THE DARK KNIGHT

[muthagoose]

Batman 2 gets official title: 'The Dark Knight'!!

It has been officially announced that the next feature film installment of Batman will be called The Dark Knight. Christopher Nolan will return to the helm and Heath Ledger will in fact be playing the role of The Joker!

Nothing more was confirmed as of yet, but rumor has it Penguin is the next to be cast! Watch this spot for more news as it comes in. Batman Begins grossed $371,853,783 wordwide.


CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO DIRECT
WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ UPCOMING BATMAN MOVIE,
THE DARK KNIGHT
CHRISTIAN BALE REPRISES TITLE CHARACTER,
HEATH LEDGER JOINS CAST AS THE JOKER


BURBANK, CA, 31 July 2006 – As a follow up to last year’s blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Christopher Nolan revamped the Batman franchise in 2005 with the immensely successful Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale in the title role, which chronicled the early years of the superhero. Nolan first garnered attention from critics and fans in 2000 with the groundbreaking drama Memento, which he wrote and directed. He went on to direct the thriller Insomnia, starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams, and recently wrapped production on The Prestige, with Hugh Jackman and Bale.

Bale was most recently seen in the ensemble cast of Terrence Malick’s The New World. His other credits include Little Women, Portrait of a Lady, Metroland, American Psycho, Laurel Canyon and Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun, which was his first starring role.

Ledger most recently earned Oscar Golden Globe, BAFTA and SAG Award nominations and won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Ennis Del Mar in the award-winning drama Brokeback Mountain. His other credits include Casanova, Monster’s Ball, Lords of Dogtown, The Brothers Grimm and The Patriot.

“Chris’ unique vision is what made Batman Begins such an outstanding film and we could not imagine anyone else at the helm of The Dark Knight,” said Robinov. “We also can’t wait to see two such formidable actors as Christian and Heath face off with each other as Batman and The Joker.”

“I'm excited to continue the story we started with Batman Begins,” added Nolan. “Our challenge in casting The Joker was to find an actor who is not just extraordinarily talented but fearless. Watching Heath Ledger's interpretation of this iconic character taking on Christian Bale’s Batman is going to be incredible.”

Production is set to begin on The Dark Knight in early 2007.

Nolan and Ledger are represented by CAA.

[muthagoose]

More news on THE DARK KNIGHT...

According to the Hollywood Reporter Aaron Eckhart is in final negotiations to play Harvey Dent/Two Face in "The Dark Knight," Warner Bros. Pictures' sequel to "Batman Begins."

In Batman lore, Dent is the district attorney of Gotham City and an ally of Batman. After half his face is disfigured by acid, Dent becomes the insane crime boss known as Two Face. He chooses to do good or evil by flipping a coin. Tommy Lee Jones played the character in 1995's "Batman Forever."

"Knight" sees Christopher Nolan back in the director's chair with Christian Bale reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman are also returning. Heath Ledger joined the cast last summer, signing up to play the sardonic and murderous villain the Joker.

[muthagoose]

Two More Join "The Dark Knight"

Nestor Carbonell ("Smokin' Aces," TV's "Suddenly Susan") has joined the cast of Warner Bros. "Batman Begins" sequel "The Dark Knight" according to the trades.

Carbonell, most recently seen in a recurring role as a Dharma initiative manager in TV's "Lost", will play the mayor of Gotham City. It's thought that he'll complete work on the project before joining Jimmy Smits on CBS's new drama series "Cane."

Meanwhile MTV reports that rapper/actor David Banner ("Black Snake Moan") auditioned this week for a role in the film which he describes as a villain named 'Gamble,' odd considering there is no such villain in the comic's long history.

[muthagoose]

Dark Knight: Joker Revealed

Here is the first glimpse of Heath Ledger as the Joker... part in the promotional campaign that Warner has going on for the new film over at the site I Believe In Harvey Dent Too.

Check it out here (it takes a second to load):

www.ibelieveinharveydenttoo.com/

[muthagoose]

The Joker Will See You in December!

