Batman, the aged avenger, in the 1986 classic The Dark Knight Returns
© 1986 DC Comics
Batman Begins
By: Corona's Coming AttractionsDate: Monday, February 28, 2005
Genre:
Action/Comic Book Adaptation/Sequel.
Studio:
Warner Brothers.
Production Company:
Unknown.
Project Phase:
Released.
Who's In It:
Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/"Batman"); Michael Caine (Alfred); Katie Holmes (Rachel); Liam Neeson (Henri Ducard); Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox); Cillian Murphy (Jonathan Crane/"The Scarecrow"); Ken Watanabe (R'as al Ghul); Gary Oldman (Lieutenant Jim Gordon); Rutger Hauer (Earle); Tom Wilkinson (Carmine Falcone).
Who's Making It:
Christopher Nolan (Director); David Goyer, Christopher Nolan (Screenwriters); Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Larry Franco (Producers); Ben Melniker, Michael Uslan (Executive Producers); Wally Pfister (Director of Photography); Nathan Crowley (Production Designer); Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard (Musical Score); based upon the Batman character owned by DC Comics and created by Bob Kane.
Premise:
After travelling the world to hone his fighting skills, a twentysomething Bruce Wayne returns back home to Gotham City to take over his father's business empire -- and to establish a new identity for himself as a costumed crimefighter known as the Batman.
Release Date:
Summer 2005.
Comments:
In a few short years Christopher Nolan has cemented a reputation in Hollywood for being able to deliver clever cinema, but will be prove to be the man who resurrected BATMAN for Warner Bros.? Others such as Darren Aronofsky and even Frank Miller himself have attempted to rebuild the franchise after the disasterous BATMAN & ROBIN nearly killed it, and they proved unsuccessful.
Scoop Feedback:
March 27, 2003... Anonymous sources have told Variety
Batman, the aged avenger, in the 1986 classic The Dark Knight Returns
© 1986 DC Comics
The Variety story says that Goyer's take on the Dark Knight is based on an idea by Nolan and is completely different from any earlier scripts. When reached by the magazine, Goyer's agents refused to comment on the rumor. Warner Bros. never returned Variety's query.
Where there's smoke, there's usually fire... [Source: Variety.]
July 2, 2003... While Marvel continues its stampede on making superhero movies, the wheels appear to still be turning at Warner Bros. and their attempts to resurrect their BATMAN franchise. These past few weeks have seen a flurry of unconfirmed reports take wing across the Web and it's time to play catch-up and find out what's being whispered by Bat-fans.
The Batman on Film website has been a leader in collating all the Bat-rumors. One of the most recent bits of hearsay is that Christopher Lloyd (who played Doc Emmett Brown in the BACK TO THE FUTURE films) has been seen skulking around the Warner Bros. lot -- and supposedly he's the frontrunner to play The Scarecrow in the new movie. But is it wishful thinking or is there really fire to this cloud of casting smoke?
Dark Horizons has also been publishing its share of B5 rumors including one that gives hope to all those living in fear of THAT 70s SHOW's Ashton Kutcher playing the Dark Knight. According to a DH scooper, Guy Pierce pegged himself as a possible candidate to play the new Bruce Wayne by director Christopher Nolan. Pierce, if you recall, has worked with Nolan on the loopy and brilliant thriller MEMENTO. Maybe it's possible Nolan is channeling some of that Tim Burton/Michael Keaton vibe in his casting of Batman. Speaking of MEMENTO alumni, how about thinking about hiring Joe Pantoliano as ol' Scarecrow?
And almost everyone else has reported the story that Ashton Kutcher is close, if not already cast, as the new Batman. Not so says our own sources who claim that the role is still anyone's to grab. Supposedly the decision about who will play the new Batman is contingent on the director and senior WB personnel, which makes sense.
But the next time you see Batman -- make that Bruce Wayne -- it might be on the small screen. Ain't It Cool Coaxial News reports a story coming out of Zap2It; SMALLVILLE co-creator Al Gough is thinking about having a young Bruce Wayne make a trip to Kryptonite central. Gough imagines the young Wayne to be slightly older than Clark Kent but just as brooding as his Bat-self is known to be.
There's only one thing that's certain when it comes to rumors: never believe it's a for-sure until you see it on the screen with your own eyes. [Batman on Film, Dark Horizons, Ain't It Cool Coaxial News, Zap2It.]
August 26, 2003... It first began as a rumor on Dark Horizons and now IGN FilmForce has thrown gasoline on the fire. Is English actor Hugh Dancy close to playing the part of the next BATMAN?
Horizons launched this latest round of Bat-rumors by printing a report that the actor was discussing the possibility of playing the Dark Knight with director Chris Nolan. Nolan, as you recall, is the auteur currently developing BATMAN 5 for Warner Bros. Seeking something substantial to go on, FilmForce contacted representatives for Dancy to find out if there was something to it...and surprisingly, the Dancy camp chose not to comment at all.
And then it gets even curiouser: The Unofficial Christopher Nolan website quotes an informant as telling them "[Dancy] is almost and I quote: 'Signed, Sealed and Delivered'"
So who is this Hugh Dancy? He's currently starring in KING ARTHUR in the part of Galahad. He's also had numerous credits in British dramas including DAVID COPPERFIELD and MADAME BOVARY.
Time will tell the tale.
