Image Credit: David Gabber/PR Photos; David Gabber/PR Photos; Sylvain Gaboury/PR PhotosFor the past couple weeks, Hollywood gossips have been buzzing about the fact that Inception helmer Christopher Nolan has been auditioning actresses for two roles in his third Batman film, entitled The Dark Knight Rises. Deadline reports today that the director will soon meet with these six stars: Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway, and Keira Knightley. This follows a report at ComicBookMovie.com that Nolan has met with Charlize Theron for one part (said to be a character named Sarah Essen) and Vera Farmiga and Kacie Thomas for another (said to be a character named Julie Madison). To these names, I can report to you exclusively today that Nolan has just decided five seconds ago to meet with every single woman in Hollywood (and several locales outside of it) between the ages of 18 and 91 over the next two weeks, because hey, why not? Thoroughness, you know.
Okay, I confess: I may have made up my exclusive “news.” For the record, reps for Nolan and Warner Bros. declined to comment on the casting process. But just in case ComicBookMovie.com at least got the names of the characters right, here’s what you need to know: In her most notable comic book appearance, Sarah Essen was a good cop that tempted Batman ally James Gordon to stray from his marriage in Batman: Year One, written by comic book superstar and film director Frank Miller (300; Sin City; The Spirit). I’m not wild about importing the Batman: Year One storyline, not at this late stage of the Batman movies. As much as I really like Gary Oldman’s Jim Gordon, I don’t think the franchise has invested so much into his personal life (besides fleeting appearances of his wife and child on his back porch) to make me care about an adultery subplot. I’m much more interested in the Gordon/Batman crime-fighting bromance.
I’m less familiar with Julie Madison, but as ComicBookMovie.com points out, the character dates back to the earliest Batman comics and has links to my top pick for who should be the chief villain in The Dark Knight Rises: Clayface. Regardless, I’m hoping all these reports are wrong and that the lead female characters in the movie are Catwoman and my favorite Bruce Wayne love interest (from my favorite run of Batman stories ever): Silver St. Cloud, a smart socialite who captured Bruce’s heart (and discovered his secret identity) in a series of stories from the 1970s written by Steve Englehart and drawn by Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin. If they go this route, then it could portend a plot involving a nemesis attempting to impersonate and ruin Batman (perhaps Hugo Strange) and even allow Nolan another movie that functions as an allegory for movie-making, à la Inception.
Ah, rank and geeky speculation! Ain’t it cool? Your turn, Popwatchers. Is there an iconic or obscure female character from Batman mythos that you want to see in the third Batflick? (Vicki Vale, anyone?) And who should play the part(s)?
Read more:
Who will be Batman’s next movie nemesis? Catwoman? Clayface? Maybe even… Superman?
‘The Dark Knight Rises’; the Riddler doesn’t
The Christopher Nolan Flowchart
Batman 3 to begin in April
Rachel Weisz is the best choice on that list.
How can you know she’s the “best choice” when you don’t even know what role is being cast???
because she’s Rachel Weisz.
Because Rachel Weisz is one of the most talented and versatile actress working today and she is hands down the best actress on that list.
LOL I agree with Di.
rachel weisz is a terrible actress. everything she touches turns to garbage. i thought after getting rid of katie holmes that nolan would stop interviewing pretty faces with zero acting chops.
Sorry Skip182 but you don’t know what the hell you are talking about. Rachel Weisz is an amazing actress.
You’re probably a Megan Fox fan if you’re that clueless of real acting.
I take Rachel Weisz over anyone on that list.
nope, weisz can’t act. anyone besides her or lively on this list is acceptable.
I agree with Konk. If we’re going to say that Weisz is the most talented and versatile on the list, we might as well start rooting for Meryl Streep to be in the next film. We don’t know the role yet guys.
Because she is the best actress on the list.
YUP. Rachel Weisz. FA SHO.
…and why is Blake Lively on every list, she is an awful actress.
