Concept Art for Unmade Batman ‘Gotham High’ Animated Series

There’s a reason Batman is the most adapted comic book character of all time – from movie serials to live action television to animated television to novels to Pez dispensers to feature films (seven in all, if you don’t count Mask of the Phantasm) and so on – it’s because he’s awesome. Straight up.

Over a year ago, artists Jeffrey Thomas and Celeste Green were approached by DC to create a “spec series” based on an old drawing by Thomas. The series, which followed a teenage Bruce Wayne going to school at Gotham High, was never picked up. But now, thanks to the all-powerful, all-knowing Internet, we can look at what could’ve been.

The animated series would have adhered to those high school stereotypes we all know and love. There was the art geek (Clayface), the politically-minded class president (Two-Face), the dorky, fat kid (The Penguin), the super jock (Killer Croc), the incredibly intelligent nerdball (The Riddler), the cute, smart, girl-next-door type (Batgirl), the hipster (Scarecrow), the dangerously hot chick (Catwoman), the Jugallo (The Joker) and his Jugalette (Harley Quinn), the sexy goth girl (Poison Ivy), the meatheaded, steroid-pumping wrestler (Bane), the “cool” guy (Mr. Freeze), and, in the middle, cooler than all of them — Bruce Wayne.

Check out the concept art below, which reimagines Bruce Wayne and his rogues gallery as high school students:

And check out the original drawing that started it all:

Check out Jeff and Celeste’s synopsis for the show below:

“We all go through incredible changes as teenagers: growth spurts, bad skin, a sudden insatiable need to uphold justice and avenge your murdered parents…. Well, that is, if you’re Bruce Wayne. As if being a freshman at Gotham High wasn’t tough enough, Bruce’s insomnia and technological fascinations are taking their toll. Instead of spending his time studying, he has begun to obsess over an emerging personality trait: Batman. But under the watchful eye of his guardian and steward, Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce is forced to put his intelligence to good use: graduating high school. But given his classmates, can Bruce survive Gotham High?”

Call me certifiable, but I would’ve loved to see this thing come to fruition. At first glance, Gotham High just looks like they replaced all the X-Men characters from X-Men: Evolution with Batman and company. However, whereas I couldn’t stand Evolution – it took itself way too seriously for a show about superheroes in high school – Gotham High looks fantastic to me in a really over-the-top, tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Almost like The Muppet Babies meets Clone High meets Batman: The Animated Series, all of which are some of my all-time favorite shows. What could’ve possibly gone wrong?

I’m not saying Gotham High would’ve been as good as all those shows, or even good. I’m just saying, as long as they would’ve kept it weird, funny, and incredibly self-aware…it could’ve been.

Source: Jeff and Celeste [via io9]

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Eva Green, Naomi Watts & A New Batmobile Join Batman 3? [Updated]

Since the beginning of November there have been rumors circling The Dark Knight Rises regarding the casting of not one, but two new female lead characters. While it’s been impossible to confirm which characters Christopher Nolan will add to this trilogy-concluding Batman film, the shortlist of actresses reportedly mentioned in consideration are nothing short of the top talent in the industry.

The candidates initially reported included Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley. With Portman pregnant and Lively playing the leading lady opposite Ryan Reynolds in Green Lantern, the list narrows. According to the latest rumors, only one of these candidates will be joining the cast of The Dark Knight Rises.

Collider has the exclusive on several exciting and important details on The Dark Knight Rises from reliable inside sources. Since they cannot attain official confirmation, they have labeled the following information as a “rumor.”

The most important update comes on the casting front with Naomi Watts (listed above) and Eva Green rumored to have joined the cast of Batman 3. Their source is unable to confirm who is playing who from the DC Comics, but assumes that Green will be playing the villainous Talia al Ghul, with Watts portraying the character of Vicki Vale, a reporter previously played by Kim Basinger in Tim Burton’s first Batman (our man Ben Kendrick nailed that one).

[Update: THR reports this information as false and list six candidates scheduled to test for the roles over the next two weeks. Find out who they are here.]

Naomi Watts as Vicki Vale in The Dark Knight Rises

If Eva Green (Casino Royale) is playing Talia Al Ghul, that does confirm previous rumors and works to tie in the events of Nolan’s Batman Begins which of course, featured Liam Neeson playing Talia’s father, Ra’s Al Ghul.

