In case you hadn’t heard, there’s a new Batman movie coming out in a few months. It’s got some famous people in it.
Among those famous people is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays a character named John Blake in the movie. But of course, he can’t actually be some character that Nolan made up just for the movie! Not with that tantalizingly vague character description! He has to be somebody else!
This being the Internet, there are lots of guesses: here are a few of our favorites.
Robin
Our Odds: Infinitesimal
Let’s see here: Nolan has said he’ll never use Robin. Bale has said that if Robin shows up, he’s done. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in his thirties. Yeah, we can rule this one out.
Azrael
Our Odds: 10,000 to 1
This seems to be mostly based on Azrael showing up in “Arkham City”, because, you know, Rocksteady and Christopher Nolan work so closely together on this stuff. Admittedly, secret societies are going to play a fairly heavy role in this movie: at the very least, the League of Assassins is back. Still, we’re not seeing how Azrael would fit into the franchise’s gritty and realistic vibe.
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Infestiminal? Jesus. Not even close.
I read it as “infinitesimal,” but I didn’t realize how off the spelling was until you pointed it out. This is a good post, but now I can’t stop thinking about “infestiminal.”
Ugh, that’s what I get for writing this before coffee.
Also, next time? Consider an email first.
where’s the fun in that?
Well, considering Heroclix released a description of John Blake as :“”A hard-nosed young Gotham beat cop who is assigned to a special task unit to take down the vigilante known as “The Batman” becomes an unlikely ally to the Dark Knight. When the mercenary known as “Bane” breaks the prisoners out of Blackgate Prison, the city becomes overrun and Blake takes the codename of “Azrael” to help Batman stop Bane.””
he is Ras A Ghul. in nolan’s version, the Lazarus pit also makes you younger.
The movies don’t mention the Pit at all, and it also seems way out of sync with the “realistic” vibe Nolan is going for.
Rumors for a rumor: [www.movieweb.com]
The Azreal rumour is based on the Heroclix description for his character:
“”A hard-nosed young Gotham beat cop who is assigned to a special task unit to take down the vigilante known as “The Batman” becomes an unlikely ally to the Dark Knight. When the mercenary known as “Bane” breaks the prisoners out of Blackgate Prison, the city becomes overrun and Blake takes the codename of “Azrael” to help Batman stop Bane.”"
They still make Heroclix?
To the game store!
[www.iheartchaos.com]
The side by side pics here suggest a lot of lunacy. I would be down for a little suprise Joker action.
You know what? I would be okay with that.
I ran into him on set (Nolan doesn’t let the stars have trailers, they have to hang around with the rest of the crew) and I wanted to ask him. But he seemed super in the zone and it was raining and snowing that day so I decided to err on the side of not getting fired.
Now that’s how you command respect, had no clue he had them all mingle together, A-lister or none!
JGL stepping up for Comissioner could be something
That would be interesting: we know from the trailers Gordon winds up in the hospital.
I say the “war hero” thing is referencing Gordon’s little bit of inner monologue from Year One about having had to take down a Green Beret before; Nolan’s going to flesh out some backstory about serving in the military before he was a cop. And JGL’s gonna be the bepenised version of Ellen Yindel because Nolan typically blows at casting women.
Nah, the “war hero” thing is going to refer to the Gordon/Dent/Batman war against the mafia. The movie is 8 years after TDK, the ‘war’ is over and hence, ‘this is peace time”.
azrael only makes sense as a wink to some shitty comics, so I’m not sold that heroclix isn’t screwing up. it’s not like there haven’t been 40 different alien races named as loki’s army on official toys.
My guess? Sergei Essen. He gets to bang Gordon.
Yeah, I’m skeptical Heroclix has the inside line on anything.
Gay Gordon would be epic. Sadly, I doubt it’ll happen.
LIKE.
His gorgeous mustache IS rocking my nuts off.
Isn’t Azrael Gargamel’s cat?
I’m behind the Nightwing theory, and last time I checked Charlie Brown didn’t hook up with half of the attractive characters in the DC Universe.
Then clearly you missed the IDW/DC crossover last month.
Gordon-Levitt could pull off Nightwing, but Nightwing wouldn’t fit in the Dark Knight Trilogy. If they make him Nightwing while totally changing Dick Grayson’s past, it will be Batgirl/Barbara Wilson all over again.