The new image of Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight has now been removed from IBelieveinHarveyDentToo.com. It's been replaced with red text that gives the error, "Page not found." If you highlight the entire page, however, you'll see a ton of Ha Ha Ha's with some letters here and there that don't belong. String those letters together and what do you get? - "See you in December."

We assume you'll get a first look at The Joker in a trailer for the sequel at that time. Warner Bros. has both Nicole Kidman's The Golden Compass and Will Smith's I Am Legend opening in December, to which the teaser could be attached to.

So who is behind all this? It looks to be 42 Entertainment, the company which previously created the "I Love Bees" promotion for "Halo 2" and "Year Zero" for the Nine Inch Nails album "Year Zero." The company just registered SeeYouinDecember.com yesterday, so stay tuned.

The Dark Knight opens in theaters on July 18, 2008.

[muthagoose]

Batman's New "Dark Knight" Armor

The Batman is getting a fashion upgrade. Entertainment Weekly has released this photo showing off the new look Batsuit in the upcoming "The Dark Knight".

Sleeker and more high-tech than its "Batman Begins" appearance, much of the costume has been redesigned to be both more form-fitting and easier to assemble.

The photo also includes bits of details on the costume, revealing its made up of 200 individual pieces of rubber, fiberglass, nylon and metallic mesh. The forearm spikes are now both retractable and can be ejected at targets. The most difficult was the cowl, the headpiece is now modeled more on a motorcycle helmet design which allows Bale to both swivel and nod.

[muthagoose]

The Dark Knight Set To Literally Explode

Hollywood Chicago.Com reports that the former Brach Candy factory site in Chicago is being used for filming of a building destruction in the feature.

A four-storey building on the site is being loaded with large amounts of gasoline and other flammable material for a huge daytime explosion and ultimate implosion of the building on August 29th.

This explosion/implosion will then be added to a CGI building for the film. A week of filming is currently underway in the IBM building downtown, which doubles for the Wayne Enterprises building.

There's also word that a CTA bus crash on Wacker Drive might be re-staged. At present the comic adaptation "Wanted" is utilising the Lower Wacker Drive region for its own high-speed chase scene.

Finally comes word from CNN that Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has landed a speaking role in a scene involving both Bale and Ledger.

[muthagoose]

More Joker & Catwoman For Third "Bat"?

inema Blend reports that not only will Heath Ledger be back as The Joker for the inevitable third "Batman" film, but another famed character is coming with him.

As previously established by the filmmakers, Two-Face will serve as the main villain in the third Bat film and the transformation of Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) into the villain looks likely to take place late in events in "The Dark Knight."

Now comes this report that unlike many a Bat-villain before him, The Joker will apparently survive the events of "The Dark Knight" and will make an appearance in the third film (much like talk of Cillian Murphy's The Scarecrow from "Batman Begins" making an appearance in "The Dark Knight").

It also reports that hint of Catwoman will appear in "The Dark Knight" whilst the character will figure into the action in the third film. The script for the third film has yet to be written, though 'Knight' Jonah Nolan is already said to have done some preliminary work on it.

[muthagoose]

Accident Kills "Dark Knight" Crew Member

A special effects technician was killed Monday in an accident during London production of the latest Batman film "The Dark Knight."

Warner Bros. said the unidentified crew member died when a truck carrying a camera platform crashed into a tree while following a stunt vehicle. Filming on the movie was not taking place at the time, and no actors were involved in the accident.

The studio issued a statement saying the producers, cast and crew "are deeply saddened by this tragedy and their hearts and prayers go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased."

[muthagoose]

THE DARK KNIGHT Tailer looks Badass...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaIR9dAZRR0

[muthagoose]

Latest "Dark Knight" Updates

"The Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan revealed to The Los Angeles Times that despite his major presence in the trailer, the upcoming "Batman Begins" sequel is far from a Joker-centric affair.

He says the character "sort of cuts through the film -- he's got no story arc, he's just a force of nature tearing through. Heath has given an amazing performance in the role, it's really extraordinary."

Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is a key player too - "[he] is a tragic figure, and his story is the backbone of this film." Also don't expect Nolan's approach to lighten up - "It's a dark and complex story and the villains are dark and complex as well."

