‘THE DARK KNIGHT RISES’ Production Schedule Update – Script By January, Filming By May

MICHAEL CAINE

Source: EmpireOnline.com

[THE DARK KNIGHT RISES] shoot will kick off in the summer and be done and dusted in six months. Per MICHAEL CAINE:

“Emma [Thomas], the producer, said we’d get the script in January. Christopher said: ‘Script in January, shoot in May, finish in November.’”

Read more HERE.

BATMAN 3 Gets A Title: ‘THE DARK KNIGHT RISES’ – RIDDLER Will NOT Be The Villian

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN has spoken: New BATMAN movie to be titled; 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES'

Source: HeroComplex.com

Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film will be called “The Dark Knight Rises” and though the Gotham City auteur isn’t ready to reveal the villain of his 2012 film, he did eliminate one of the big contenders: “It won’t be the Riddler,” Nolan said.

Read more HERE.

No 3-D either. As THRALL WORLD previously posted, TOM HARDY has been cast as the likely and still unknown villian.

BATMAN 3 Update: TOM HARDY Joins Cast As Villian? Role A Secret..

TOM HARDY

Source: Deadline.com

[Tom] Hardy [STAR TREK: NEMESIS] has been set by his INCEPTION director CHRIS NOLAN for a lead role in the next Batman film at Warner Bros.

Insiders are keeping the role secret and won’t even say if he’s up for a villain role, but that seems a reasonable assumption.

Read more HERE.

Tom Hardy was solid in INCEPTION, had an icy presence as the foil to CAPTAIN PICARD in the STAR TREK: NEMESIS movie and has already been cast as the lead in the upcoming MAD MAX remake/reboot; MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. Watching him go head to head with CHRISTIAN BALE in a third NOLAN directed BATMAN movie sounds very interesting indeed..

'STAR TREK: NEMESIS' - TOM HARDY (left) and PATRICK STEWART face off

It’s Official: ZACK SNYDER To Direct New SUPERMAN Movie With GENERAL ZOD As Villian

ZACK SNYDER

Source: Deadline.com, HeatVision

Zack Snyder has been chosen to direct the new installment of Superman for Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures. Snyder was on a short list of directors that I recently revealed met with the studio as well as producers Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas. Other choices at the time included helmers Tony Scott, Matt Reeves, Jonathan Liebesman, and Duncan Jones.

Said Snyder:

“I’ve been a big fan of the character for a long time, he’s definitely the king of all superheroes, he’s the one. It’s early yet, but I can tell you that what David and Chris have done with the story so far definitely has given me a great insight into a way to make him feel modern. I’ve always felt he was kind of awesome. I’ll finish Sucker Punch and get right at it.”

Also from Snyder:

“I defintely expressed my love for the character and interest in seeing him treated right. The character deserves to be loved. It’s his time.”

Also an update on the villian that SUPERMAN will be facing in the film:

Goyer is writing the script, which is rumored to have, like “Superman Returns,” a Richard Donner Superman connection. In the movie’s case, it’s a villain connection: General Zod.

Read more HERE and HERE.

Snyder proved without a doubt his understanding of epic comic book characters in the super hero world with his very underrated and unduly criticized take on ‘WATCHMEN’. ’300′ was also a fantastic translation of the FRANK MILLER retelling as was the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake. The upcoming SUCKER PUNCH and the animated LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: THE OWLS OF GA’HOOLE look impressive from a distance… Throw in the producing savvy of one CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and SUPERMAN could very well top THE DARK KNIGHT in terms of story and all around amazingness.

A tall order? Sure. But these are two of the best visionaries out there right now so if anyone were be able to leap tall stories in a single bound it would be them.

SUPERMAN teaming up with super-producer CHRISTOPHER NOLAN and super-director ZACK SNYDER

BATMAN 3 Update: CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Confirms He’s Directing – MICHAEL CAINE Says Filming To Begin May 2011 – Who Is The Villian??

BATMAN 3: CHRISTIAN BALE and director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN reteaming for the follow up to THE DARK KNIGHT

Source: EmpireOnline.com, ComingSoon.net

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN making the gossip rounds for the past several days – a lot of it surrounding his producing role on SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL. But what about directing the inevitable follow-up to THE DARK KNIGHT – which has never been 100% confirmed but that most of us in the blogosphere have pretty much taken for granted?