I’m thinking he’s the Nolon-verse’s equivalent to Azreal, only less crazy and 90′s antiheroish (even though seeing the Az-Batsuit in real life would be interesting).
Alternate Theory: He’s Owlman and Bane is a red herring (Odds: 10,000,000:1).
I with ya.
Gotta agree though, the Owlman swerve would be epic beyond comparison.
Really?!? 10000 to 1? I would say the reverse is true. It almost makes me ashamed to see this and realize there isnt a Batman fan here , including the author of the article.
Azrael is who replaced Bruce Wayne as Batman for a time after Bane paralyzed him.
“End of ther Series” ..check
Bane …. check
Nolan stating that Bane “breaks the Bat”… Check
Azrael …. No….. GTFO , there’s no chance there…………
Yeah, we all read “Knightfall”, Hellzwulf. Not all of us think it would make a good movie.
He’s Crazy Quilt.
Crazy Quilt: 500 to 1
Kite Man: 250 to 1
Ten-Eyed Man: 100 to 1
Calendar Man: 25 to 1
Killer Moth: Even
I’m not entirely sure what role Levit will play, but I think he’ll be an original character and I don’t think he’ll be Batman at all. Based on what we’ve seen so far this is how I think it’ll break down in a broad strokes kind of way.
It’s been eight years since the end of TDK. Shortly after that movie Bruce gave up the mask. He’s just doing what he can as a rich guy now. Things have calmed down. No supervillains and so on since Joker. But Wayne is a bit restless, and this Catherine Tate, who’s been stated to be on the Wayne board of directors, (Talia) is going to “woo” him. Selina will be in the picture too.
Then Bane shows up somewhere and causes some problems. But Bruce assumes Gordon can handle it. Bane blows the stadium. Gotham flips out. Gordon and his boys are led into a trap and Gordon is severely injured. Bruce goes to see him, Gordon basically lets him know that he’s always known he was Batman. Bruce redons the costume and guns for Bane. Bane beats his ass and throws him into another League of Shadows prison. Maybe even exposing Bruce in the process.
Batman’s gone. Gordon’ hospitalized. Bane makes his move. Him, using his boys and prisoners, and tumblers from Wayne Industries (by undercover Talia) sets out to burn Gotham like Ra’s. Catwoman is one of Bane’s lieutenants. She’s in it to overthrow the rich and wealthy and thinks the whole thing is about the 99% vs the 1%. So Gotham is now a battle zone. John Blake I think will be one of the few cops still able to put up any resistance.
Meanwhile Bruce recovers in the prison and makes friends with that old guy. While this is happening Selina starts to realize Bane and Talia don’t have the same goals as hers. Alfred and some other guys (maybe Blake) rescue Bruce.
Bruce comes back, meets with Catwoman. Both suit up. Bruce breaks out his new bat-plane and the two factions fight each other. Bats vs. Bane, and Catwoman vs. Talia.
At least this is how I think it’ll break down roughly. Obviously there’ll be a lot more going on.
That’s a good theory but I think Bruce has run himself ragged.
If you remember from the trailer Alfred says to Bruce that he has failed to protect him. Bruce is so beat-up and almost cripple from being Batman he has to get around with a cane now relies solely on the Batsuit to do his Bat-Work (think Kingdom Come) and when Bane comes to town he mows him over and exposes him to Gotham and throws him in some sort of Ra’s al Gulag and takes over Gotham as some sort or warlord. Meanwhile batman breaks out has a sweet training montage and comes back as Gothams saviour and leads the people in a rebellion against Bane.
Batman and Bane have a huge throwdown and both are presumably killed in the fight. Gotham is saved and they realize they don’t need a Batman anymore thanks to Gordon and Blake.
I dunno, something like this might happen.
That’s a cool theory too. While I don’t doubt the option that Batman will die, I think he’ll live. I base that on no particular reason other that wishful thinking. But yeah that’s a legitimate ending.
I like the Batman running himself into the ground thing you mentioned. That would actually make sense given the “realism” Nolan is going for here. But in my theory I took that as happening after Bane had beaten him badly. Bane beats Bruce and either lets him get away or he gets away on his own. Then when Bane’s forces strike in full, he snags him then when he’s weak. Then to break the public’s spirit drags him broken and bloody and exposes him as Batman before sending him off to prison.
Either way would work for me.
