Like Watchmen and Maus, The Dark Knight Returns influenced the comic book medium for a quarter of a century, as well as the depiction of the World’s Greatest Detective, such as the depiction of Gotham as a crime ridden metropolis with a corrupt police force, Bruce Wayne being the disguise while Batman being the true identity, and the relationship between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel being uneasy if not antagonistic.
Around the time before The Dark Knight was filming, I dreamed of Christopher Nolan following it with a third film to form a trilogy, and then returning years later, circa 2030 perhaps, with Bale, Oldman, Ledger and Eckhart, for a fourth movie that would continue the story yet be separate.
But then Ledger left us and Harvey Dent died in the storyline, so I thought maybe not after all. Still, with what surely will be Nolan’s final and hopefully finest Batman film, I got to thinking about a reboot of the series. I decided to cast it, but being such a huge fan of the series, I couldn’t imagine any Batman other than Bale, or a Commissioner Gordon aside from Oldman. Alright, so I got a couple, Bill Nighy as Alfred, but I got bupkus for the rest.
But then I thought; How do you do even follow up Nolan without looking like a pale imitation or reverting to more the comic-booky style of Tim Burton? Well, I suppose you head to left field and keep walking. Do something the average movie-goer wouldn’t dream possible, vis; a standalone adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns.
Robin
Carrie Kelly, the highly intelligent daughter of neglectful free-spirited parents was among the first people to witness the return of Batman, and was inspired to become the new Robin.
Alfred Pennyworth
The Wayne family butler, still serving his Master Bruce despite his age.
Commissioner James Gordon
After fifty years on the force, more than half of which as Commissioner, Gordon reached the age of compulsory retirement.
Captain/Commissioner Ellen Yindel
Gordon’s replacement as Police Commissioner. While idolizing Gordon, she initially tried to lock the Bat-man up but eventually recognized him as an ally against bigger problems.
Harvey Dent
After years of therapy and plastic surgery under Bruce Wayne’s patronage, Harvey Dent is restored to mental health. Or so they say.
The Joker
Initially just a harmless, catatonic patient at Arkham. Upon learning of the Bat-man’s return, his old self returns. The bad news is, he has twelve years of pent up crazy waiting to be let loose.
Selina Kyle
Now reduced to a sad, overweight alcoholic woman. She runs an escort service that caters to the city’s politicians among others.
Oliver Queen
An outlaw anti-government saboteur. He lost his right arm, ostensibly due to Superman.
Superman
Aging slower than Oliver and Bruce, the man of steel now operates as government agent and counter-nuclear measure.
Batman
At the start of the story, the Bat-man has been retired for over a decade. He lives as Bruce Wayne, billionaire philanthropist, until one day when a crime wave escalates to a point where he can’t not be the Bat-man anymore and dons his costume once more.
Surprised?
Were you expecting Clint? Perhaps Bruce Willis or Tom Selleck?
Sometimes you need an actor who can be somewhat anonymous, otherwise you stop saying ‘There’s Batman’ and say ‘Oh, there’s Eastwood and he’s playing Batman’ instead.
Clancy Brown is in his early fifties, which means he’ll be a very close fit if DKR was the first Bat-movie post-Nolan. He’s pretty physically imposing, which is a must. And he’s got a great voice for the character, the fact that he’s been using it as Lex Luthor and pretty soon as The Goon should, in my opinion, not be a factor.
Another choice would have been Mickey Rourke, were he not a mutant.