“It’s becoming inevitable, I’ll put it that way,” says Nolan. “I feel myself falling into it, I guess. And getting it all figured out and I’m pretty excited about what we’re doing so… If I haven’t announced it, I think that people probably all know at this point that I’m doing it.”

And:

“I think you can at this point, yes [I will be directing BATMAN 3].”

According to Sir MICHAEL CAINE who is expected to reprise his role as Bruce Waynes mentor/butler Alfred, filming will –

“probably start in May next year…”

And finally:

Chris [Nolan] and co-writer Jonathan Nolan are not telling anyone who the villain will be in the new film.

THRALL WORLD would love to see Nolan tackle the KNIGHTFALL storyline so we would say BANE!! But the whole point of Nolan’s so-far incredible BATMAN retelling was the YEAR ONE BATMAN and BANE didn’t show up on in GOTHAM until Year 10 (???) or something like that.

Announced BATMAN 3 release date: July 20, 2012.

‘SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL’ Update – Bigger Role For CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Overall As Two More Join List Of Potential Directors

DARREN ARONOFSKY: reportedly in the running as director of the new SUPERMAN movie

Source: Heatvision

Lots of noise about the upcoming SUPERMAN: MAN OF STEEL movie being produced by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN. Hot topic is who will direct? THRALL WORLD posted a handful of leading contenders a couple of days ago that included DUNCAN JONES, JONATHAN LIEBESMAN, MATT REEVES, TONY SCOTT, and ZACK SNYDER.

Here’s the latest:

The derby to helm the Christopher Nolan-produced Man of Steel pic has become the talk of the town. Nolan is knee-deep in the selection process, and he and producer/wife Emma Thomas will be heavily involved in the movie, so he’s looking for a director who is able to handle the elaborate production and willing to collaborate.

“Willing to collaborate” is new. A bigger role for Nolan as the movie is realized. This can only be a good thing.

BEN AFLLECK was apparently on the short list:

..extremely popular at Warners after making “The Town,” a critical and box-office hit. But according to insiders, the actor-director — who, ironically, once portrayed the actor who played Superman on TV in “Hollywoodland” — met about “Superman” last week but is nolonger pursuing it.

DARREN ARONOFSKY also:

..riding high on buzz generated by his upcoming “Black Swan,” is still in active talks, according to sources. But it’s early.

Read more HERE.

Check out Nolan’s comments this past March on his upcoming projects HERE which include a third Batman movie which he will be directing and a new Superman sequel which he will be producing.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, shown here directing a key scene from 'THE DARK KNIGHT', will direct a third BATMAN sequel and produce a new SUPERMAN sequel

Who Will Direct The New CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Produced SUPERMAN Movie? Leading Contenders Emerge

SUPERMAN movie directors in the running from left to right: DUNCAN JONES, JONATHAN LIEBESMAN, MATT REEVES, TONY SCOTT, ZACK SNYDER

Source: Deadline.com, ComingSoon.net

On the list: Unstoppable’s Tony Scott, Let Me In director Matt Reeves, Battle: Los Angeles helmer Jonathan Liebesman (who just got the Warner Bros/Legendary job of directing Clash of the Titans 2), Duncan Jones, who just directed Source Code, and Sucker Punch helmer Zack Snyder.

Nolan has already started meeting with candidates and will submit his choice to the studio within the next few weeks.

Warner Bros and Legendary have to get the picture made by 2012, because the studio stands to lose certain rights to the iconic character in 2013 after a judge ruled favorably on behalf of the heirs of Superman creator Jerry Siegel.

Read more HERE.

Check out Nolan’s comments this past March on his upcoming projects HERE which include a third Batman movie which he will be directing and a new Superman sequel which he will be producing.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, shown here directing a key scene from 'THE DARK KNIGHT', will direct a third BATMAN sequel and produce a new SUPERMAN sequel

BATMAN 3 Gets A Release Date!

BATMAN 3 release date announced - CHRISTIAN BALE and director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN moving forward on follow up to THE DARK KNIGHT

Source: ComingSoon.net

The wheels are starting to turn on the follow-up to what THRALL WORLD considers the greatest super-hero movie of all time; THE DARK KNIGHT!

Warner Bros. Pictures has set a July 20, 2012 release date for Christopher Nolan’s third Batman movie in conventional and IMAX theaters!

Read more HERE.