Another possibility follows the other common rumor that Christopher Nolan and co. will be basing the story of The Dark Knight Rises on the Batman: Prey graphic novel which would put Green in the role of Catwoman instead, and previous casting addition Tom Hardy into the role of Dr. Hugo Strange.

Now to the other details from Collider’s scoop:

New design for Batmobile is similar to Tumbler, but more streamlined.New Batcave same as old with circular pad for Batmobile.There will be an armory of Batsuits (like Iron Man 2?).We will see the Batcomputer in the cave.Shooting begins May 6th.Post-production begins November 28th.

They also hint towards what’s likely going to be the introduction of another new Batsuit, which we expected would happen anyway. In movies like this, you always need a new costume for each movie to help sell some toys.

Hopefully, official confirmations will roll out soon. But regardless of how accurate this information may be, we all have a lot to look forward to as Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale aim to finish their run with the Batman franchise. We can however, say for certain that The Dark Knight Rises will not be in 3D and will star Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Tom Hardy.

The Dark Knight Rises begins production in May and is scheduled for theatrical release on July 20th, 2012.

Follow us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant

Source: Collider

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Christopher Nolan Explains Choice of No 3D in Batman 3

Jan 9, 2011 by Rob Keyes 

Christopher Nolan explains the reasoning behind not implementing 3D into ‘Inception’ and why he won’t introduce the format with the conclusion of his Batman trilogy, in ‘The Dark Knight Rises’

While comic book fans and movie buffs theorize on what characters, villains and stories Christopher Nolan is drawing from to conclude his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises, we do have some important hard facts about the film. What may be the most interesting design choice about the movie – and certainly very pleasing to moviegoers – is that Nolan will not will shooting Batman 3 in 3D, nor converting it afterward as per the desire of Warner Bros.

Nolan’s interest in utilizing IMAX tech may lead to them shooting most, if not all, of The Dark Knight Rises in the higher resolution (and expensive) format instead. And if director of photography, Wally Pfister, has his way, he’d love to do the entire movie in IMAX as well. But with 3D offering and obvious method of bringing in more cash for the studio, why didn’t Nolan share his Inception in 3D and why will The Dark Knight Rises not be shot that way either?

Deadline interviewed the revered director about the experience and development of Inception, where they touched on the subject of the 3D phenomenon and Nolan’s choice to not make use of it (yet).

“We looked at shooting Inception in 3D and decided we’d be too restricted by the technology. We wouldn’t have been able to shoot on film the way we’d like to. We looked at post-converting it, actually did some tests, and they were very good. But we didn’t have time to do the conversion that we would have been satisfied with. Inception deals with subjectivity, quite intimate associations between the audience and the perceived state of reality of the characters.”

Warner Bros. has made it known that their next major ongoing film franchise to fill the void soon to be left from the conclusion of the Harry Potter series will make use of their vast library of DC Comics characters, and that all of these films along with their other big budget blockbusters, will be in 3D. Nolan’s Batman Begins and The Dark Knight didn’t make use of the third dimension, but why not jump in on the fad for The Dark Knight Rises?

Nolan continues:

“In the case of Batman, I view those as iconic, operatic movies, dealing with larger-than-life characters. The intimacy that the 3D parallax illusion imposes isn’t really compatible with that. We are finishing our story on the next Batman, and we want to be consistent to the look of the previous films. There was more of an argument for a film like Inception. Ive seen work in 3D like Avatar that’s exciting. But, for me, what was most exciting about Avatar was the creation of a world, the use of visual effects, motion capture, performance capture, these kinds of things. I don’t think Avatar can be reduced to its 3D component, it had so much more innovation going on that’s extremely exciting. 3D has always been an interesting technical format, a way of showing something to the audience. But you have to look at the story you’re telling: is it right?”

Yes, very. With his recent successes, Nolan has earned the right to make whatever movie he chooses in whatever method we wishes, and we can applaud him for not forcing 3D into Inception and sticking to his guns in ending his Batman trilogy in the same style he shot the first two installments. It’s much preferred over the post-converted route Green Lantern is taking.

For most live-action films to date, I would happily choose the 2D option over its overpriced counterpart. And if IMAX were the other alternative, if shot that way, I would always go with that, especially on a Nolan project.

