Remember, there is the possibility of spoilers in this piece so caution yourself and proceed with such intent.
Okay, so as most of everyone has gotten a chance to see The Dark Knight Rises, the question on everyone's mind may possibly be, "what happens next?" And while I assure you I am no inside source on the direction of The Batman franchise, I can at least offer up some examination on not only what a sequel to the Nolan-inspired universe may be, but also how a reboot (if so chosen) would have to struggle with, and stand on its own.
I would also like to point out that I am no supporter of either outcome. I am simply backing the further installments of any superhero movie/franchise. Each glimpse, however misshapen, offers another idealogical lens for the general public to reflect upon themselves, and in high hopes, to aspire to something better. They are steps. Insignificant at times. But in time, we all learn the ability to carry on.
So without further adieu, my analysis of the final sequences in The Dark Knight Rises.
Some have presented the idea that Bruce and Selina's presence at the end is just Alfred's imagination as it always was on his holidays in Florence. But this is quickly rejected by the lab technicians' statement about The Bat being fixed, and the people handling Bruce's estate claiming a string of pearls was the only thing not accounted for. This string of pearls is seen, although blurry, around Selina's neck. I don't mean to stir up controversy, but all I mean to point out is that it is clear Bruce Wayne is alive and well.
Now comes the next question, perhaps the biggest one from the aftermath of this finale to the trilogy. Does this leave room for a Nightwing movie sequel? In one word, no. But remember, this is not me rejecting the idea as something I don't fancy. Because to be quite honest, and some of you may know if you've noticed my comments on other articles, I think a Nightwing take on Nolan's universe (yes, I know, he probably won't be involved- godfather, maybe?) would be a great way to continue this series of fabulous comic book movies.
The reason I say no, and why I believe this is the case (how Nolan intended it), is because if you remember the small scene of Commissioner Gordon, you'll know that the Bat signal was fixed. It wasn't remodeled with a different logo (implying that Bruce Wayne's purpose of bequeathing the location of the Batcave to Blake wasn't a direct inheritance). And to further cement this notion, this scene was important as it was only a few seconds long. Nolan's intent is pretty clear to establish that The Batman is still around. Batman can be a man of subtleties so it's beyond feasible that he could have informed Gordon in some other way. But no, he repaired the Bat signal. The only thing missing was a note that read, "Call me whenever you need me."
Upon this, I couldn't help but wondering how something like this could be carried on. So as to say that instead of rebooting Batman, how could this imply longevity of Bale's character?
One, we could assume that Bruce Wayne is indeed "dead" and will not return. This could be stated by the fact that his home is no longer his property. He can't all of sudden come back and get his big bed again. Although, I must point out he did show interest in Selina's place (so that's always a loophole for the mansion thing). Which means it might be easier to admit that John Blake would literally take up the mantle of The Batman. Maybe people could tell he's different. Maybe it wouldn't matter. But the Bat signal is something specifically made for calling Batman, although it's not too hard to accept that other Bat-affiliates could respond as well (not to mention anyone else interested in following the light source). So that's one possibility. Gordon takes up the role as Batman, plugging a new actor into the role of the same character in a way that no Batman movie before it ever explained. I don't know about you, but when I saw Batman Forever I had stop the movie and put Batman Returns on just to figure out how bad my memory could have been. Believe me, it was a scary moment in my childhood. This is where I say kudos to Nolan for keeping the Batman alive. And it fits with the continuity since Robin was reinvented as an amalgamation. No one can really decide the true destiny of John Blake.
Two, the first idea makes sense if you don't think about the relief on Gordon's face as if it say, "Bruce is alive!" This would correlate with Bruce's presence in a familiar place, one that Alfred specifically addressed for Bruce earlier in the film, so that it would be known Bruce has simply acquired a life outside of The Batman (an allusion from the conversation between Alfred and Bruce earlier on). Now sure, Gordon's reaction might not have triggered the same inference, but with that I refer you to outcome number one. Gordon may be disappointed that Bruce doesn't return, but it may be a chance to replace to mystery to who Batman actually is. In any manner, say Bruce (Nolan) is hinting at Batman's persistence to continue as Bruce Wayne. He is only shown at a different location, a location suggested to be a holiday location (while Bruce and Selina may be looking for more). Still, there are no hints at settling down elsewhere, so Bruce could easily assume the position in a sequel. The contents of this sequel, you ask, would be a story originating around a dynamic duo between Batman and Robin (or even Nightwing). Batman would be the leader, as to why he maintains his relationship with the police commissioner. Selina could be present, perhaps. But the more important part of this path is how to then start bringing a DC cinematic universe into play.
There is no one way of going about doing this, but as the next film could be the origin of Robin/Nightwing, it could essentially be the next "trilogy" in The Batman franchise. Nolan kept referring to his films as a trilogy, that they were meant to be a trilogy. But this trilogy was telling the story of Bruce Wayne and of course, Batman. So maybe the next step is another unfolding story of Robin/Nightwing, and consequently Batman as well. Nolan's films redefined Batman. Let the next set reinstall him into a larger world, with a larger purpose. At some point, if DC so wished, they would have an established character to take in a spin-off direction for Teen Titans. Perhaps, since there was only an indirect mentioning of the Lazarus Pit, there is still hope for an actually labeled "Lazarus Pit" to be a key to restoring Ra's as a mighty adversary. Even if that's not ideal, the fact of the matter is, just because Nolan swore to not introduce the Batman mythology as something out-of-this-world (metahumans, etc.) doesn't mean a reboot is necessary.
However, if the reboot is a prepared solution to the upcoming JL project, then Batman needs to stand alone from Bale's image. Not in some grand way, but in a way that triggers a different audience reaction as well as yet another reinvented version of Batman (as Nolan offered this advice to the next person to do a Batman film). What better way to do it than make Batman more similar to his comic book, or cartoon television self? Agile, detective, peak physical human condition/expert martial artist? Let's see that unfold in a darker world. Grounding Batman in our world was good, but grounding it too much makes it impossible to believe the ongoing sinister capabilities of many of his foes. Of course, that challenge is accepted by those looking to use reality for interesting character interpretation, but then the film sacrifices elements of making a character like Batman look so great. Ever wonder why The Dark Knight is probably still the coolest comic book movie we've ever seen? The Joker has no definite story. There is no origin of sorts, how he comes to be Batman's nemesis. If you ask me, there's too much redefining thought out a little too late. Setting up villains for future films is the way to go and a reboot brings the perfect opportunity.
Any way you look at it, Batman is coming back sooner than later. But it's how we embrace his return that he stands a chance of being justified by his next adaptation. Holding Bale's performance on a pedestal only makes it impossible to consider the never-ending possibilities that comic books offer us. We have the eyes to obtain perspective. If only we had the voice to pursue it.