September 3, 2003... Wednesday's Hollywood Reporter rounds up their list of the top contenders for the next BATMAN film, to be directed by Christopher Nolan (MEMENTO). According to the trade magazine, the actors being called in to test for the part include Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, Joshua Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Henry Cavill and Eion Bailey, with another possibility being Hugh Dancy (that is, if he can pry himself away from the shooting of KING ARTHUR.)
According to multiple internet sites, Bale has long been rumored to be one of the top contenders for the role. Gyllenhaal, star of DONNIE DARKO, had been an alternative for the role of Peter Parker in SPIDER-MAN s before Tobey Maguire settled his issues with the filmmakers. Cavill was first reported by this website to be under consideration for the lead role in the new SUPERMAN film; this is the first we've heard of the actor up for possible Dark Knight duty. Murphy (28 DAYS LATER), Bailey (MINDHUNTERS) and Jackson are new to the mix. Dancy's name was first mentioned late last month on Dark Horizons and IGN FilmForce.
Reporter also provides a new morsel for us to chew on: according to their sources, the new BATMAN film is scheduled to roll cameras in February 2004. [THR.]
September 4, 2003... Here's the proof that Warner Bros. is currently using BATMAN: INTIMIDATION as the working title of Christopher Nolan's new Dark Knight film. Originally discovered by Christopher Nolan.net and mentioned earlier this week by Ain't It Cool News, INTIMIDATION was just a rumor until the discovery of the WB-held domain account that was created on September 2. The studio also registered the domain www.batman-intimidation.net on the same day.
[Christopher Nolan.net, Ain't It Cool News.]
September 11, 2003... Finally, we know who will assume the next incarnation of the Dark Knight: Christian Bale has won the role and will star as the caped crime fighter in the next BATMAN movie. Filming is slated to commence in early 2004.
Warner Bros.
A familiar icon graces the standing webpage for Warner's BATMAN BEGINS website.
© Warner Bros.
"Now that we've found the best person to play Batman, we are really looking forward to moving ahead with the rest of our casting, and are excited about the exceptional group we are assembling," said Robinov in a press statement issued by Warner Bros.
"What I see in Christian is the ultimate embodiment of Bruce Wayne," adds BATMAN director Christopher Nolan. "He has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for."
The script for the new BATMAN picture was written by David Goyer and Nolan. The studio now confirms that the next movie will follow the early career of the Batman. [Warner Bros.]
September 13, 2003... With the announcement this week of Christian Bale playing Batman (full details right here), things are heating up now for Warner Bros. to get the new Bats movie greenlighted and going.
We've heard from a source who likes to be called "The Other Mr. Voorhees" about what sort of secrets the BATMAN production is keeping, and we'd like to share them with you today. Things like who the bad guy is, when this Bat-film takes place in the character's continuity, and why Bale may have won the role over other, older contenders.
"Think of Nolan's film as 'Gothamville,' the Batman version of SMALLVILLE," writes our Mr. Voorhees. "The entire cast is believed to be made up of young people. Warner Brothers looked across town to Culver City (Sony) and realized they needed to go SPIDER-MAN and cast young."
Bale is 29-years-old, the youngest actor to don the cowl and cape in the film series since it began back in 1988.
The majority of David Goyer's script, which no one has seen yet, is believed to take place in London and a desert locale. According to our scooper the film's primary villain is R'as al Ghul, literally the "Demon's Head" in Arabic, an immortal man seeking to save the world by controlling it. If the Joker is the dark opposite of Batman, chaos over order, insanity over reason, R'as al Ghul is the penultimate version of what drove a young Bruce Wayne to become a protector of the innocent. If Batman was born from the deaths of Bruce's parents and his drive to stop needless violence, R'as al Ghul seeks to save the world from destruction, war and obliteration by taking it over.
The villain achieves a kind of immortality by using a device called the Lazarus Pit to rejuvinate his aged body. This way R'as can watch the seeds of his many strategies bear fruit over the coming decades. R'as also admired the Batman and his mission, and in fact sought to make him his heir by marrying his daughter, Talia. He also controls a vast army of killers the world over known as the League of Assassins.
How much of R'as al Ghul's comic book origin story has been brought into Goyer's script remains unknown.
Part of our information is being corroborated by Ain't It Cool News. That site also claims that the film's villain is R'as al Ghul and that part of the film takes place in London.
Nolan's BATMAN is scheduled to begin filming in early 2004.
['The Other Mr. Voorhees' would like people to know he's not responsible for any of those Crystal Lake shenanigans.]
September 15, 2003... Thanks to Robert, we were sent an interview with Wally Pfister, the director of photography for Christopher Nolan's movies INSOMNIA and MEMENTO. Pfister confirms that he'll serve as DoP on Nolan's BATMAN movie and also reveals who will be working with him...
Q: Has director Chris Nolan approached you to work on BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME?
WP: Yes, I am signed on as Director of Photography on the BATMAN project.
Q: When do you expect to start working on BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME, test shooting and principal photography?
WP: I have already begun early stages of pre-production on the project.
Q: Who else will be working with you and Chris Nolan?
WP: Production designer, Nathan Crowley (INSOMNIA) is also on board as well as producer Emma Thomas (INSOMNIA, MEMENTO, FOLLOWING).
There's more to the Pfister i-view including his answers as to where the picture might shoot, what kind of cinema techniques he'll use in the filming and which of the four previous BATMAN films is his favorite. Read the rest of the interview at Superhero Hype.
[Our thanks to Robert for sending us his interview!]