She was amazing in “The Town.”
totally agree with @leylagalis, she was amazing in the town and also pretty good in the rest of things shes done with the exception of “Gossip Girl” but lets face it, she doesn’t really need to act in it…
Blake Lively proved herself in The Town.
You’re have no idea on what you are talking about skip182. You would not know good acting if it bit you on the ass. Rachel Weisz is the best actress on that list.
Gordon ended his affair with Sarah Essen in “Year One,” but many years after his divorce from his wife Barbara, they met again and married. She came to play a pivotal role as one of the few good cops left to defend Gotham in the seminal No Man’s Land story. There is much potential in her character for a feature adaptation.
Julie Madison was the first girlfriend Bruce Wayne ever dated (back before his writers ever created Gotham City — in his earliest stories, he patrols and fights crime in New York!).
Rachel Wiez (sp?) as Catwoman, Marion Colltiard as Talia al Ghul
YES.
No way. The next villain will be Poison Ivy. It’ll work well with Christopher Nolan’s real-world vision of Batman. She’s a terrorist that uses biological warfare. It’s definitely going to be Poison Ivy, I just know it!
That’s an interesting take, the bio terrorist.
I still can’t shake the memory of Uma Thurman’s campy performance as Poison Ivy in Batman & Robin…but if anyone can pull it off I know Nolan can
I feel the same way.
Im realy hoping, and Im really thinking its gonna be her, too…. Nolan also likes to stick to the villains that have real psychological aspects, and they cant end the Dark Knight movies without one of Batmans infamous villainess’!!!(Im still pulling for an appearence by Nightwing!)
The only Poison Ivy I would be willing to accept is a criminally voluptuous Christina Hendricks
I love Rachel Weiz, but I don’t see her having chemistry with Christian Bale. I could however see Rachel McAdams as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. Also… how about someone to play Harley Quinn… I know it sounds sacreligious since there will be no “Mr. J”… but she’s a great vixen.
Rachel McAdams? No. Rachel Weisz is a much better choice.
I like Rachel McAdams for this movie too. Someone get her a meeting with Nolan!
I could see Mila Kunis as Harley Quin.
Big Mila fan! She could play any one of those roles. She is just as talented as anyone and sure has the looks for it.
Rachel Weisz and Anne Hathaway with out a doubt.
totally agree. I like Natalie Portman but not for this
Which superstar actress show be cast? Let’s see hhmmm Snookie? hhmmm Paris Hilton?? hhmm Jessica Simpsion ?? hhmm one of the 200450 Duggar babies?? Kendra Wilkinson??
Don’t forget Octomom.
Anne Hathaway is extremely hot , sexy, watchable and very vixen-ish in Love And Other Drugs. i also vote for Anne Hathaway & Rachel Weisz.
Knightley is the best actress of the bunch.
I agree. I’m saying she’ll be a perfect catwoman since TDK.
I vote for Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts and/or Charlize Theron. A big NO to Hathaway, Lively, and Portman.
Completely agree!! Hooray for actresses who can act!
u know what ur talking about
Although she is probably too old for the part, I’d love for Cameron Diaz to play Harley Quinn. This way they’d be able to acknowledge The Joker without having to “show” him and somewhat continue his story line.
I’m also rooting for Rachel Weisz and Anne Hathaway. Blake Lively? ugh! But if Keira or Natalie were chosen, I’d be okay with that.
Agreed, but I’d love Charlize as well.
Rachel Weisz would be a good addition to The Dark Knight Rises.
…or has the number of EW writers who refer to “exclusive this” and “exclusive that” increased dramatically since Ausiello left?
I always thought Ausiello’s constant use of “exclusive” made him seem insecure and needy. Now it seems like the entire EW staff is insecure and needy.
Stop it. Please. It’s annoying.
We already like you. We really, really like you.
Interesting. I think the sarcasm in my post makes your point.
Please no Blake Lively!!!!!!
Rachel Weisz would be awesome.