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Of all the actors who got a boost off "Inception" this summer (which is pretty much all of them, to some degree or other), Tom Hardy was perhaps the breakout star. Those of who'd seen the likes of "Bronson" or his TV work like "Stuart: A Life Backwards" had been fans for a while, but his role as the playful, flamboyant forger Eames brought the joys of the actor to a wider audience. He's already set for a small role in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," and the lead alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon in McG's action-comedy "This Means War," but suffered a blow over the weekend as "Fury Road," in which Hardy was set to take over Mel Gibson's role as Mad Max, was delayed for over a year.
This is no big problem for Hardy, as Deadline is reporting that he's landed another of the most sought-after roles around -- he's joining the cast of Christopher Nolan's still-untitled third "Batman" film, the follow-up to the critical and commercial smash "The Dark Knight." Many had tipped "Inception" co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt for a role in the film, and while that could still theoretically be in play, Hardy looks to be locked in.
There's no word on what character Hardy will play -- Warner Bros. won't even confirm if the role is villainous in nature. But unless he's playing Robin (who Nolan has promised won't make an appearance), it seems safe to assume that he'll be a bad guy. But who could it be? The Lizard? Venom? Sorry, wrong superhero franchise...
The Riddler is the one that's been batted about most by fans, as the character seems to fit the realistic nature of Nolan's films the best. If that is Hardy's role, it can be guaranteed that, like Heath Ledger's Joker, it'll be a wildly different version of the character than ever seen before. This is still breaking, so we'll update if and when more information become available. The third Batman begins filming next spring for a release in the summer of 2012.
"Superman" finally has a director, Christopher Nolan's third "Batman" will film next year, and "Green Lantern" is in post-production — it looks like D.C. are finally stepping up to try and challenge Marvel, who've had something of a monopoly in recent years on big-screen heroics (although let's not forget that "The Dark Knight" is still the top-grossing film in the genre).
Deadline are reporting that the script for a version of another iconic D.C. hero, "The Flash," will be delivered to Warner Bros sometime before Christmas, with the intention being to get moving on the project next year. "Green Lantern" scribes Marc Guggenheim, Michael Green and Greg Berlanti worked on the story together, and Guggenheim and Green are putting the finishing touches to the script as we speak.
It's been rumored for a while that TV mastermind Berlanti, whose latest film "Life As We Know It" opened to poisonous reviews and underwhelming box office this weekend, would direct the film, but Finke suggests that it's unlikely, an insider telling her that "He won't want to direct it because he kinda wants to do something in between size-wise first before attempting something that large." While another source tells her that it's still theoretically possible, saying "If Warner Bros does like the script and wants him to direct it... But that's a lot of ifs. And all of it is moot if they don't dig the script," we imagine that Warner Bros may want a more experienced action guy in charge, and hopefully someone who understands how human beings behave.
But who might play The Scarlet Speedster, in whichever incarnation he ends up reaching the screen? The usually reliable Australian site Moviehole suggest that Bradley Cooper, who was also on the "Green Lantern" short list, is the current front-runner, being something of a favorite at Warners after "The Hangover." So long as he can dial down the unbearable smugness that's been something of a feature of his recent roles, Cooper seems like a decent choice, but this should all be taken as a heavy rumor for now.
In something of a show of confidence, the three writers are also currently working on a treatment for "Green Lantern 2," which will also be in studio hands for Christmas, and then worked on by "Harry Potter" scribe Michael Goldenberg. Finke's definitely-not-biased-at-all-no-sir source suggests that Martin Campbell's first film in the series is "jaw-dropping," which goes somewhat against everything we've seen and heard from the film, but we'd be as delighted as anyone if the buzz is turning around — the cast is at least promising, even if half of them are caked in unconvincing prosthetics and CGI body suits. But we'd suggest that Warners hold fire on greenlighting, say, the Blue Beetle, until Reynolds is wielding the power ring in theaters at least.
Nevertheless, D.C. heroes figure heavily into Warners' future, especially with the studio's golden-egg laying hen, the Harry Potter franchise, finally heading for the chopping block next summer. D.C. head honcho Geoff Johns confirmed earlier rumors at New York Comic Con over the weekend, via Heat Vision, that "You will see at least one, I'd expect two [superhero movies] a year." With both "Superman" and "Batman" set for release in 2012, we imagine that'll be the start of that release pattern, with "The Flash" and whatever else following in 2013. Of course, this is only the studio's ideal — and we'd like to think that they won't greenlight a superhero movie just for the sake of making up the numbers, and would rather wait until the films are ready. But then, we also believe that clapping your hands can save a fairy's life, so you know...