September 29, 2003... Yahoo! Movies reports that one of their reliable sources said Warner Bros. is looking at releasing the new BATMAN movie on July 4, 2005 -- in direct competition with the new INDIANA JONES movie opening on the same day. No further info was given by YM's source. [Yahoo Movies.]
November 19, 2003... As development continues on the fifth BATMAN movie, one of our friends from across the Atlantic Ocean wrote in to tell us of a juicy casting rumor making the rounds over in England. According to our informant, there's talk that BATMAN director Christopher Nolan is seeking to cast an actor for a villain role at the beginning of the film. This character is known to fans of Batman lore, and at one time was rumored to be the main villain in a fan script known as THE FRIGHTENING: none other than The Scarecrow.
According to our source, the film's primary bad guy will remain R'as al Ghul, the immortal whose vision of a world without chaos reaches through centuries of time. But the idea is to introduce the Scarecrow early in the film to show audiences that this BATMAN movie is different than its predecessors; namely, that it's darker and scarier, and that the rogues that Batman face in Nolan's vision of Gotham City are far more dangerous than the ones seen in Joel Schumacher's BATMAN movies.
Our agent tells us that the idea is to show the Scarecrow terrorizing Gotham so Nolan's version of Batman (played by Christian Bale) can be introduced. After bringing down Scarecrow the plot would then move on to Batman having to leave Gotham City, possibly as a result of the actions of this opening segment, and travelling to London where al Ghul is located. There the majority of the film's story takes place.
The part is small and isn't like the previous three BATMAN films which have seen the Dark Knight face two villains throughout the picture. There may be a possibility that Scarecrow could return in a future BATMAN movie but for now it's meant to be a one-time appearance and that's all.
"The person in mind to play [Scarecrow] is Christopher Eccleston," writes "Lucky Ace", our scooper. Eccleston is British and was most recently seen in Danny Boyle's post-apocalytic zombie movie 28 DAYS LATER as Major West. Curiously, one of Eccleston's co-stars in 28 DAYS LATER was also rumored to be under consideration to play the new Batman before Bale was announced in the role, Cillian Murphy.
The production is also looking to cast the role of R'as al Ghul sooner rather than later and have been considering actors from around the world. Unlike the Scarecrow gossip, our Ace in the hole didn't have any names to report at the present time but they did mention the talk is "of people like a younger Anthony Hopkins-type".
Production on BATMAN 5 is still scheduled to begin in the early months of 2004.
["Lucky Ace" proved to be a good poker player.]
November 25, 2003... According to both The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Oscar-winner Michael Caine is the man who will be Bruce Wayne's manservant in the new BATMAN movie. Caine, 70, would inherit the role from actor Michael Gough who has played the character throughout all four movies starting with 1989's BATMAN.
Asked to comment on the rumor, a representative for Warner Bros. declined to address the matter with the trade magazines. BATMAN director Christopher Nolan (INSOMNIA) continues to work on prepping the film for an early '04 start date. Caine is also expected to reprise his role as beauty fashion consultant Victor Melling in the sequel to MISS CONGENIALITY. [The Hollywood Reporter, Variety.]
December 10, 2003... While it may be making front page news on today's issue of The Hollywood Reporter, it was first reported ten days ago on the Batman On Film website:
Christian Bale is snapped filming a scene for BATMAN BEGINS in this spy photo.
© The Z Review
Add another actor to the growing list of rumored stars up for a role in Christopher Nolan's BATMAN movie -- except this time, the rumor comes straight from another actor who's already been cast in the movie. Actor Michael Caine told Sci Fi Wire that LORD OF THE RINGS star Viggo Mortensen is being considered to play a villain in the new BATMAN. What bad guy that may be, if it's the rumored immortal R'as al Ghul or the fearful Scarecrow, was undisclosed by Caine.
The veteran actor also said a little about where his character, Bruce Wayne's manservant and confidant Alfred, begins in the film. "We start when Batman is a baby, so I'm more like a father," Caine told Sci Fi Wire. "I'm a father who knows how to lay a table with the knives and forks in the right places."
Nolan also described his idea of Batman to Caine, and the actor also explained it, but for that you need to read told Sci Fi Wire.
January 6, 2004... It began with an anonymous scoop that was sent to us on December 24 which read as follows:
"It was in the news here in Iceland that the new BATMAN movie would be filming next to 'Vatnajökull' the largest glacier in Europe (in Iceland.) Filming will take a little bit more than a week, about the same as James Bond DIE ANOTHER DAY took and will take place in the beginning of the new year."
With no return email address to contact the scooper, there was little in the way of verification we could do. An online search failed to produce any hits in the media of the new BATMAN movie filming in Iceland, which didn't support the scooper's claims that it had made the news. And so we sat on the scoop until today, when the news turned up on no less than three websites...
First reported by Superhero Hype, proof turned up in an Icelandic online article reporting about the glacier filming location. That was followed by an exclusive Superhero Hype scoop that said the icy scene will feature Batman fighting with R'as al Ghul's student as part of a "training exercise." Latino Review then followed up by contacting SagaFilm Iceland which told the website that filming will occur in late February and go on for about two weeks.
The long and short of it: it looks like Batman will be on ice in the new film.
[Thanks to the original anonymous scooper for sending the report in...but remember to include an email address where we can contact you next time!]
January 30, 2004... Latino Review has posted the first script review of David Goyer's BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME, giving the read a commanding five stars. In their review of Goyer's work, "El Mayimbe" praises the screenplay and raves enthusiastically about it. "There is a big Batmobile chase that will knock your socks off," Mayimbe teases his readers as he outlines the first half of INTIMIDATION GAME's storyline. "I will be first on the geek line to see this flick," he adds.