3D or IMAX. Which would you prefer for your superhero movies?

The Dark Knight Rises begins production in May and is scheduled for theatrical release on July 20th, 2012.

Follow us on Twitter @rob_keyes and @screenrant.

Source: Deadline

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Nolan Says ‘Dark Knight Rises’ is His Last Batman; Talks ‘Inception’ Ending, Sequel & Videogame

The last few weeks have seen a dramatic influx of information regarding Christopher Nolan’s third -and final- Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. In typical Nolan fashion, each new detail that emerges typically leads to more questions.

We know that Tom Hardy has been cast, but we don’t know who he’s playing. We know that The Riddler won’t be in the film, but we don’t know who the actual villain is. We know that Nolan is meeting with several young actresses, but we don’t know for which role. You get the idea…

The often cryptic filmmaker recently spoke to EW, and while he doesn’t reveal the answer to any of those questions mentioned above, or acknowledge whether or not the film is based on the graphic novel Prey, he does express his unbridled enthusiasm for the project.

Nolan also confirms that The Dark Knight Rises is indeed his last Batman movie and admits that after Inception,  it was somewhat comforting to return to a universe with an established framework and characters:

“I feel very glad that I’m doing another Batman film. I think it would have been daunting to sit down and write an original script after Inception. I love working within the realm and rules of our Batman world. It’s kind of nice to have someplace to go that I’m super-excited about.”

He also explains that the critical and commercial success of Inception has allowed him to work on The Dark Knight Rises without any pressure or interference from the studio:

“I must say that I’m glad — I’m very, very glad — to be embarking on the last chapter of our Batman saga without any sense of obligation or duty to the studio. They did very well with Inception. So I’m able to go into finishing our story in a very enthusiastic way.”

This should ease any lingering concern that Warner Bros. somehow twisted his arm to direct The Dark Knight Rises, or that his enthusiasm isn’t at the same level it was for previous installments. It’s always been imperative to Nolan that something within the film or story speaks to him, so it should be interesting to learn what aspects of this final entry excited him.

As for further explorations of the world he created in Inception, Nolan says he always saw the potential for other stories taking place within that universe. Many fans thought that the film’s premise lent itself quite naturally to a videogame and Nolan agrees:

“I always imagined Inception to be a world where a lot of other stories could take place … At the moment, the only direction we’re channeling that is by developing a videogame set in the world.”

While the medium is one he claims he’s always wanted to get involved with, Nolan admits that an Inception videogame is still a ways off.  But if he’s envisioned other stories that deal with entering someone’s dreams, does that mean we might see an Inception sequel (or sequels) at some point? Nolan reveals:

“It’s not something I want to say no to, but it’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought about.”

He concludes the interview by touching on Inception‘s ambiguous ending and how curious it is that so many viewers are looking for a definitive answer:

“I’ve been asked the question more times than I’ve ever been asked any other question about any other film I’ve made … That’s definitely the question. It keeps coming back to that. What’s funny to me is that people really do expect me to answer it.”

Nolan explains that to blatantly state whether or not Cobb was dreaming would not only be a disservice to the film (and its audience), but that people obsessed with finding the answer are missing the point entirely:

“There can’t be anything in the film that tells you one way or another because then the ambiguity at the end of the film would just be a mistake … It would represent a failure of the film to communicate something. But it’s not a mistake. I put that cut there at the end, imposing an ambiguity from outside the film. That always felt the right ending to me — it always felt like the appropriate ‘kick’ to me….The real point of the scene — and this is what I tell people — is that Cobb isn’t looking at the top. He’s looking at his kids. He’s left it behind. That’s the emotional significance of the thing.”

Even though he’d never say “I told you so!” (okay, he might), our senior editor Kofi Outlaw came to the same conclusion in his analysis of Inception‘s ending right after the film’s release. So there you have it.

I’m looking forward to watching how The Dark Knight Rises comes together and the idea of expanding the Inception franchise is pretty intriguing as well.  I think Nolan is one of the most interesting directors working right now (especially within the studio system) and it’s pretty incredible to have the opportunity to watch a filmmaker operating in his prime.

You can own Inception on DVD and Blu-Ray December 7th. The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters July 20, 2012.

Source: EW.