Any plans for an "Avengers" style team-up of the characters seems unlikely, despite the attempt a few years ago to make a "Justice League" movie with George Miller — Johns told a panel, as reported by Comic Book Movie, that "I'm going to speak frankly: I think our characters are bigger than Marvel's," and that "he'd rather spend time building each character on his or her own rather than smashing them together." While this approach is probably dictated by the realistic nature of the Batman films, and Nolan's reported refusal to play ball with any team-up, it at least makes sense that the studio are trying to follow their own path with the characters. Btw, it's said that the trailer for "Green Lantern" will premiere in front of the upcoming "Harry Potter" film in November. Both are Warner Bros. films so it's makes complete sense. Mark it on your calendar.
According to a report, the rumors are true. Last we heard, Christopher Nolan's "Batman 3" (did you hear he's directing it??) was likely to start shooting in March or April of 2011 in New Orleans (Michael Caine said April himself).
Coming Soon essentially confirms all of these aforementioned rumors and speculation and says, indeed, it's all true. With Christian Bale allegedly bulking up for the role, this all makes sense. This should mean in a few weeks we'll have plenty of casting rumors that are probably more reliable than early nonsensical reports like Johnny Depp as the Riddler, etc. A more recent rumor pegged Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the Riddler, probably because of his Nolan connection in "Inception," but that report was still too early to be taken seriously.
There will be pressure to shoot in 3D, even though Nolan and his team are not entirely keen on it. Most directors might have to cave, but considering the filmmaker's "Inception" is closing in on the $800 million mark worldwide without 3D, the director probably has more than a leg to stand on. "Batman 3" (its working title of course) is currently scheduled for a July 20, 2012 date, which means the film will have to face off that summer against Marvel’s “The Avengers” (May 4), Peter Berg's board game-with-aliens picture “Battleship” (May 18), J.J. Abrams' “Star Trek” sequel (currently slated for a June 29 date) , and the rebooted 3D “Spider-Man” by director Marc Webb (scheduled for July 3). "John Carter of Mars" is also expected in the summer of 2012 and other possibilities include "Wolverine 2" and possibly the "Godzilla" reboot (presumably in 3D).
Speaking in Italy where "Inception" only recently hit theaters, Christopher Nolan dropped an intriguing little nugget about the third installment of his celebrated Batman franchise saying that the picture isn't greenlit yet, adding “They haven’t told me they don’t want to do it, so I’m hopeful,” he joked.
Variety has since scrubbed the comment from their story but Batman News snagged the remarks before they went away. Now before geeks everywhere furrow their brows, it's not at all surprising that Warner Bros. hasn't officially flipped the switch. Undoubtedly, the film is very actively in development and its likely that studio heads are waiting for a firm budget number which they won't really have until casting, locations, marketing, etc. are figured out and finalized. So, nothing to worry about, just a project that still needs to get a bit closer to the starting line.
Speaking of the starting line, "The Hobbit" seems to have been there forever and as MGM still gets debt extensions and continues in endless talks for someone to save them from their sinking financial ship, the production is still pressing forward so that if and when the studio is saved, everything will be in place to start shooting almost immediately.
With that in mind, an ad recently appeared in the Wellington Dominion Post (see above) from the Hobbit Casting Department looking for Scale Doubles. Sources confirmed that the casting is indeed for the highly anticipated film, but of course, it remains to be seen if the tentatively scheduled January start will come to fruition.
Of all the actors who got a boost off "Inception" this summer (which is pretty much all of them, to some degree or other), Tom Hardy was perhaps the breakout star. Those of who'd seen the likes of "Bronson" or his TV work like "Stuart: A Life Backwards" had been fans for a while, but his role as the playful, flamboyant forger Eames brought the joys of the actor to a wider audience. He's already set for a small role in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," and the lead alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon in McG's action-comedy "This Means War," but suffered a blow over the weekend as "Fury Road," in which Hardy was set to take over Mel Gibson's role as Mad Max, was delayed for over a year.