SPOILER material is contained in the review, so be aware before you go clicking this link to read the review. [Latino Review.]
February 10, 2004... While director Christopher Nolan continues to gather together the pieces for his next film, BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME, and prepares for a spring start to filming, we've received word from a trustworthy source that there is a new actor circling for a possible BATMAN role. While the actor in question has never been mentioned before in any of the BATMAN casting speculation heard so far, our source insists that they are "very likely" connected to the film now. Our source just doesn't know what role the actor is playing in the picture.
According to the source, the actor that seems to now
The new Batmobile from BATMAN BEGINS.
© Warner Bros.
Again, our source doesn't know which role Neeson would be (or is) playing in Nolan's BATMAN picture. If we were to speculate on possibilities, Neeson could be playing Captain Jim Gordon, the future Commissioner of Police of Gotham City...or he could just as easily be R'as al Ghul, the whispered main villain of the movie. Or maybe it's some other character that we haven't heard of yet. All we know at this time is that Neeson is either already in the cast of BATMAN or he's teetering on the cusp of being in that film's roster of talent. We'll know shortly which one it is.
[Special thanks to anonymous with the info.]
February 11, 2004... Yesterday we reported to you that a trustworthy source informed us that actor Liam Neeson was either signed to star in the new BATMAN movie or closely circling the project. Today we heard from a second source -- and again, one that is known to us and whom we trust -- who tells us that Neeson is confirmed to be starring in BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME.
On top of that, this second individual tells us that the part Neeson is playing in Christopher Nolan's BATMAN is a villain!
Unfortunately, we don't know the name of Neeson's BATMAN character, so it could be anyone. Characters rumored to be in David Goyer's screenplay include R'as al Ghul, Jonathan Crane (a.k.a. The Scarecrow) and crime boss Carmine Falcone.
Neeson is currently working on Ridley Scott's KINGDOM OF THE SUN, playing the father of Orlando Bloom's character. He will next be seen in Bill Condon's KINSEY, playing the famous behavioral scientist who broke ground by studying the sexual practices of human beings, due out this fall.
One final thing: our source swears Neeson is signed, sealed and delivered. All that awaits is the Warner Bros. announcement.
[Anonymous.]
February 12, 2004... Today's Hollywood Reporter is running a story that Liam Neeson is "in final negotiations" to star in the new BATMAN movie. While it would seem to vindicate our exclusive scoop we brought to you first two days ago, Reporter's coverage doesn't specifically say that Neeson is a lock for the role nor who he is playing in the picture. (Warners chose to not comment on the Neeson casting story to the Reporter.) Our sources maintain that Neeson's deal is already complete and that he will be playing a villain in the new BATMAN. [THR.]
February 19, 2004... Variety reports today that Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman are confirmed to be in the cast for Christopher Nolan's BATMAN film. The trade magazine also connects the dots and lists Neeson's character as the whispered heavy the Internet's been buzzing about for months, R'as al Ghul. Freeman will play Lucius Fox, another already rumored character, who is the CEO of Wayne Enterprises.
Filming is now scheduled to begin on March 16. [Variety.]
February 22, 2004... Batman on Film is reporting
A look at the rear of the new Batmobile from BATMAN BEGINS.
© Warner Bros.
Come back tomorrow for a major BATMAN scoop or two from one of our longtime sources!
February 23, 2004... By now comic book fans are daring to believe that Warner Bros. new BATMAN movie has all the ingredients of success: a new actor to play the Dark Knight (Christian Bale); a supporting cast that suggests substance will play as important a part as style; a script from a screenwriter (David Goyer) that's had success with previous comic book adaptations, and who also happens to be a successful comic book writer; and a director (Christopher Nolan) with credits that both critics and fanboys can appreciate (like MEMENTO and INSOMNIA). So how much better can it get?
We're here to tell you that it does get better. A lot better. So good that we're going to have to do something we rarely choose to do and not tell you everything that we know.
We have a good reason for this rule and that has to do with things we call "key spoilers". Every film has them, those moments where a major plot point will happen that twists or reveals something that can change the entire film. Remember what happened when Luke Skywalker confronted Darth Vader in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or what happened shortly after Kane sat down to eat dinner in ALIEN, or when the Nazis opened the Ark of the Covenant in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK? Did you really want to know what was going to happen all those months before you saw those films -- especially now when you consider that these films are considered classics of their genres? Of course not. And that's why we're here to raise your expectations for BATMAN BEGINS (which may shortly be the new title for Nolan's BATMAN film) and to tell you that there are some things best left unsaid for the moment.
But there are things that can be told, and if you find yourself growing more excited as the days progress, give us (and the BATMAN filmmakers) a little of your trust. You just might be handsomely rewarded when the lights dim and the Batman logo comes up on the big screen next summer.
A longtime scooper has filled us in on many of the secrets left unaccounted about BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME (still the working title of the BATMAN project.) We trust this source, as they have told us many things in the past that we've reported on first, only to see them be officially announced elsewhere. And what they tell us about the new BATMAN movie gets our blood racing and wishing that the summer of 2005 were here already.
Here is what we can share with you at this time:
As we said, the summer of 2005 now can't get here fast enough.
[Our thanks to the source for conveying this and other items of interest, and our hopes that they will contact us again soon.]