Meanwhile a complete list of all 100 or so roles in the film has appeared up at Badtaste.It and finally confirms the involvement of another villain from the first film making a short return.

The list also reveals some other character names - Anthony Michael Hall's radio shock jock character is called Mike Engel, Chin Han's corrupt accountant Lau character seems to play a key role, and another major character not before mentioned is called Wuertz.

[muthagoose]

Latest "Dark Knight" Updates

The Harvey Dent portion of "The Dark Knight" viral campaign has started up with promise of an update at IBelieveInHarveyDent.com in the next few days.

"The Batman", the most recent and least interesting incarnation of all the animated Batman series, has been officially cancelled according to World's Finest. The two remaining episodes left of the series fifth season will air March 8th.

The site also reports that Kevin Conroy, the actor who voiced Batman in the original "Batman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League" shows, will return to voice the role in the upcoming direct-to-video anime anthology "Batman: Gotham Knight" hitting DVD & Blu-ray on July 8th. New shots from that are up at KungFu Cinema.

[muthagoose]

New "Dark Knight" Set Report & Photos

The New York Times has posted a fascinating report from the set of "The Dark Knight," the upcoming sequel to "Batman Begins" and one of the biggest releases of the year.

Some new revealing facts are revealed. First up, the $180 million project doesn't employ a second-unit meaning that if it's on camera then Director Chris Nolan shot it himself.

There's definite thematic overtures of escalation as previously stated, Nolan saying that "As we looked through the comics, there was this fascinating idea that Batman’s presence in Gotham actually attracts criminals to Gotham, attracts lunacy. When you’re dealing with questionable notions like people taking the law into their own hands, you have to really ask, where does that lead? That’s what makes the character so dark, because he expresses a vengeful desire."

Most revealing is a completely different look this time around from 'Begins' with Gotham City far more of a modern metropolis with sleek towers, shiny surfaces, bright lighting. Nolan’s production designer Nathan Crowley says “I’ve tried to unclutter the Gotham we created on the last film. Gotham is in chaos. We keep blowing up stuff. So we can keep our images clean."

Best of all are four new images which can be viewed at this location:
www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/03/09/movies/0309-HALB_2.html

[muthagoose]

Crew honors Ledger by not distorting Joker role

This time out, there's no vat of chemicals to explain how Batman's greatest enemy came to be the twisted sociopath known as the Joker.

Heath Ledger's Joker springs full-blown in this summer's "The Dark Knight," the sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins" that was previewed for theater owners Thursday with a clip showing the new movie's opening sequence.

Unlike 1989's "Batman," in which the deranged, disfigured clown appearance of Jack Nicholson's Joker resulted from a dip in chemical goo, "The Dark Knight" starts right in with the bad guy in all his psychopathic glory.

"I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger," Ledger's depraved Joker cryptically tells an accomplice in the opening scenes, in which he pulls off a daring bank robbery.

In an interview at ShoWest, a theater-owners convention where distributor Warner Bros. showed off footage of "The Dark Knight" and the rest of its summer lineup, director Christopher Nolan said it was almost inevitable that the sequel would pit Christian Bale's Batman against the Joker.

"The psychopathic clown, that's an icon to stand with the guy with the ears and cape," Nolan said. "It's just a wonderful visual relationship, and it's a terrifying image."

Long before Ledger's death of an accidental prescription drug overdose in January, the marketing of the movie had focused on the villain's rise to power and his creepy appearance.

There had been speculation among critics and fans that the studio and filmmakers might take a different approach to selling the film in light of Ledger's death, but the marketing has gone on as originally planned.

"I think he'd be very pleased to see we're just moving ahead as is," Nolan said. "If you try to honor somebody, you honor them by respecting their work and putting it out there for as many people to see. He was immensely proud of the work he did on the film. I feel a great burden to present that in an undistorted form."

"The Dark Knight" is due in theaters July 18.

[muthagoose]

Christian Bale Talks Third "Batman"

With the upcoming release of the "Batman Begins" sequel "The Dark Knight", actor Christian Bale got speaking to Entertainment Weekly this week about the chances of his returning for a third turn under the cape and cowl.

