British tabloid The Sun reports that Eddie Murphy is a candidate to play the Riddler in Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to The Dark Knight (due in 2010). The rumor, now added to the one that has Johnny Depp in the role, is unconfirmed by everyone other than The Sun, which is not the most reliable source for movie news. Nevertheless, it’s fun to think about casting for Nolan’s next Batman movie. I think Murphy could pull it off — he’s certainly proven he can play outlandish characters. That said, I also worry that he would be too silly for the dark tale and be more of a distraction than an asset. Between him and Depp, I’d prefer to see the question mark on Depp, who’s proven he can play just about any character.
The Sun also floats the rumor that Rachael Weisz is playing Catwoman, which I much prefer to the rumor that has 62-year-old Cher in the role, though I am somewhat intrigued by the reports that Nolan is considering Angelina Jolie for the cat suit (though that may simply have grown out of a random suggestion posted on an LA Times blog last summer). Finally, the Sun has Shia LaBeouf as Robin, and while we’re at it, there’s also a rumor out there that Philip Seymour Hoffman may play the Penguin.
Thoughts on these rumors, PopWatchers? Who’s your dream Riddler? What about Robin and Catwoman? Do you even believe that these are in fact the characters being used in Nolan’s next installment?
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Comments (1-30) of 195 Add your comment
I like Rachel Weisz in anything, and I think she would be a great asset to the movie – we’ve seen her do drama (constant gardener), semi-comedy (about a boy), and “action” (mummy), so why SHOULDN’T she be in the new batman movie?
Angelina Jolie = WAAAAY to cliche. isn’t that what these movies are all about too? picking people you WOULDN’T necessarily “see” in a role? (hello, katie holmes, christian bale, heath ledger? cillian murphy?)
Rachel McAdams would be nice too, but she’s doing Sherlock, so that might not work….
I’d LOVE Philip Seymour Hoffman and Johnny Depp, and I think Shia would be a good Robin, but I’m sure there are other young men out there who would make decent enough Robins….
I think catwoman is going to be in the next movie, for sure, because when Bruce Wayne asked Alfred if the new suit will protect him against dogs, Alfred said something about ‘watch out for cats’.
murphy’s the man… but i do agree he may be a little too light, rather than the dark satire that is this new batman…
i don’t think it’s possible for there to be a less appropriate movie for Shia labeouf than this.
and while angelina can certainly fit it with the mood of nolan’s movies, I still kinda see it as a “old batman” move.
same for eddie murphy.
I can see hoffman fitting in quite well. he plays the “growl whisper growl. YELL SHOUT GRRRR” suddenly fiery part well. …and he can probably waddle.
There’s not even a story yet, so no villians are known to be in the movie, hence no casting rumors. It’s basically just who people think would play the best batman villian!
Personally I’d like to see ann hathaway as Catwoman!
Weisz and Depp are the only ones (of those mentioned above) that would be a good fit for Nolan’s Batman. The others would move Nolan’s franchise into Clooney and Ah-nuld territory. Also, I think Nolan should leave the Penguin out altogether. He’s definitely the weakest character in my opinion, no matter who is playing him.
Oh please oh please let there not be a Robin in any of these. The last one with Robin left a really bad taste. Now, I wouldn’t mind Chris bringing back the Riddler-not an Eddie Murphy type riddler-Depp could handle it though. It would be hard to bring the Penguin back too. However, Catwoman should come back. She’s a great piece to the Bat’s story. Maybe get an unknown or less known actress to play her. And one last thing . . . Does everyone believe that Two Face is really dead?
I call BS. There isn’t even a script yet (or a rough draft of a storyline)
So basically eddie shouldnt play the riddler becuz hes black?
Come out with it already. He’d make a great riddler.
Seriously folks… Chris Nolan has no contract yet, there is no script and no casting. THESE STORIES ARE PURE FANTASY DESIGNED TO LURE DUMBASS FANBOYS TO WEBSITES TO INCREASE TRAFFIC. For publishing this as a rumor, EW IS NOW A TABLOID. EW YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!!!! Greedy soulless liars!
