In the new edition of Empire magazine, Christopher Nolan makes some pretty startling revelations about the upcoming closer to his Batman trilogy. Probably the most interesting news to come from it is that TDKR will be set a whole 8 years after the last movie. This has been met with a mixed reaction here on CBM and while I certainly understand the worry, I think it's the best thing that could have happened.
As soon as this movie was announced I remember hoping that Nolan would set it a substantial amount of time after The Dark Knight but I really never thought WB would go for it... certainly not more than a couple of years. I think it shows a lot of guts on the studio's part to trust Nolan with this vision. But what could it mean for the story? Well I think first and foremost there is a definite influence from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns here. In that superb graphic novel we find a much older Bruce Wayne (more like 50 than TDKR's 40ish) compelled to once again don the cape and cowl and become Batman by just how horrendous Gotham City has become in his absence. His reasons for retiring in the first place are only hinted at in that story, but we know that at the end of The Dark Knight Bruce was forced to become an outlaw to protect the (false) good name of Harvey Dent. Clearly this will be the catalyst for him hanging up the tights, and based on what we have seen we know that the remorseless Bane (much like The Mutant Leader in The Dark Knight Returns) will be the reason he puts them back on again. It's also a safe bet given the recent pic of Bane holding up a picture of Dent that he will be bringing that house of cards crashing to the ground too.
Now as anyone who has read
The Dark Knight Returns can attest to, Bruce Wayne's dawning realization that he must once again become Batman and his subsequent rebirth as The Caped Crusader is one of the most epic things ever to grace the pages of a comic book. We get to see a version of that in a movie. How can that be anything but a good thing? I'm not saying Nolan is going to take direct influence from how that plays out in the graphic novel but whatever way he does it, that is part of the story we are going to get. Some fans are concerned about what has supposed to have transpired in those 8 years but I honestly don't see that it really matters. I'm sure we will get an explanation in the movie but even if we don't, just assume that Wayne reverted to the public image of the playboy and lived his life. What is important is that he has lost his edge, lost his focus and walked away from his calling. And we will see him come back with a vengeance. Taking the story up immediately after the events of
The Dark Knight would have been predictable, this way it adds yet another layer to the character and the story.
Another consequence of this could well be the end of Batman. I think it's unlikely he will die, but is it a possibility? Think about it. We know this is Nolan's last Batman flick and that he wants to end his trilogy in true epic fashion. That 8 year gap also means that someone else coming on board to continue the story is very unlikely and that means a reboot. So that does pretty much give Nolan free reign. We already know that this world he has created for Batman is not directly influenced by any one comic nor does is share a movie universe with any other DC characters. Yes killing Batman would piss of a lot of people but hey, it's been done in the comics right? Sure he came back eventually but that is irrelevant. As I said I doubt it will happen but I also wouldn't rule it out completely.
One way or the other I think we are in for something very special. If you still have doubts look at it like this. If you loved Nolan's last two Batman movies then what makes you think he is going to drop the ball on this one? Hell if like me you love ALL of Nolan's movies do you really think he is going to mess up what could go down in history as one of, if not the greatest trilogy of all time? I think not. Of course you may not like the last two Batman flicks or any of Nolan's movies. But then why care anyway? I for one couldn't be happier with these new details. But if you have a problem with em share below and let's get the debate rolling.
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