Okay, okay, you guys know me. I don't normally post articles from sources that are not verifiable, but this news is just too juicy to pass up—and it's impossible for me to validate the news without blowing my source's cover—so here goes...
This news comes from a "plot outliner" (he couldn't or wouldn't tell me his actual title) at Warner Bros. Apparently, before a screenwriter is hired, one or more of these "plot outliners" figure out the basic building blocks of the story—characters, setting, theme, etc.—and then pass it on to the screenwriter to be hammered into the movie script format.
Here are the "facts," as relayed to me by "TT":
1. The plot should be outlined in time for the screenwriting to begin in February.
UPDATE 1: YES Deadline Hollywood (February 2010) "Now
FlashForward showrunner David Goyer has left with 5 episodes still to shoot. Of course, Goyer's feature career is really heating up, since he co-wrote
Batman Begins, and penned the story for
The Dark Knight, and is now writing the third Batman installment with Chris Nolan's brother Jonah."
UPDATE 3: YES (CONFIRMED)
Christopher Nolan (March 2010)
"My brother is writing a script for me and we'll wait to see how it turns out.... He's struggling to put it together into the epic story that you want it to be.
"Without getting into specifics, the key thing that makes the third film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story. And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story.
"We have a great ensemble, that's one of the attractions of doing another film, since we've been having a great time for years."
2. The Riddler is the primary villain and he figures out Batman's identity.
3. Arkham Asylum will figure prominently in the story.
4. Several classic villains will cameo, including the Penguin and Mr. Freeze (though as Dr. Fries, not as the supervillain).
UPDATE 3: NO (MAYBE) Christopher Nolan (March 2010) "It won’t be Mr. Freeze."
EDITOR NOTE: The rumor said it would be Dr. Fries, not Mr. Freeze, so this is not necessarily debunked. 5. Barbara Gordon will have a featured role.
6. Commissioner Gordon will mention Metropolis and possibly Lex Luthor.
UPDATE 2: YES (LIKELY) This news makes the likelihood of a Metropolis and/or Lex Luthor mention far more likely, if not certain:
Deadline Hollywood (February 2010) "Warner Bros is trying to ready its DC Comics stalwart
Superman to soar again on the Big Screen, and the studio has turned to Chris Nolan to mentor development of the movie. Our insiders say that the brains behind rebooted Batman has been asked to play a "godfather" role and ensure The Man Of Steel gets off the ground after a 3 1/2-year hiatus... now [Chris Nolan's] brother and frequent collaborator Jonathan "Jonah" Nolan, and David Goyer who co-wrote <>
and penned the story for The Dark Knight, are off scripting it."
UPDATE 3: NO
Christopher Nolan (March 2010)
"Each serves to the internal logic of the story. They have nothing to do with each other."
7. Dick Grayson may be in the movie (though probably not as Robin).
Before all of the "haters" start dropping bombs on me, again, I admit that I have not been able to verify this information with a secondary source.
For now, consider it "food for thought." That being said, let the debate commence...
Originally published January 26, 2010