I heard this rumor yesterday, but it was so obviously bogus that I didn’t even bother addressing it. But then every single site out there started putting up posts with titles like “CONFIRMED! DEPP AND HOFFMAN ARE RIDDLER AND PENGUIN!” and various other wordings of the same bullshit.
Basically here’s the deal. Michael Caine was giving some interview where he talked about a conversation he had with some WB exec (he never says who) and basically Caine asked “how do we top Heath”, and the WB exec says something hypothetical like “I’ll tell you how, Depp and Hoffman as Riddler and Penguin”. All of a sudden all these websites are putting out “exclusives” that it has been CONFIRMED that Depp and Hoffman were in the next Batman movie. Bullshit.
Here’s a short clip from last night’s “The Movie Blog: Uncut” where I explain why it’s Bullshit. And as Doug mentions in this short video, even Heath Ledger confirms it.
The Penguin portrayed as a James Cagney like gangster would be perfect for Nolan’s Batman.
my God, please no more penguin… riddler would be okay since Jim Carrey screwed that one up, but bring in someone like the Mad Hatter or Clayface
As I’ve said in other posts I would love to see those 2 in Nolan’s Batman universe but there was no doubt that they talk of those 2 was bullshit.
I love the Zodiac, John Doe and Jigsaw angel since that’s what I’ve been saying all along.
Hans Gruber is a great villain but going that direction IMO makes the Riddler a Joker knock-off and if he’s more of a Gruber type then why and where would the Riddles come from?
I just think the best way to go in this real world setting of this Batman incarnation for him not to be a 2nd rate Joker is that he’s someone who’s extremely narcissistic that’s out to prove he’s smarter then the Gotham police and Batman to the point that he provides the information to to what he’s doing and who he if they can unravel his riddles in the form of simple riddles to ciphers and whatnot.
When I say like the Zodiac I don’t necessarily mean the he’s a serial killer or maybe just a serial killer. The way I would make the Riddler is that I would have clues and riddles that are aimed at or given to Batman and the police about what’s going to come and if they aren’t solved in time there will be death and/or destruction if they don’t and if that happens not only is there the natural guilt but the media pressure on the police and Batman will grow and they will question Batman’s worth.
Going in another direction just doesn’t make any sense to me in the Nolan setting and staying true to the green suits with ? is goofy and not what Nolan Universe is about.
The Riddler I want is someone is not just another killer and/or terrorist and may somewhat sound like the Joker he’s doing it for much different reasons. Where the Joker did what he did like they say in TDK is just to see the world burn whereas The Riddler is about proving that he’s better than Batman and the police with him it’s about the name Riddler being out there outsmarting them. It’s about fame and being remembered. The way I see him is that he would leave riddles about what people he’s going to kill, what he’s going to steal, what building he’s going to blow up etc. Some would be simple while other are complicated and multi-layered and then some that a part of a bigger puzzle.
I would like to someone like Sam Rockwell or maybe someone like Adrien Brody.
Rants are awesome
@Ginger
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I think Caine’s statements are probably just taken out of context. Just musing on a possible way to ever top it. Caine didn’t say they confirmed it, just that they were musing on how you could possiblly to pit. It’s like if I was thinking how could you ever top mango sorbet? Wow, I could possibly add macadamia nuts to it! That’s how you top it, but I haven’t confirmed that I will indeed be adding macadamia nuts, I’m just musing on possibilities! Bad analogy, but I’m eating mango sorbet right now, that’s all I could think of
I am sick and tired of hearing Johnny Depp’s name thrown out for every movie that is made. He is a good actor but at playing quirky roles. Could he play the Riddler? Maybe, but I have to be honest and say the idea repulses me. I keep having Captain Jack Sparrow flashbacks!
I cannot in any way picture Johnny Depp as the Riddler, it even sounds ludicrous to me. Almost as ludicrous as someone suggesting in another thread that Johnny Depp play Hal Jordon (Green Lantern) Yea, I am still shaking my head over that statement. Hal Jordon is an American Fighter Pilot, not some smarmy cappuccino drinking actor who likes quirky roles.
Also, I don’t like Depp as Riddler and really don’t like the Zodiac killer Riddler angle, but that is just me.
They didn’t have to “hardcore” up the other villains introduced thus far to make them work. They just had to follow the spirit of the characters in the comics. Zodiac killer Riddler is not following the spirit of his character.
I’m thinking less Zodiac, more Hans Gruber.
Actually Die Hard with a Vengence’s villain is the closest to a real Riddler I have seen.
This isn’t as lame as it seems (at least I hope it isn’t) but I made a blog where I posted my picks for casting and characters that I would like included in Batman 3 with pictures to justify my position.
I don’t go for the obvious choices so anyone who enjoys simple speculation and imagining of possiblities might get a kick out of it.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=356211394&blogID=431153693
Philip Seymour Hoffman responded to the rumors today saying he was not cast, but he doesnt rule out the idea of being the penguin if he gets offered.
I still can’t believe this crud is still out there. The folks at WB aren’t even done counting the loose change yet.
Now, I kind of figured out where the Depp rumors have come from. Next year, Depp is starring alongside Christian Bale in a film (Public Enemies) which is directed by Michael Mann. Mann’s 1995 film Heat had heavy influence on TDK according to Chris Nolan. I can sort of see where someone could pick and choose facts, make up the wrong conclusions, and, if it makes anyone feel better, the characters they play in next summer’s film are on opposite sides of the law, Depp playing one of the Most Wanted.
Hoffman? It’s a nice thought that was a cloud over The Dark Knight prep that turned out to be great but fruitless speculation.
How do you top Ledger? The answer is simple: don’t try.
Just write a good story, make a good picture, and it won’t matter who Bats faces next, it could be Maxie Zeus, Holiday Killer, Catwoman, Bane or a renegade Jean Paul Valley.
It’s too early to know yet and besides, the casting isn’t for WB to say or any actor. Nolan, who has directed, co-produced and co-written (with his brother) the Batfilms, especially DK, had the last word on who was who. Did WB demand Nolan put the late Ledger in TDK? No. They respected his choice.
So after trustng him, and that trust is earned, after a full year of viral promotion (worth every damned penny!) after TDK just made them boatloads of money, heaps of praise, possible awards talk, and coming in behind James Cameron’s Titantic as the biggest money machine of all time…they are just going to decide, out of the blue, to screw Nolan in the rear end?!
If Nolan decides not to do another movie Warner Brothers most likely moves ahead without him. Then Michael Cane becomes the psychic we all KNOW he is.
There will be no Penguin in the Chris Nolan universe.
i know its prob Micheal Caine/WB exec just running their mouths…but one can hope :)
if they made riddler a serial killer type like Kevin Spacey’s character from Seven id be all for it.
they don’t have to make him a wannabe-Joker
Johnny Depp should play Joker if they bring him back
John says, “Michael Cane said, Johnny Depp was going to be the Joker and Phillip Seymour Hoffman was going to be The Riddler”. LOL! What happend? Wait a minute, I see it now, that must mean that Michael Cane must turn out to be The Penguin! (Fucking genius).
Now all we need as Robin is……………Nic Cage! :P