February 24, 2004... As was first mentioned by Batman on Film last week, The Hollywood Reporter is now stating that Ken Watanabe has been cast in Christopher Nolan's BATMAN movie. Watanabe will reportedly be playing the part of the criminal mastermind R'as al Ghul, arch-nemesis to the Dark Knight.
The Japanese actor is up for a Best Supporting Actor this coming weekend for his performance in THE LAST SAMURAI. [THR.]
February 26, 2004... For months rumors have swirled about around what the title of Christopher Nolan's new BATMAN movie would be. During most of the latter half of 2003 speculation arose that the working title for the project was the enigmatic BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME, suggesting that whatever was being planned for the Dark Knight this time the stakes would be higher than before. Still, through location scouting reports, leaks about the film's rumored storyline and even official casting announcements, no official title was ever announced for the project, leaving fans to wonder if INTIMIDATION GAME was nothing more than a mirage.
But now we can exclusively report to you what the official title is for the new BATMAN. It's not BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME, which we've now learned was the project's pre-production code name during its early development cycle. Now that Nolan's film is moving into the active phase of its production, this title will be what Warner Bros. will be refering to the film during the duration of its shoot (which begins next month) and as it moves ever forward towards its release in the summer of 2005. Let the rumors be finally put to rest:
The official title of the movie is BATMAN BEGINS.
You heard it here first!
[Special thanks to Warner Bros. for switching on the Bat-signal once again.]
March 4, 2004... Hours before the news hit the trades, IGN FilmForce broke the word first that actor Gary Oldman had been cast as Lieutenant Jim Gordon in BATMAN BEGINS. Oldman beat out other rumored contenders such as Chris Cooper, Dennis Quaid and Kurt Russell.
Warner Bros. issued a press release concerning Oldman's casting last night and the news was then picked up by the industry trade magazines today.
Oldman will next be seen as the imprisoned wizard Sirius Black in HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN. [FilmForce.]
March 24, 2004... Warner Bros.
Star Ken Watanabe poses on arrivals at the premiere of The Last Samurai copyright Sue Schneider
© 2003 Sue Schneider
March 25, 2004... Two more bad guys have joined the all-star cast of BATMAN BEGINS, now filming exterior shots in Iceland. Rutger Hauer (BLADE RUNNER) will play Earle, a businessman who seeks to make control over the Wayne financial empire while Bruce is busy elsewhere. Hauer played a similiar foe for another well known superhero recently, portraying Metropolis crime boss Morgan Edge in this season's premiere of SMALLVILLE.
Also joining the BATMAN BEGINS ensemble is Tom Wilkinson (ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND). Wilkinson is the guy who finally landed the part of Gotham City crime overlord Carmine Falcone, a part that had many Batfan websites guessing about for months. [The Hollywood Reporter.]
March 31, 2004...
Liam Neeson in KINSEY.
© Fox Searchlight
BATMAN BEGINS is now shooting in England. [Warner Bros.]
April 5, 2004... The
Christian Bale stars in REIGN OF FIRE.
© 2002 Touchstone Pictures
Click here to see the series of spy shots. [Gary @ The Z Review.]
April 19, 2004... With filming underway on the first BATMAN movie in seven years, and the design of the new Batmobile revealed, we've been wondering just how far the vehicle's designers decided to take their creation. Now, thanks to our latest scooper, we've been handed this report on what's going down with Batman's new set of wheels and what security is like on the set of BATMAN BEGINS...
"Hey, been reading since God-knows-when, first time with some info you might like. [X] is working on BATMAN BEGINS and
Katie Holmes stars in ABANDON.
© 2002 Paramount Pictures
"CGI is being kept to a minimum, we're talking live-action stunt work for the most. Should be gritty."
[Our thanks to anonymous in the UK.]
April 24, 2004... Superhero Hype has been sent eight spy photos of the BATMAN BEGINS set at Mill Hill, a section of north London. The National Institute for Medical Research is doubling as the infamous Arkham Asylum and production personnel
Writer-producer and all-around comic guy David Goyer
© David Goyer
Some filming has already taken place including a scene where Gotham City police officers and SWAT members surround the asylum.
You can see the selection of spy photos right here at Superhero Hype.
April 29, 2004... Ever since Warner Bros. published the first photos of the Batmobile from BATMAN BEGINS, fans have been wondering when they would be given their first look at Christian Bale in the Batsuit. Rumors have floated around the internet that Warners was ready to release an image online about a month ago but changed their plans when David Goyer's screenplay for the film hit the web unexpectedly.
Now the wait is almost over. In tomorrow's new issue of ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY the magazine will publish a photo showing Bale in the grey-on-black Batman costume. Already people are scanning in the photo and are posting it online. Out of respect for b>EW's exclusive this site will only publish the photo when approval comes from Warner Bros., which we imagine should be soon. If EW's website puts the image up we'll link and run it. [Entertainment Weekly.]
April 30, 2004...
A spy photo of the set of Arkham Asylum from BATMAN BEGINS.
© Superhero Hype
Groove to the imagery by clicking on any of the three images above and below and you'll get larger looks at 'em. That's a great poker face you've got, Mr. Wayne.
[Warner Bros.]
June 10, 2004... On display at the
Christian Bale brooding as the Dark Knight in BATMAN BEGINS.
© Warner Bros.