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‘Dark Knight Rises’ is Bale’s Last Batman; Movie Based on ‘Prey’ Graphic Novel?

There are two pieces of Batman movie news/rumor to cover today: The first item is Christian Bale stating openly that Chris Nolan’s third (and presumably last) Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises, will be the end of the line for Bale as well.

In a related rumor, we’re hearing that like its predecessors, The Dark Knight Rises could in fact be based on an existing Batman graphic novel – and it’s one that fans (us here at Screen Rant included) have been speculating about for awhile now.

In a recent interview with Total Film, Christian Bale stated in no uncertain terms that unless director Chris Nolan opts to do a fourth film in the Batman series (which is highly unlikely at this point), then he (Bale) too will likely walk away after Dark Knight Rises.

Check out the quote from Bale:

‘I believe, unless Chris (Nolan) says different, this will be the last time I’m playing Batman.’

By now we should all know how this goes: some people will be happy to hear that Bale’s tenure is almost done, others will be clamoring for the actor to do one more Batman film, and those in the middle will be curious, wondering who could possibly take over the role from Bale in 3-5 years time.

For my part, I think Bale has been the best live-action Batman there is; certainly the only actor to approach the role by crafting two very distinct personas for Bruce Wayne and Batman. I know some people like to crack jokes about the “gruff voice” Bale spoke with in The Dark Knight – but by now you should know that the voice was a decision of the filmmakers, and not just the actor (read: LET IT GO).

Bale also spoke more about the Batman movie universe, including the possibility of Chris Nolan staying on for a fourth movie, and where they are in the pre-production process for The Dark Knight Rises. Read about all that by hopping over to Total Film.

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A week ago I wrote a long post about the character of Hugo Strange, just one of the villains being rumored for The Dark Knight Rises, and the role that actor Tom Hardy has been rumored as playing in the film.

In that same post, I broke down some of the more famous Hugo Strange stories that would fit perfectly into the Batman universe Nolan has created. Of course, I’m not the only one currently piecing together this particular puzzle; everyone around the blogosphere has pretty much agreed that the graphic novel Batman: Prey (a collected volume of the comic book Legends of the Dark Knight issues 11-15) is prime material for the The Dark Knight Rises‘ script.

Now Scriptflags is claiming they are hearing from “sources” (read: UNSUBSTANTIATED RUMOR) that Prey will indeed be the basis for the film.

Prey takes place in the same continuity as Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One and its semi-sequel The Long Halloween – two graphic novels that (not so) coincidentally served as the foundations for Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, respectively.

In Prey, Commissioner Gordon has been ordered to create a special police task force to take down Batman, who is viewed as a dangerous vigilante. Aiding the police is renowned psychoanalyst Dr. Hugo Strange, who begins to probe the psychology and behavior of the Dark Knight in order to predict who is  under the mask. As Strange delves deeper into Batman’s psyche, he becomes obsessed with not only discovering the vigilante’s identity, but also with killing him and taking the mantle of Batman for himself. To accomplish this, Strange brainwashes the head of the Task Force, sergeant Max Cort, into becoming a lethal vigilante called “Night Scourge” who tries to take Batman down. Strange also begins to discover Batman’s secret identity, leading Batman to face danger on all fronts.

Clearly this Dark Knight Rises/Batman: Prey connection is a RUMOR at this point, but one could see why it is a fitting and believable rumor. There are a lot of plot threads from Prey that Nolan could borrow or reconfigure to fit the shape of The Dark Knight Rises – the police task force, a secondary vigilante, a psyche-probing villain essentially asking “Who is Batman?” all being obvious gems. There are also several characters – Hugo Strange, Max Cort or Dect. Harvey Bullock (a rival for Gordon) – who would be prime roles for an actor of Tom Hardy’s skill.

However, these rumors about Prey make it hard to reconcile other recent rumors that Talia al Ghul could also be a villain in the film. (Although, Prey does feature female characters – notably Catwoman in a more supporting role.) Could Nolan actually mix elements of Prey with other famous Batman stories and therefore involve Talia? It’s certainly a possibility…

It was recently revealed that The Dark Knight Rises script will be turned in after the new year and that the film will start shooting in May for it’s July 2012 release date. Ergo, we should have all questions of plot and characters nailed down soon. Stay tuned.

Source: Total Film and Script Flags

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