Either that or Bane breaks the Bat and he heads back to Nepal or maybe some place like Nanda Parbat to have a Rocky 3 moment. Then comes back in force with the citizens of Gotham to beat Banes Blackgate prisoner army and then retires knowing that Gotham doesn’t need Batman anymore now that the city no longer fears crime.
Some shit like that.
“…we’re pretty sure Michael Caine is going to at the very least bust out some “Get Carter” style beatdowns.”
Watch your ass Ann Hathaway, he doesn’t go easy on the women.
That was much funnier to me than it should have been.
Catman!
I have no doubt this movie will be great, but I was hoping for something along the lines of “Prey,” with Hugo Strange and JGL playing Max Cort. Oh well…..
I believe the “war hero” line is slightly metaphorical for all the bullshit Gordon’s had to deal with throughout the 8 years cleaning up Gotham before the events of the final film. The guy says “this is peace time” which implies quite explicitly in my opinion that Gotham has shed itself of the societal dregs thanks to him but he’s nothing but a dinosaur in “these here peaceful times.”
Nolan’s Batman has always had a theme: Overcoming your fears in Begins, and testing your limits in Dark. I don’t see him straying from that in Rises. So, what greater theme is there than to “Know Thyself?” And that’s where Rises will be centered; Bruce Wayne facing himself and coming to terms with who he really is. In otherwords, a mask needs to be removed and a “true” identity revealed -either that of Bruce Wayne or that of Batman… For that mask to be removed, Bruce/Batman has to face himself. Something he has avoided in the prior films out of neccessity (created both Batman and the image of a playboy Bruce Wayne to protect his friends, family, and goals). As it stands now, he’s no longer in the position to project an image to others. Bane will force him to confront himself as he has never had to do before. Why? Bc Bane IS Bruce/Batman only stronger. Bane is what the League of Shadows wanted Bruce to be. Bane is what Batman is only oppossite and stronger bc Bane knows who he is. To defeat Bane, Bruce/Batman will need to defeat himself in a sense. That is, he’ll need to come to terms with who he is. No longer can he wear a mask to truly be Gothams Knight and savior. He needs to decide, reveal himself to the city and no longer lurk in the shadows or hide in plain sight… Bruce Wayne has to face the city as Bruce Wayne aka Batman. He needs to ask for their help. To do this, he needs to tell the city, “I am Batman. This is who I am. I can’t fix this city by myself. I need your help. We need to do this together.” The only way he can do this is to shed both masks and merge Bruce with Batman…
How this plays into the plot? What I believe happens is that the League of Shadows uses Bane as what they intended Batman to be. A broken Bruce Wayne is forced to dawn the uniform again and come out of retirement. However, Bane is to powerful and Batman too weak. He falls in battle and becomes Bane’s prisoner. He somehow escapes. The city is about to be destroyed but there are holdouts, those still in rebellion against Bane and the League. I believe JGL is one of these individuals. Bruce then reveals himself and begs those rebels to join him in a last confrontation with Bane. And thats where the story climaxes. A battle between dark and light. Two armies led by two Knights battling for the soul of the city mirroring the battle in Bruce’s soul…
The Legend Ends tagline is just that. The Legend of Batman ends. The legend is revealed to just be Bruce Wayne, Gothams Knight who no longer needs to hide.
He is revealed as “The Coon”.
“I ran into him on set (Nolan doesn’t let the stars have trailers, they have to hang around with the rest of the crew).”
Really? What Magnus Rex did you work on?
They all have trailers. Always do. Nobody mingles with the crew.
Spoiler wise, all I know is that JGL has scenes in the bat cave, alone, near the end of the movie.
I don’t know anything else.
My guess is Bruce dies but Batman lives.
“From what we’ve seen, mostly trailers, Bane isn’t goofing around or being subtle; he’s got a convict army, he leads a huge chunk of the GPD into a trap, and he directly assaults what appears to be a courthouse with a freaking tank. Not only that, Gordon is referred to as a “war hero”.”
This actually sounds like the lead up part of Knightfall where Bane stages a jailbreak, lets all the bad guys out, and just watches as they wear Bruce Wayne down. I think JGL is going to be a Jean Paul Valley analogue in this, possibly taking over as Batman for a little bit, but not getting to the same point where JPV wore the Azrael/Batman suit.