June 14, 2004... As filming continues on Chris Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS, one of our most reliable and trusted sources contacted us to say that Batman's movie studio is working on getting a teaser trailer out as soon as possible for the film. The source, who works in the industry, tells us that Warners is trying hard to get the first trailer for BATMAN BEGINS out for the opening of SPIDER-MAN 2, June 30. If the trailer isn't complete by that time, the studio has struck a deal to place the BATMAN trailer with 20th Centiry Fox's I, ROBOT opening July 16. The trailer will definitely be featured with the company's other superhero movie project out on July 30, namely CATWOMAN.
What will we get to see in the trailer for BATMAN BEGINS? On that matter our source was unsure; depending upon how much material is ready for the public eye, all we might get to see is of the Batman is just his new logo. As the date of the trailer's release draws closer more should be known.
[Thanks to anonymous for having pals in Gotham City.]
The latest issue of Newsweek features an article detailing a reporter's trip to the set of BATMAN BEGINS, presently filming in Shepperton Studios just outside London, England. While the journo piece features new quotes from star Christian Bale and director Chris Nolan, the real excitement comes from the eye candy: two new photos of Bale in the Batsuit.
Also learned was that when Bruce Wayne first makes his alter ego's costume (with help from Wayne Industries designer Lucius Fox), it's translucent. It turns out that in Nolan's origin story the prototype Batsuit, like the new Batmobile, is also the product of military research and development by Wayne Industries. The costume is simply painted black by Bruce and used as his Batman threads.
Read the Newsweek article online by clicking here. [Newsweek.]
June 16, 2004... We've got an addendum to report for our scoop from this past Monday as to when you can expect to see the trailer for BATMAN BEGINS. Speaking to IGN FilmForce, a source told the website a similar story to the one we heard: that the teaser trailer for the new BATMAN is being targeted for theatrical release shortly, and possibly to run in front of either SPIDER-MAN 2 or CATWOMAN. At the time of FilmForce's report (June 8), a decision hasn't been made as to which film the trailer will play for.
Also of note is Batman On Film's decision to post a scan of the first photograph from the movie of Liam Neeson's character Henri Ducard. The bearded Neeson can be seen in the current issue of Newsweek and at Batman On Film's news section.
[IGN FilmForce, Batman on Film.]
June 17, 2004... Batman on Film has published what may be the first description of the upcoming trailer for BATMAN BEGINS. While the website is hesitant to say that the scoop is authentic, the webmaster does say that he is cautiously optimistic that the report is legit.
The anonymous scooper issued a full description of what they claimed will be our first look at the new version of the Dark Knight and his city. "There is some voice-overs of different people, mainly Neeson," said the indivisdual in their report. "There are flashes of the rest of the cast, Bale talking about his fears, what drives him. Then We see a man slip on a strange looking gas mask. Very German/Nazi WW2 looking for the design of the mask. Probably the Scarecrow. A black screen, Batman standing on top of a building then jumping falling down towards the screen. Flashes of a fast moving train, What looks like a huge black tank and a helicopter and police cars. A few more flashes of some fast paced car action."
They go on to describe how the trailer ends, with the new Batman logo coming up on the screen followed by the tagline "Next Summer it Begins."
You can read everything that the BoF scooper has to say over at Batman on Film -- just make sure that you remember that the trailer description isn't confirmed just yet. [BoF.]
Morning, June 21, 2004... Batman on Film reports that, according to one of their sources, one of the most important (if not the most important) scenes involving the origin of the Batman was filmed inside Shepperton Studios last Friday for Christopher Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS: the murder of Bruce Wayne's parents at the hands of petty criminal Joe Chill.
For those of you wondering who Joe Chill is and why the thug isn't named Jack Napier (as was Jack Nicholson's character in Tim Burton's BATMAN movie), it's because Nolan is following the comic book origin of events for his film's story. In DC Comics mythology, Bruce Wayne's parents were shot to death by low-level street criminal Joe Chill; when Burton made his movie back in 1989, he chose to show a young Jack Napier as the man behind the trigger than ended the Waynes' life that night in Crime Alley. True to form, Nolan's BATMAN film is a re-examination of the character and one that is extremely faithful to the source material, the comic books.
Batman on Film also lists the names of the actors that portrayed the Waynes (including a young Bruce) as well as Joe Chill. The site states that Linus Roache (currently on-screen in THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK as The Purifier) plays Thomas Wayne; Sara Stewart is Martha Wayne; Gus Lewis is young Bruce ; and R, , ich,, , , ard Brake is Joe Chill.
Additional commentary by BoF's source, including descriptions of the set, including what the costumes of the actors looked like, can be read at Batman on Film.
Afternoon, June 21, 2004... ,, , , Ov, er the weekend, , , , , we received a notice from the webmaster at Freeze Dried Movies, notifying us that the teaser poster for BATMAN BEGINS was up on their site. The poster, which uses the new Batman logo we've seen on the film's official website, had some oddness to it that made us question its authenticity. For example, would a reletively newcomer like actor Cillian Murphy really get billing above the title and over the mention of established actors starring in the picture like Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman? And why couldn't we make out the details in the credit block at the bottom of the poster?
We decided to contact Warner Bros. and see if the poster was the real deal. After taking a look at the poster and checking with the right departments, our contact told us that the poster up at Freeze Dried Movies is fan-made and definitely not made by Warner Bros. creative. [Warner Bros.]
June 23, 2004... Our trusted source returned to tell us that there won't be a trailer for BATMAN BEGINS attached to next week's release of SPIDER-MAN 2. Instead, an extended trailer for CATWOMAN (coming in at 2:04) will run with the second cinematic adventure of Marvel's wall-crawler.