When 'Begins' was being scripted it was revealed that a story treatment for two further films was penned by director Chris Nolan and writer David Goyer. Bale's deal for Batman covered three films and so many expect a third entry in the franchise which, if all goes well, should hit cinemas in Summer 2011.

But will Bale do it? He's not committing to anything but does seem keen - "let's wait and see...I would, knowing the Dark Knight story, I would like very much to complete a trilogy. And I think that knowing the story of The Dark Knight, it leaves you anticipating something that really can get very, very interesting for a third. Now, the question would be: Is Chris [Nolan] going to be doing it? Because to me I find it tricky to imagine working on it without it being a collaboration with Chris."

Previous reports had the Joker being the dominant villain of the second film with Two-Face the main baddie of the third, although from early reports on 'Knight' it seems some of the story elements from the third film's treatment have already made their way into 'Knight'.

Will Bale and Nolan return? Will Two-Face still be the third film's main villain and what other villains could they do - The Penguin as a charming British arms dealer flooding the streets with guns, Poison Ivy as a murderous eco-activist killing the CEOs of heavily polluting conglomerates, Killer Croc as a Louisiana-born wrestler with Singing Detective-style bad eczema, or The Mad Hatter as a schizophrenic "Saw"-esque torturing serial killer who plays mind games.

[muthagoose]

New Dark Knight Trailer and Poster

The official new poster for "The Dark Knight" has been revealed at www.WhySoSerious.com

Meanwhile the site has a new message saying 'Four Days'.

The expectation is that it's a countdown to the online release of the new trailer (or a game that will lead into the new trailer several days after that) which premiered at New York Comic Con last weekend and hits theaters attached to copies of either "Iron Man" or "Speed Racer" in the next fortnight.

[Üncle Snake]

The new trailer is online: www.whysoserious.com/happytrails/trailer.htm

[muthagoose]

"Dark Knight" Selling Out All Over

There's still over a week before "The Dark Knight" hits theaters.

Yet with almost all of the 1,500 midnight Thursday night showings next week sold out, theaters have been adding 3am and 6am pre-opening showtimes to meet demand.

Fandango reports that "The Dark Knight" is poised to be the year's top advance ticket-seller in wide release and is already easily outpacing "Iron Man," "Indiana Jones 4" and "Sex and the City" at the same point in those films' sales cycles.

MovieTickets.com meanwhile reports that the pre-sales for the film's tickets are already higher than such major openers as "Spider-Man 3", "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest", "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," "The Matrix Reloaded" and "Passion of the Christ".

Tracking figures posted at Hollywood Elsewhere on Tuesday showed a 31% 'first choice' rating, a figure that will only go up as next week approaches - probably hitting towards 40% on the day of release. In comparison, the 'first choice' figures on the day of release was 31% for "Iron Man", 26% for "Wall-E" and "Wanted", and 14% for "The Incredible Hulk".

"Indiana Jones" and "Iron Man" hold the biggest three-day openings of the year so far with $100.1 million and $98.6 million respectively. Despite stellar reviews and good tracking, there hangs a question mark over its ability to smash those records. Mostly this is due to the film's very dark subject matter keeping the pre-teen crowd away and the 2.5 hour runtime limiting sessions.

[muthagoose]

I am sure many of us are going to see The Dark Knight this weekend. Swing by and weigh in with your thoughts at some point.

[muthagoose]

The Duke, myself and a few others went to check it out Friday afternoon. It was definitely a fun ride to say the least. I liked all the characters and Ledger was a great Joker. I don't know if it is oscar worthy or any of that but it was fun to watch. It will be interesting to see what they roll out as far as bad guys next time around. My only complaint was the voice Bale slipped into so many times. I understand what they were doing but it was a bit much at times. All in all a good flick.

I can't wait to see Bale as John Connor in T4.

[The Duke]

What a great movie! One of the best I've seen in a while! Very entertaining and a great story. I will likely see it again.

[MASON]

One of the BEST superhero movies ever! I do agree with Goose on Bale's voice as the Batman. Was a little "odd" at times.

[The Duke]

Good point, Mase and Goose.

[muthagoose]

Great Disturbed minds think alike.

[lianxiang301]

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