It is a trick get an ax. Bane runs around doing what a Bane does. Joseph Gordon-Levitt runs around being former War Hero/Hero Cop subtly hinting a diminutive framed “Robin” to Bruce Wayne’s Batman. Bats and Bane fight and Batman finds himself in the precarious situation where Hero Cop Joseph Gordon-Levitt provides just enough assistance for Batman to just manage to triumph over the wicked plans of Bane. At which point a haggard and injured Batman (Just finished climatic fight with Bane) wipes the sweat of his Batbrow and admits to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character that Bane has taught him a lesson…He just can’t keep doing what he does without help…help as in possibly a partner. An ex-War Hero/Hero Cop that has certainly shown his mettle.
At which point Joseph Gordon-Levitt will attack Batman, or laugh manically…or a combination of both and reveal to Batman that in reality Bane was a slack jawed MORON.
I know big surprise there…but that’s when the real trick will be revealed as Joseph Gordon-Levitt reveals that Bane was working for him all along. And it was a big ruse to get Batman exactly where he Ras Al Ghul wanted him…Broken and betrayed by his own flawed perceptions that some people aren’t monsters and can be trusted. Broken because in the end he was too human.
At which point that tiny little bit of humanity that was left in Bruce Wayne will be consumed. He’ll kill Ras al Gordon-Levitt, and there will be some quote about He who stares in the abyss too long.
But what about the Lazarus Pit?
Really no need to physically show the Lazarus Pit for the above to work film-wise.
But than again the true gravitas of the entire Bane story is that he physically broke the Batman’s back ( or Spine if you want to get technical)…Let’s face it without that he’s just a stupid ass MORON in a luchador mask who got in his hands on an amped up crystal meth/steroid combination.
Pretty damned pathetic even with his complete entourage.
So Bane is going to break Batman’s spine, but I do not think that will be their climatic final battle in that movie. Nope I think that Batman will get his back broken by Bane, and Bane will rule over Gotham. And Bruce will agonize to the point where he starts looking for something…something that can heal the injuries to his back so that he can stop Bane. And what he finds in the Lazarus…
…Which is all part of Ras Al Ghul’s plan.
Nolan knows his magic, I give him that. And although there are a ton of comic writers out there that have completely forgotten this very simple truth of the Lazarus pit. Although it heals and rejuvenates, to immerse in the Lazarus pit is to lose a piece of your humanity.
A tiny bit of information that would not be in the ancient records that Wayne pours over. Something that only Ras al Ghul would fully understand.
So Batman immerses in the Pit, and comes back. But when he comes back he’s darker, meaner, and tough enough to give Bane as good as he can dish out. And Bane has never been able to take what he can dish out.
Which is the climatic final battle with Bane mentioned at the top of this comment.
“in reality Bane was a slack jawed MORON”
Really? You’re going to go down that route? Comics are the true origin of Bane, why don’t you stop watching the animated series and actually look at what the CREATORS of the character intended for him.
In Bane of the Demon, Ra’s al Ghul specifically says that Bane “has a mind equal to the greatest he has known.” While he was in prison, he taught himself various scientific disciplines equal to the level of understanding of leading experts in those fields. He is constantly referred to as a genius, he knows 8 different languages, has a photographic memory, and figures out Batman’s identity within a year. Plus, he was referred to as a superb strategist and tactician as well as being one of Batman‘s most intelligent and physically powerful foes.
Even before his involuntary exposure to a derivative of the drug venom, Bane had already trained himself beyond human strength. It isn’t as though he’s just falling back on this as a crutch. I’d say for a child that was born into a prison and expected to serve a life sentence for crimes his father committed, Bane has done very well for himself.
Plus, Bane stopped his usage of venom due to it’s addicting and devastating effects while in Blackgate. Then worked back to his own peak physical perfection once again without venom and escaped from prison. After which, he had an encounter with Batman again and worked with him against a Venom powered gang.
I’m a little puzzled as to why you’ve listed Azrael and Batman as separate. In the comics, Azrael BECOMES the new Batman (temporarily) when Bane “breaks the bat”…so aren’t they pretty much one in the same?
I think Nolan is doing it to keep the plot from being revealed, but it isn’t like he has followed the traditional characters descriptions or even their complete personalities. I never thought the Joker could be portrayed as unkempt, I feel like his entire character is based on the fact that he’s a walking contradiction. Even if he intends to have Joseph Gordon-Levitt play Azrael, he will probably make it his own “realistic” take on the character and completely change it anyway.