The plan for Warners is to now finish the BATMAN trailer and saddle it to I, ROBOT (ope, ning July 16). If that date also falls through, our source tells us that the Batman will definitely, absolutely and unquestionably be playing in front of CATWOMAN when it opens July 23.
And guess what? There's a trailer for THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on the near horizon...
Unfortunately, there's still no word on what imagery we'll get to see in the BATMAN BEGINS trailer. [Anonymous.]
July 16, 2004... Where did the trailer for BATMAN BEGINS go?
Earlier this month we reported (through one of our most trusted sources) that Warner Bros. had completed a trailer for BATMAN BEGINS. The studio's plan was to strike a deal with 20th Century Fox and place the BATMAN trailer attached to Fox's I, ROBOT. A deal was reached between the two companies and theaters managers were notified via email and fax that the BATMAN trailer would be playing on their screens by July 16. Fox even confirmed that the BATMAN trailer would accompany its cans of I, ROBOT to theaters.
There's just one big problem: there is no BATMAN BEGINS trailer playing in front of I, ROBOT today.
The answer is simple: somewhere, someone at Warner Bros. decided it wasn't the right time just yet to show audiences the BATMAN BEGINS trailer, and so it was yanked from playing on I, ROBOT's scorecard. Instead, we're now told that WB's back-up plan is to have theaters place a trailer for either CATWOMAN or EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING with showings of I, ROBOT.
Additionally, instead of the new BATMAN trailer playing with CATWOMAN (which we insist had been the plan a couple of weeks ago), Halle Berry's superheroine flick will instead be accompanied by a trailer for SOUND OF THUNDER, the time travel-gone-awry sci-fi film starring Edward Burns.
So there you have it. If you had been one of the many awaiting the opportunity to see what the new Dark Knight looks like on-screen, you'll have to remain patient a little while longer. Nevertheless, it does seem a missed opportunity. Where else could Warners cash in on the combined interest of those eager to check out CATWOMAN? It's not like there's any other major comic book event taking place this month which will have the attention of thousands of comic book fans...
Unless you remember that the San Diego Comic Convention happens next week -- and a BATMAN BEGINS panel just happens to take place one week from today, with one of the film's actors and its screenwriter in attendance. If you're asking if we know something will happen for sure at Comic-Con, we don't...but it sure seems like a pretty good place to show that missing BATMAN trailer, doesn't it?
['The Magic 8-Ball' apologizes for the confusion.]
July 26, 2004... The
The Batmobile from BATMAN BEGINS, on display at the New York Licencing Show in 2004.
© The Pulse
Murphy was in attendance at the con and spoke at the BATMAN BEGINS panel, but not too many secrets about the film were spilled. In a short video clip at the start of the panel, director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale greeted the crowd and wished them well from the set of the picture.
Morning, July 27, 2004... The image
A leaked image that may be of Christian Bale in BATMAN BEGINS.
© Assumed to be Warner Bros.
So, are we looking at a clear, nicely lit shot of Christian Bale in the BATMAN BEGINS Batsuit? Chances are good that it is Bale; the suit matches up with what we've seen in earlier photos. Warner Bros., the film's copyright owner, hasn't commented on the photo yet. [Superhero Hype, JoBlo.]
Afternoon, July 27, 2004... Latino Review has posted two stories about when we might expect to see the BATMAN BEGINS trailer on theater screens. The site first reported that the trailer would run on prints of ALIEN VS. PREDATOR, out on August 6. Today, Latino Review said that the BATMAN trailer will be enclosed with select prints of THE VILLAGE, which opens Friday.
The same information has been told Coming Attractions at Cinescape from the same source that told us the BATMAN trailer would run with I, ROBOT. When Warner Bros. pulled the trailer from placement on that film, there was some question as to whether our source was telling us the truth or not. We know for a fact that our source was correct as we saw the same proof that they did, and added to that was the fact that several theater managers wrote in to say they were also told the BATMAN BEGINS trailer would play with I, ROBOT, but that it was not shipped with cans of the film due to a change of plans by Warners at the last minute.
We can add new information to the pot: according to the same source, the new running time for the BATMAN trailer is one minute, 12 seconds, not one minute, 5 seconds as we originally reported.
With Disney opening THE VILLAGE this Friday, if the BATMAN BEGINS trailer is indeed going to run in front of "select" prints of THE VILLAGE, reports of sightings should be coming soon. We will keep you appraised of any new information that we receive. [Latino Review, anonymous.]
July 28, 2004... After weeks of speculation and a last minute change of plans that delayed its arrival, the first trailer for Christopher Nolan's BATMAN BEGINS has finally arrived and it's online for all to see. Comic fans hoping to see a lot of Bale busting heads in the Bat-suit will have to wait until the next trailer comes out, but what the teaser lacks in superhero fights it makes up for in one department: atmosphere.
Get glimpses of a young Bruce Wayne at his parents' wake, then crashing into what will become the Batcave; see the older Bruce travel the world, learning the skills that will allow him to fight crime; and then wonder whose ominous silhouette rises above Bruce during the trailer's final moments. After our summer of the spider, 2005 may very well be the year of the bat.
Watch the bat take flight and then count the days until June 17, 2005 when BATMAN BEGINS opens in theaters.
