I recently read a script that really impressed me. It’s called The Legend of the Dark Knight. It’s a spec script for the last installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy. I contacted the author of the script and he was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. You can find the script at the bottom of the page of the following website:
http://riboflavin.weebly.com/free-story.html
Interview:
I noticed the date of the script on your PDF was September 10, 2008. Is that when you wrote it?
R: “Like the rest of the world, I was amazed by Christopher Nolan’s: Batman movies, especially The Dark Knight. I think he did an excellent job on both films. After watching the second movie, a friend of mine asked me what villain I thought would be in the third film and I told him that it should be Catwoman. Especially with that loaded line that Lucius said about Batman’s Armor: “Should do fine against Cats.” It was like Nolan was giving a little nod to the audience about who would be in the next film.”
“My friend then suggested that the actress that should portray Catwoman should be Megan Fox and I completely agreed. It was 2008 and she was the hottest actress, she was in between the Transformers Movies. I started brainstorming and I began writing the script in August 2008. I’m a huge Batman fan so the script came together pretty quickly.”
I noticed one of your pages on your website petitioning for a possible new actress, other than Megan Fox, to portray The Catwoman. Who do you think will do a better job?
R: “I’m a fan of both actresses. I kept Megan Fox in mind when I wrote all the scenes for Catwoman. Fast forward 2 years and her Hollywood star is beginning to fade just because of a couple of lousy films and her attitude on movie sets. Not to mention her bad mouthing Michael Bay, the director of the film that made her a superstar.”
“I think Ashley Greene, an up and coming actress has the look and moves that would make the Selina Kyle (Catwoman) character leap off the screen. (If they shoot it in I-max 3D, then the audience can literally see that happen.”
Do you think the film will be in 3D?
R: “Probably not. Nolan says he’s not really a fan of 3D and thinks it’s a fad. I would like to see Batman 3 filmed entirely in I-Max. From start to finish; no bars on the top and bottom for the scenes where the characters are inside or when there is no action is taking place.”
Why did you write: Legend of the Dark Knight?
R: “I’m a screenwriter and I was hoping that it would land me a writing job. I’ve written a bunch of scripts that haven’t seen the light of day but thought if I came up with a great sequel for one of the top grossing movies then I’d have a good shot of getting some work. I also thought people would want to read more of my scripts. After a year of shopping the script around I discovered that no one wanted this script. I don’t know if Christopher Nolan is just giving the media a line, but I heard that his brother and David Goyer are still working on the Batman 3 Script. If anyone wants to slide this one over to them it may give them a few useful ideas.”
How do you think Christopher Nolan will end the third Batman film?
R: “Regardless of whom the villain is. I think the audience will see that end scene where Batman is in a half decimated Gotham City. (Basically a warzone.) He will barely stop the villain from destroying the rest of the city but will pay the ultimate price. His life.”
“Commissioner Gordon will discover that Bruce was the Batman. The final scene will be Alfred, Gordon and Lucius at the cemetery. They talk about how the city was saved and that Bruce is finally at peace. They also debate if the world should know if Batman is dead but eventually they all agree that the city is better off thinking that The Batman is still out patrolling against injustice.”
“His burial spot is next to his parents. The camera focuses on the 3 headstones. The camera goes past the tombstones and views a figure in the background. The audience only views the silhouette of the figure as the camera fades to black.”
Who’s the figure?
R: “After seeing Inception I think he will leave it up for debate. I think this would be a good ending because it gives the studio the choice to do a reboot or they could make an announcement that the 3 films are Nolan’s gift to the world and that they are letting another director come in and make the Batman figure into a new direction.”
“I think the Bruce Wayne character is really gone and you bring in a new character (and new actor) to take on the mantle of the Bat or you can make the spin off movie: Night Wing. It could take place where Batman 3 leaves off. Night Wing could be an inspired vigilante who wants to take the place of Bat-Man, you can even make a reference back to Batman Begins, it could be that scene where Batman hands that poor boy his periscope as he’s climbing up the building. (Just an idea.)”
“Warner Bros. truly has a goldmine with these characters. If the script is well written you can make it into a summer blockbuster. I know that I keep coming up with ideas and keep writing because I’m a big fan of movies. I write what I would want to see on the big screen.”
I thanked the author for his time. I also asked him to let me know when he’s going to write his next script or book. I’m a big fan of his writings. He also included another script on his website but it’s not a comic book movie. I enjoyed it immensely and I think others will. Keep an eye out for Riboflavin as a screenwriter or maybe one day a director.