Please don’t do this. This film is gonna suck as. Yes even though Chris Nolan is at the top of the game.
Eddie Murphy is gonna suck.
to many villians at once. I hope it wont suck.
IF YOU BELIEVE THIS RUMOR, YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
No work has been done toward a third Chris Nolan Batman film.
Johnny Depp? He’d probably be good – I have a hard time believing he’d do it tho. Why not Christan Bale again (although not sad to see that horrible voice go away)
I agree with the “watch out for cats” – Catwoman is probably next. Much as I dislike her, Angelina would be good, but she’d never do it.
Eddie Murphy has better acting chops than everyone is giving him credit for. The Riddler was over the top, but never obnoxious and Eddie is perfect to pull it off.
KUDOS if Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the Penguin – he is awesome!!!!
No Robin? Ok either way as long as they don’t throw in a lot of “holy macaroni batman”.
Nolan himself has said he thinks the Penguin is a stupid character, so that’s a pretty good bet that Oswald Cobblepot isn’t going to make an appearance.
And yeah, this whole Eddie Murphy as the Riddler has been widely debunked.
I’m with Bobbyh, I thought the same thing about catwoman when Alfred said that.
I can’t think of Robyn seriously so if they bring him back, it better be good…
To Laura: I don’t think Two-Faces is dead eventhough Harvey Dent is.
I think Keira Knightley would be a perfect Catwoman, much in the tone the new movies have: old actor for the father figures (Oldman, freeman, Caine, Neeson) and young ones for the more active roles (Bale, C. Murphy, Ledger, Eckhart). Eddy Murphy and Rachael Weisz would be good in those roles 10 years ago, Nowadays, not so much.
Johnny Deep would be better as the riddler
Nolan has also said as long as he’s doing the Batman films, there will be no Robin.
Ok Eddie Murphy would be a bad choice, he just does not fit, I think Johnny Depp could play the part, but it may to main stream, I think finding a lesser known actor would be a smart move. However I am totally on board for Rachel Weisz as Catwoman.
I’m not opposed to the idea of Robin… I am opposed to the idea that anyone would allow Shia LeBeouf anywhere near another beloved franchise so he can ruin it…
and out of every choice for a future villain, I’d have to say Philip Seymour Hoffman would be excellent choice for any role
Even though there is no script, its fun to think about who would be good for the parts of any of the villains. So, haters, let us play along. I do not think Eddie would be a good Riddler, not because he’s black, but I think he is just too goofy for the role. Whenever he tries to do drama, he cannot pull it off well. I think Angelina would be a hot Catwoman and Depp would be fantastic as the Riddler.
Although I am positive it will never happen, I think David Tennent, the current Doctor Who, would be an amazing Riddler. He can be intense, silly, cerebral, and anyone who saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire knows he can be evil and scary too.
And kudo’s to whomever suggested Keira Knightley as Catwoman. That totally works for me.
I guess I’m one of the only people that doesn’t care for Johnny Depp as “The Riddler.”
It’s not that I don’t think he’s a brilliant actor (he is) and that I don’t believe he could pull it off (I believe it he could). It’s just that It’s just that Depp’s casting would seem a bit too…obvious. Personally, I would hope or expect Nolan to come up with someone we never would’ve thought of, who is ultimately fantastic in the role. This is what he did with Heath Ledger as the Joker, which was met with a lot more “huh”s than enthusiasm. Personally, I think Murphy could be interesting.
Eddie Murphy would great. Bring back humor to the Batman series like the 1960s TV show. Why does everything have to be so dark and dreary? The whole story is one big joke. Have some fun with it.
NO ROBIN PLEASE NOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Why does the last movie have to have every single batman villain ever? Can’t it be simple and elegant like batman begins?
I wish Ledger was not dead. He is so irreplaceable in that role. Has anybody thought about Mr. Freeze. If Patrick Stewart wasn’t so old he would be perfect. I hate the riddler.
Also, (and much more important) the theme on the new batman movie should be redemption given the ending of “The Dark Knight”. Catwoman should be as much as enemy as ally. The Riddler has to be the real menace in the way Ledger did. This gives bonus points to Deep over Murphy.