August 3, 2004... Scores of eyewitness reports are coming in from lucky Chicago natives who've spotted the Dark Knight's new set of wheels in action as the production of BATMAN BEGINS films on the windy city's streets. The best spy photos that have appeared online are at Superhero Hype here in this article and then here in this story. It seems as though the BATMAN production isn't concerned at all about any gawkers coming to photograph the Tumbler, or even videotape it in action. Ain't It Cool News is mirroring a video of the Batmobile being filmed in action whipping through traffic and around a tight turn. Surprisingly, the vehicle looks a little smaller in size than the first photos suggested it would be. [Superhero Hype, Ain't It Cool News.]
August 4, 2004... As the crew of BATMAN BEGINS films exterior scenes on the streets of Chicago, we've been sent our first eyewitness report from a lucky individual that saw the Batmobile in action! Here's what our latest scooper had to tell us...
"Hi, while in Chicago this weekend for the Official Transformers Collectors Convention (OTFCC), on Sunday night while visiting the Sears tower we noticed they were closing the streets below for filming of some sort, as we walked towards Jackson street we were told it was closed by some film personell as we crossed one of the streets I was shocked by what I saw next to two CPD cars - it was the new Batmobile! It was so big I could make it out in the night, so we rushed to where they were filming and were allowed to watch as they filmed but warned us in no way could we take pics so we just watched. As the Batmobile turned on to the street, people around us still did not know what it was so I had to explain it to them.
"I believe the scene takes place at Jackson and State where two black and white police cars with GPD labeled on them begin chasing the Batmobile. The scene looked exciting where the vehicle swerves in and out of traffic being chased by the police. On a side note it appears that this vehicle has a powerful engine and it sounded like 2 V8 Mustangs roaring with their engines side by side. Very impressive. The scene was done several times and each time the stunt driver did it faster. So there you have it, a big chase scene for BATMAN BEGINS in Chicago Sunday night before a big crowd. This movie is looking great!"
[Anonymous in Chicago.]
September 17, 2004... In an unusual move film composers Hans Zimmer (SHARK TALE) and James Newton Howard (COLLATERAL) are in discussions to co-write the score for BATMAN BEGINS. The story broke today in The Hollywood Reporter and has been confirmed by a representative for Howard, who said that, while it's not a done deal just yet, it's expected an agreement will be signed sometime in January 2005 and the composers would begin working in April or May that year. The musicians are friends and are said to be looking forward to writing the music for the new Dark Knight adventure as a team. [The Hollywood Reporter.]
October 6, 2004... CBR News is reprinting a double-page spread from the British magazine Nuts which shows three spy photos from the set of BATMAN BEGINS. The images show pair of stuntman, with one dressed in the Batman costume, being propelled through the air from a tremendous explosion. The stunt was filmed at the Cardington airship hanger in Bedfordshire, England.
To see what happened to Batman when things went boom, click here. [Comic Book Resources, Nuts.]
October 9, 2004... A website by the name of Mukmouth published an image of what might have been the design for the Scarecrow mask we'll get to see in BATMAN BEGINS. The site claims that the email came from an individual that supposedly is working on an art book for the movie, and may be the mask that Cillian Murphy wears in the film -- or it might turn out to be merely concept art for a proposed Scarecrow mask that wasn't selected.
As the image started to make waves around the Internet, leading Dark Knight resource website Batman on Film heard from one of their contacts regarding the alleged Scarecrow mask. "I have seen the real deal," wrote B2F's source, "it looks as if Leatherface made his mask out of burlap material, sewn up Burton-Catwoman-like, with slits for the eyes and a sewn up slit for the mouth. It is very gruesome and dark." Shortly after publishing their first rebuttal to the Mukmouth artwork a second scooper also wrote in to B2F to claim the mask that will be seen in BATMAN BEGINS isn't the same one that appears in the scooped artwork.
Finally, what appears to be a piece of authentic concept art for the new BATMAN film is up for auction on eBay. Drawn by DC Comics artist Tommy Lee Edwards, the sketch is being sold by a collector who vouches for its authenticity saying that the artist worked on the movie in question. The auction is set to end tomorrow evening and if you want to get in on the bidding, jump right in.
October 27, 2004... The peeps at JoBlo were handed a nice, new, clear photograph of the Batman costume from BATMAN BEGINS (we're assuming that's Christian Bale inside the get-up.) The photo is similar to the earlier snapshot that emerged this past summer online (seen above) and looks to be from a promotional series of photos, possibly to be used for upcoming licensing deals with third party companies. The site has a large resolution size photo which gives us an excellent look at the detail of Batman's chest, cowl, utility belt and gloves. It's interesting to note how much closer the BATMAN BEGINS costume appears to be to the first suit seen in Tim Burton's first BATMAN film save for a darker chest insignia for the BEGINS superhero.
Hit JoBlo to see the photo in question. [JoBlo.com.]
January 17, 2005... A German
Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane from BATMAN BEGINS.
© Warner Bros.
Follow our link to see the rest of 'em. [Batman-News.]
February 23, 2005... The website "World of KJ" provides coverage of Christian Bale at Wondercon 2005 discussing his part in the upcoming BATMAN BEGINS as well as his involvement in future Batman films.
Bale noted that he is signed up for two sequels but Christopher Nolan is not at this time. The site notes that "Bale said that the reason they're doing this movie is because they understand the frustration of the fans never getting a satisfying Batman movie. That is the reason that this movie is not a sequel or a prequel. It's a reinvention, something purely made for the hardcore fans who've been waiting all these years for a Batman movie and never gotten one. Bale's aim is for the most loyal Batman fan to come out of the theater satisfied, and for the general public to come out surprised and educated at how deep and great this character is."
Official Website:
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