Catwoman, Riddler, Hugo Strange, Talia al Ghul, and Lady Shiva are the ones who’d work best, that I’ve looked at so far. Penguin could work great too (I loved Jason Aaron’s Penguin one shot in the Joker’s Asylum series recently) but I doubt that’ll happen.

“More serious Riddler? What kind of costume would he wear?”

Dark Green suit (as in coat and tie, not a jumpsuit), maybe with a question mark on his tie or on a lapel pin.

“If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?” answered the how tos on that one, no?

Deadshot’s also an interesting possiblity, and we did get him in the Gotham Knights DVD (although the DVD also had Killer Croc).

I love Catwoman, but I’m pretty burnt out on the character after Burton’s take and the Berry fiasco.

I still hope Ra’s will return as well, more of the comic book Ra’s. Liam Neeson wouldn’t need to wear any long fancy capes or anything, but some arctic and/or desert scenes would be cool. And a sword fight, natch.

Funny thing about Grant Morrison though. For someone who thinks Bruce needs some lovin’, he’s not showing the character much love himself. Sorry, but I’ve really disliked Morrison’s current run. Bat-Mite was my last straw, and I’m taking a pass on “RIP.” Now I’ll (probably, thankfully) miss out on Jason Todd’s return too.

Interesting how TDK has become this global phenomenon, yet the current Bat-comics are pretty much impenetrable to new readers. DC’s missed a huge opportunity. At least potential readers can go back and enjoy stuff like Year One, Dark Knight Returns, and The Killing Joke.

I want to see Catwoman vs. Talia Al Ghul with Batman “torn between two women!” Before anyone starts calling me chauvinist, I’d like to emphasise that it’s intended as an inverted reflection of the love triangle in The Dark Knight. Basically I think Grant Morrison’s right. Bruce needs lovin’!

Now that Nolan’s Bat-verse is a bona fide phenomenon, I think Nolan & Goyer can be cut some slack and not feel like they have shoehorn a villain who might be sadly out of place in the world Nolan’s created. Interest will (obviously) be huge in the next movie, and as long as it’s another great story, and as thrilling and as wild a ride as TDK is, it’ll do well. My worry is that going with the familiar villains that have been done many times before (and usually badly) could create a “Schumacher Stink” and end up backfiring.

Spider-Man 3, in spite of it making a lot money, comes to mind. Loaded up with villains that were fairly well-known, but ended up satisfying almost no one.

To Zonked: He’s talking about either the recent mini-series “Batman and the Monster Men” or the sequel “Batman and the Mad Monk.” Or perhaps both? They were both excellent. Worth getting.

To Zla’od: Nolan & Co. have made it pretty clear they are NOT gonna recast Joker. And considering how Heath nailed that role, any thoughts of recasting are simply a bad idea. You’ll either get a totally different take on the character, or you’ll get someone trying to imitate Heath. Either way, everyone will be comparing the “new” Joker to Heath, and it’s no-win situation.

I completely agree with you about Talia though. She’s the character I think I most want to see at this point, with a “surprise” reveal of Ra’s, alive again after a trip to a Lazarus Pit. Ra’s backstory was only hinted at in “Begins” and I’d like to see it explored more, in a more global epic.

Catwoman might be workable if it’s nothing like Pfiefer, Berry or (obviously) the old TV show. I really enjoyed Catwoman on Batman: TAS, far more than I ever enjoyed Joker episodes on that show. I’m opposed to Riddler or Penguin, although if either one can be portrayed in a somehow serious manner, I’d be open to it. Either one should probably be a minor villain though, sorta like Scarecrow was in these first two flicks. Same with Scarface. I think the concept is way-y too goofy (“Gatman”? I mean, really now). If you use him, keep it a small part.

Along with Deadshot, I like Hugo Strange, Black Mask and Hush as possible villains. A variation of The Long Halloween would’ve been good, but with Harvey Dent killed off (a mistake, IMO) I’m guessing that story won’t be happening.

book it.

First, take away any of her powers: the control over plants, the pheromones, everything.

I see Ivy as a classic film noir femme fatal. She’s a seductress.

She can either be a botanist or just a protester from a plant-centric interest group, that cares for plants much more than she cares for humans. When the Gotham botanical gardens is slated for demolition after being purchased by a notable Gotham company, Ivy goes around Basic Instinct style and seduces, and kills it’s board of trustees…including Bruce Wayne (obviously she doesn’t kill Wayne, but he can be on the board of trustees and in danger).

I can’t see her as a primary villain, but there is one way in which Poison Ivy can be made to work.

From the script: “Dent lies at the bottom of the hole, his neck broken. DEAD.”

*SPOILER*

I mean, sure he fell off that building, buy he could have been knocked out, and they might have had an empty casket, giving a funeral to the public face of Harvey Dent, while Two-Face is secretly locked away for care deep under Arkham Asylum.

And Nolan incorporating as much of Two-Face into The Dark Knight as he did, destroyed any possibility of Dent being the primary villain in the 3rd movie.

I’d run with ManBat at this point, which would add a great element of suspense and mystery, as the now “outlaw” Batman has to clear his name of violent murders, caused by a Bat-like creature. The citizens of Gotham, even Gordon suspect Batman, prompting a massive manhunt and reward, which could also bring Deadshot to town. That would be an excellent onscreen fight between 2 very skilled professionals. It would work…REALLY well. I’d end the movie with Batman defeating Deadshot, clearing his name and reputation and Bruce, satisfied with developments, treats himself and a female friend to front row seats at…the Circus. The movie goes off with Bruce’s friend introducing him to the Graysons and their child star…Dick. They shake hands and the screen goes black.

Damn…I just got goosebumps!

But then there’d be no leading lady, which would violate the laws of Hollywood. Catwoman is the obvious choice, but another would be Talia. (Can’t call her Lady Shiva–that would offend / amuse Hindus.) If they do that, might as well throw in Paul Kirk / Manhunter too.

I think the Riddler could work well enough, if presented seriously. He should be a hyper-intelligent, methodical genius type, not a cackling maniac. A problem would be what kind of costume to give him.

The Penguin? I’ve always found it hard to take him seriously, but you never know.

If they want to get lots of attention for this movie, you know what they should do? Imagine a poster of Robin lying face-down in the snow, bleeding, and with his panties around his ankles.

Or they could go with a nobody. Killer Moth or Firefly, for instance. Or Bookworm or King Tut, if we can take characters from the old TV show, Bookwork or King Tut. (Bat-Mite?)

So we look elsewhere:

Harley Quinn – as earlier, a distant maybe; one too many Arkham doctors gone nuts makes her a Scarecrow rehash with a Joker facade

Poison Ivy – too supernatural unless properly toned down.

Talia Al Ghul – logical conclusion to revisit the first film, but not ever hinted at.

Kind of a short list.

Killer Moth as the Anti-Batman would be cool, but that was the role the Joker took in TDK.

Firefly and Zsasz could both work fine as add-on villains.

I’d say use Mad Hatter, but Carrey’s Riddler totally stole his mind-control bit for Batman Forever, so it might appear redundant.

Mister Freeze, Poison Ivy and Clayface are a little too supernatural, unless they were toned down or reinterpreted.

Killer Croc was addressed in that recent DTV interstitial DVD that came out, which was supposed to bridge the movies.

Harley Quinn doesn’t make sense without The Joker. Joker as a new actor (or a shadowed puppetmaster) and Scarecrow are still around.

They could use Scarface & The Ventriloquist.