On IMDb a user suggested Deacon Blackfire as a good villain for Batman to contend with in the upcoming third Nolan Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises", and it actually sounds plausible. Blackfire led "The Cult" in the comics that created anarchy all across Gotham City much like Ras al Ghul and The Joker set out to do.
Here is a biography on the character courtesy of Wikipedia:
"Deacon Blackfire is the main antagonist in the four-issue miniseries, Batman: The Cult. Blackfire is a conman and cult leader who may be over 100 years old[1]. He forms an army in the sewers beneath Gotham City, largely composed of the homeless. Blackfire uses this army to begin a violent war on crime, which escalates into him taking over the entire city, resulting in it being isolated from the rest of the country. Blackfire captures and brainwashes Batman, temporarily making the Caped Crusader a member of Blackfire's cult. Batman eventually breaks his conditioning, but its aftereffects make it difficult for him to capture Blackfire. After a brutal search through the sewers, Batman confronts Blackfire, who demands that Batman kill him, making him a martyr. Batman refuses, and instead savagely beats Blackfire in front of his army. Blackfire's army turns on him and kills him."
Deacon Blackfire could be an incredible villain in the Nolanverse. I am hesitant to say this, but if Nolan can handle this character correctly, I see Blackfire being an even bigger threat then even The Joker was in "The Dark Knight".
Nolan and many involved in these films have hinted to a smaller villain being given there due in the third film, and who knows, Deacon Blackfire just might be the best villain to use at this point.
The character can continue the story arc that Ras al Ghul and The Joker left, and being that he has a cult Blackfire could top Ras and Joker's heinous acts.
Maybe Tom Hardy could play Deacon Blackfire? In a way I could see how he could work... if Blackfire was used in a film, it is likely that his look would be changed a lot. A LOT.