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CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Talks BATMAN And SUPERMAN Sequels In New Interview

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, shown here directing a key scene from 'THE DARK KNIGHT', will direct a third BATMAN sequel and produce a new SUPERMAN sequel

Source: LA Times

Christopher Nolan has opened up for the first time to answer questions and to dispell rumors on his upcoming projects which include a third Batman movie which he will be directing and a new Superman sequel which he will be producing.

On a new Superman movie:

“It’s very exciting, we have a fantastic story. And we feel we can do it right. We know the milieu, if you will, we know the genre and how to get it done right.”

On working with Superman screenwriter David Goyer (screenwriter for THE DARK KNIGHT, BATMAN BEGINS, JUMPER, and all three BLADE movies as well as director of BLADE: TRINITY):

“[Goyer] basically told me, ‘I have this thought about how you would approach Superman. I immediately got it, loved it and thought: That is a way of approaching the story I’ve never seen before that makes it incredibly exciting. I wanted to get [Supermand producer (and Nolan's wife)] Emma [Thomas] and I involved in shepherding the project right away and getting it to the studio and getting it going in an exciting way.”

On the new Batman sequel:

“Without getting into specifics, the key thing that makes the third [Batman] film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story. And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story.”

Read the entire article/interview HERE.

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New SUPERMAN Movie?? DAVID GOYER Writing ‘THE MAN OF STEEL’, Early Script Details Emerge – BRANDON ROUTH Will NOT Star

BRANDON ROUTH: No longer expected to star in the next SUPERMAN movie - likely titled 'THE MAN OF STEEL'

Source: LatinoReview.com

Are we finally starting to see some real movement on a SUPERMAN movie? Maybe so. Here’s the latest:

* The talented David Stephen Goyer, the man who made sure Nolan stuck to the legend of [The] Dark Knight, has been hired to write the next chapter.
* Thomas Tull, the head of Legendary… went to Goyer and Goyer had an idea that actually takes the movies back to the John Byrne incarnation. Modern. Believable. FUN!
* The film will not be called Superman and will be called THE MAN OF STEEL.
* Brandon Routh will not star in the film.
* Bryan Singer is not expected to direct.

Rumored plot details: Goyer’s story involves Luthor and Brainiac. It is NOT an origin and assumes audiences already know about Lois, Clark, Jimmy and Perry. I know the Daily Planet is struggling due to the internet. And I know it sets up a huge Kryptonian mythology.

Also, re: the final word on rumors of MARK MILLER (WANTED) being involved:

…He was never even discussed to write it.

Read more HERE.

To update our previous post which stated Goyer was writing the new BATMAN 3 movie script:

Goyer is only helping in the story, he ain’t writing it. Just like The Dark Knight where he only helped with the story.

Read more on that HERE.

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BATMAN 3 Update: Script Being Written, CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Overseeing SUPERMAN Franchise Too

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Source: Deadline.com, Deadline.com

[DAVID GOYER] co-wrote Batman Begins, and penned the story for The Dark Knight, and is now writing the third Batman installment with Chris Nolan’s brother Jonah.

Read more HERE.

Also:

The brains behind [the] rebooted Batman has been asked to play a “godfather” role and ensure The Man Of Steel gets off the ground after a 3 1/2-year hiatus.

Read more HERE on the interesting path the Superman movies took after the initial franchise with CHRISTOPHER REEVE sputtered out in the late 80′s.

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BATMAN Sequel Update: “We Start Shooting Next Year” – GARY OLDMAN

GARY OLDMAN As LT. JIM GORDON In 'THE DARK KNIGHT'

Source: ComingSoon.net

Gary Oldman just announced at the Warner Bros. Book of Eli panel that a third Batman film will go into production next year.

“I think the next Batman is next year,” he told a fan who asked about when the long-awaited “Dark Knight” follow-up would hit, “We start shooting next year. You didn’t hear that from me.”

Read more HERE.

Of course there’s always the possibility Oldman had heard the question a billion times and just gave it the “Sure, why not…” response. We heard this yesterday but wanted to make sure the rumor held before we passed it on. Pretty cool if it works out. THRALL WORLD is prepared to wait five years between Batman movies if necessary to uphold the standard director Christopher Nolan has brought to the franchise and comic book movies as a whole.

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It’s Official: HEATH LEDGER Wins Posthumous OSCAR For JOKER Portrayal In ‘THE DARK KNIGHT’

R.I.P. Heath Ledger 1979-2008

Source: CNN.com

Heath Ledger won best supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” at the 81st annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

His parents and sister accepted the award for the actor, who died in January 2008.

