tragic Past]

Sequel Website news:(Feb. 26)

I’ve heard a whisper that Warner Bros. may update the official Batman movie site (which I assume would have a new URL and the BATMAN BEGINS site would redirect you to the new one) once Nolan “officially” signs on the dotted line. So what are they going have for us Bat-fans and others to see? The next film’s title -- or so I’m told from a good friend of BOF‘s. While I try to reserve my opinions about news and rumors in my SCATTERSHOTS, I’ll say if this isn’t true, it SHOULD BE; it is an excellent idea...

[Tragic Past]

Sequel News. Phillip Hoffman as Penguin rumor:(Feb. 24)

BOF has been informed by a very reliable and longtime source of the following: "Don't look for [Philip Seymour] Hoffman in the 'Batman' sequel." Our insider tells us that Hoffman is "too big" of an actor at this point to accept a role that is rumored to be nothing more than an extended cameo -- although he did point out that the latter is just his own opinion.

[Tragic Past]

Johnathan Nolan to pen BEGINS sequel script:

OK BOF‘ers, “Treatment Insider” is back with a few more details. I contacted him a few days ago because I wanted to know his thoughts regarding all the recent rumors that have been floating around. He was nice enough to get back to me and here’s what he had to say:

“I checked out your updates and as far the treatment I read goes, there [was] no Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Dr. Arkham, Dr. Lesile Thompkins or Talia Al Ghul in the sequel. That doesn't mean they won't be in it, just that they weren't in the treatment I read. Keep in mind that this was also the first draft and things do change and I haven't been able to get my hands on any new drafts.

I doubt we will see any doctors from Arkham as it is shut down and “The Narrows” is still pretty much a disaster area and a haven for various villains. There is a small subplot about Wayne trying to help fund the clean up and rebuild The Narrows -- particularly [one] involving a massive tenement complex that will be the setting of perhaps the most spectacular action sequence in the film.

Now about casting. There has been al ot of talk and rumors going on about who may be lined up for the sequel. A lot of it is just rumor and speculation. This is the crazy time -- expect to hear a lot more of this until people are actually cast. From what I know, Bettany and Hulme are still the only ones I know for a fact that are, or were looked at for the role of The Joker. This is my guess, but the way it looks it will be one [of those two] who nabs the role.

Liev Schreiber is the top choice for Dent and it's his if he wants it -- which I'm pretty sure he does. As for Hoffman as the Penguin, I can't confirm this.

Although pre-production is underway as we speak, expect it to go full steam ahead late summer/early fall. [At that time, there should be] official confirmation on details of the story and casting with shooting still planned for spring '07. Interesting how my hunch that Nolan's brother Jonathan might pen the script turned out correct.”

And I can confirm that "Treatment Insider" did tell inform me that Goyer had written the treatment and that he thought Jonathan Nolan would be the one to write the screenplay...

From VARIETY (Subscription Required). Warner Bros. has hired Jonathan Nolan -- brother of director Chris Nolan -- to pen the sequel to BATMAN BEGINS. Chris Nolan and previous screenwriter David Goyer have already wrote the treatment for the film that will be used as the basis for the new script. The sequel will most likely hit theaters summer 2008. Legendary Pictures is expected to again fund 50% of the sequel as they did for BEGINS. Chris Nolan will officially sign on to direct soon...

[UrbanLegend]

Thanks for keeping us up to date RW!

I really would have liked Batman: Escalation, but Batman 2 works just fine. I glad to hear their maybe some cameos in hear. I would get a big kick out of seeing some future villians, even if they aren't used in future films. Oswalt Cobblepot or Edward Nigma would be awesome. It doesn't bug me that Talia might not be in the sequel. If it were up to me, I'd have her show in in the final film of the series, along with the thought dead Ra's Al Ghul.

I really find it intriguing on how there's so many ways this move could go. 2008 can't get hear fast enough.

[Tragic Past]

admin said:

Thanks for keeping us up to date RW!

I really would have liked Batman: Escalation, but Batman 2 works just fine. I glad to hear their maybe some cameos in hear. I would get a big kick out of seeing some future villians, even if they aren't used in future films. Oswalt Cobblepot or Edward Nigma would be awesome. It doesn't bug me that Talia might not be in the sequel. If it were up to me, I'd have her show in in the final film of the series, along with the thought dead Ra's Al Ghul.

I really find it intriguing on how there's so many ways this move could go. 2008 can't get hear fast enough.

Yeah, I agree. I have a feeling the sequel is going to be better and more exciting and have a bigger buzz among mainstream than Batman Begins.

[UrbanLegend]

From: about.com

Morgan Freeman and Tom Wilkinson both talked about the Batman Begins sequel in recent days. First up, Freeman mentioned playing Lucius Fox again to About.com:

Freeman starts Evan Almighty next week. As for a possible script to Batman Begins 2, Freeman is completely in the dark. "I don't know. That's up to the writer and the director. Are you going to write Lucius Fox into the next Batman sequels? If you do, are you going to hire me to do it? If they hire me to do it, I don't have to worry about the freshness of it. That's not my job. My job is to take it off the page, just like I did the first time."

Meanwhile, Tom Wilkinson was asked by Empire Online about his role of Carmine Falcone in the first film:

At the other end of the scale, Batman Begins, where you had a small role in a big film. Was it fun to get in touch with your dark side as such a fantastically nasty character?
"I guess so. I rather liked him. I kind of thought it was fun to play. But I thought it was a great role.

It was a real scene-stealer. Would you be back for a sequel?
Well, my character's mad and possibly dead so I don't think so.

Well, that's no bar in comic book movies.
Yeah, I suppose he might come back as the Riddler, just completely off his head."

[UrbanLegend]

www.iesb.net/videointerviews/saturn06goyernolan.php