Read more HERE.

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‘THE DARK KNIGHT’ Tops $1 Billion Mark

Source: Variety.com

Warner Bros. made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying that the combined domestic and international gross had totaled $1,001,082,160 to date — about $533 million domestically and $567 million overseas.

Only “Titanic,” with $1.8 billion, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” have topped the billion-dollar worldwide mark previously.

Read more HERE.

‘THE DARK KNIGHT’ director, CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, just this week announced his next movie will be the science fiction action film, ‘INCEPTION’, which should push back any possible sequel to 2011 at the earliest. I’m thinking it will be closer to 2012. The length of time between Bat movies doesn’t really concern me as Nolan is going to need some time to plan his next move.

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HEATH LEDGER Wins Posthumous GOLDEN GLOBE For JOKER Portrayal In ‘THE DARK KNIGHT’

HEATH LEDGER As The JOKER In 'THE DARK KNIGHT'

Source: Yahoo, David Germain

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Heath Ledger won the supporting-actor Golden Globe on Sunday nearly a year after his death, earning the prize for his diabolical turn as the Joker in the Batman blockbuster “The Dark Knight.”

The award was accepted by the film’s director/co-screenwriter, Christopher Nolan, who said he and his collaborators were buoyed by the enormous acclaim and acceptance the film and Ledger’s performance have gained worldwide.

Read more HERE.

Congrats to the Ledger family. The award was earned and deserved.

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HEATH LEDGER Nabs Posthumous GOLDEN GLOBE Nod

R.I.P. Heath Ledger 1979-2008

Source: ComingSoon.net

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

A full listing of the 2009 GOLDEN GLOBE nominees can be found HERE.

I saw TROPIC THUNDER and THE DUCHESS and though good choices none of them compare to LEDGER’s Joker. I have not seen DOUBT yet so I may need to track that one down to check it out but I would say it’s looking good for HEATH and his amazing performance.

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‘THE DARK KNIGHT’ Score Back In OSCAR Contention

HANS ZIMMER And JAMES NEWTON HOWARD

Source: Variety.com

As mentioned in a previous THRALL WORLD posting, THE DARK KNIGHT score had been disqualified from OSCAR contention:

due to five names being listed as composers on the music cue sheet.

After reviewing information submitted by the affected parties, the committee concluded that two, Zimmer and Howard, were responsible for the score’s authorship.

Neither nomination ballots nor lists of eligible scores had been distributed so there is no impact on the actual voting process.

Read more HERE.

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CHRISTOPHER NOLAN Talks ‘THE DARK KNIGHT’ Sequel, More

CHRISTIAN BALE And Director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN

Source: AintItCool.com, ComingSoon.net

ON a possible sequel:

If he made a third film, it would be for no reason but the continuation of story. He is currently looking into where the story would go and if it needs to go there.

On a “Director’s Cut” and deleted scenes on the DVD:

There is no 3 hour cut anywhere – no deleted scenes.

On the videos of The Joker in the movie:

The videos shot by the Joker were in fact shot and mostly directed by Heath Ledger.

Read more HERE.

And click HERE to play The Dark Knight Puzzle game. Yes it’s extremely nerdy to do so but who cares? I won with 20 seconds to spare on my first try so you are welcome to top that if you think you can.

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HANS ZIMMER And JAMES NEWTON HOWARD Talk BATMAN In New Interview

HANS ZIMMER And JAMES NEWTON HOWARD

Source: Soundtrack.net

Good stuff. Read it HERE.

As mentioned in a previous THRALL WORLD posting, THE DARK KNIGHT Soundtrack was disqualified for Oscar consideration by the Academy. Though the above linked interview does not touch on that particular subject you can read more about that HERE.

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Holy Bat-Poo! THE DARK KNIGHT Score Disqualified From OSCAR Consideration!!!

Source: Variety

The score for “The Dark Knight” has been disqualified by the executive committee of the Academy music branch.

Formal letters to that effect are expected to go out this week to composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, who collaborated on the music.

Their previous collaboration, on “Batman Begins,” was similarly disqualified in 2005.

Read more HERE.

As mentioned in a previous THRALL WORLD posting, WARNER BROTHERS appears to be making a major push for THE DARK KNIGHT movie to the Academy.

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