Some interesting details and good news on the casting front for James Gordon. Movie News SCOOP: BATMAN`s devil is in the details So much good stuff that we're censoring ourselves -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dateline: Monday, February 23, 2004 By: PATRICK SAURIOL By: News Editor Source: Name withheld By now comic book fans are daring to believe that Warner Bros. new BATMAN movie has all the ingredients of success: a new actor to play the Dark Knight (Christian Bale); a supporting cast that suggests substance will play as important a part as style; a script from a screenwriter (David Goyer) that's had success with previous comic book adaptations, and who also happens to be a successful comic book writer; and a director (Christopher Nolan) with credits that both critics and fanboys can appreciate (like MEMENTO and INSOMNIA). So how much better can it get? We're here to tell you that it does get better. A lot better. So good that we're going to have to do something we rarely choose to do and not tell you everything that we know. We have a good reason for this rule and that has to do with things we call "key spoilers". Every film has them, those moments where a major plot point will happen that twists or reveals something that can change the entire film. Remember what happened when Luke Skywalker confronted Darth Vader in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, or what happened shortly after Kane sat down to eat dinner in ALIEN, or when the Nazis opened the Ark of the Covenant in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK? Did you really want to know what was going to happen all those months before you saw those films -- especially now when you consider that these films are considered classics of their genres? Of course not. And that's why we're here to raise your expectations for BATMAN BEGINS (which may shortly be the new title for Nolan's BATMAN film) and to tell you that there are some things best left unsaid for the moment. But there are things that can be told, and if you find yourself growing more excited as the days progress, give us (and the BATMAN filmmakers) a little of your trust. You just might be handsomely rewarded when the lights dim and the Batman logo comes up on the big screen next summer. A longtime scooper has filled us in on many of the secrets left unaccounted about BATMAN: INTIMIDATION GAME (still the working title of the BATMAN project.) We trust this source, as they have told us many things in the past that we've reported on first, only to see them be officially announced elsewhere. And what they tell us about the new BATMAN movie gets our blood racing and wishing that the summer of 2005 were here already. Here is what we can share with you at this time: Dennis Quaid is "close" to being signed for the part of Jim Gordon, the Gotham City beat cop that will one day become police Commissioner. Gordon has an important role to play in the picture. One might even say that fate will deal him -- and subsequently the Dark Knight -- a card that sets the course for their future and that of Gotham City. Cillian Murphy is playing The Scarecrow, but you already know that. At present, the concept for this film's Batmobile is unlike the looks of Batman's wheels from the four earlier films. Instead, this incarnation of the Batmobile -- at least at this stage of development -- might look like it has more in common with the behemoth depicted in Frank Miller's legendary THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS comic book series. As our source tells us, "the Batmobile will be big and bulky, like an urban tank." There is talk about changing the working title of the project to BATMAN BEGINS. One of the film's major action scenes will take place inside a Tibetan palace and will not involve Batman -- but a pre-Batman Bruce Wayne. Much ass-kicking will take place inside that palace, and it will be upon the film's main villain, or more specifically, his henchmen. When you see the way Goyer and Nolan choose to end their movie, you'll be wishing that the sequel will be coming out tomorrow. And that's all we'll say about that. As we said, the summer of 2005 now can't get here fast enough. [Our thanks to the source for conveying this and other items of interest, and our hopes that they will contact us again soon.] http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Movies&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=270338&obj_id=40891 And now for some bad news Watanabe had to decline BATMAN role? Quaid to be Gordon!? Monday, February 23, 2004: This in overnight from one of BOF's best and longtime sources. This person knows. I know how he knows, but I can't reveal anything more about him. Let's just say that he has been dead on regarding many things beforehand--most recently with a certain girl who was cast in this film.... Ken Watanabe was offered the role of Ra's Al Ghul, and declined over scheduling problems. Warner Bros. then offered him the role of Ducard. Watanabe desperately wants to be involved in the "Batman" film, and the offer is still, apparently, there. I have no idea how this impacts on reports of Liam Neeson being cast as Ducard. Perhaps the initial reports of Nesson being cast as Ra's are correct, but I can't confirm or deny as I don't know. Also, expect a big or, at the very least, up-and-coming actor to be cast as Jim Gordon. There is a short list which I will have access to shortly. And FYI: The rumors of Laurence Fishburne being offered the part of Lucius Fox were complete lies. Fishburne is way too big a star for such a small role. That was total fanboy fantasy. http://www.batman-on-film.com/b5news.html
I second that. One of my all time favorite movies. I've read the book and thought that Bale played that character brilliantly.
Here's the official release btw I also read that Bryan Singer wants to shoot X-Men 3 and 4 at the same time. Beast is written into the treatment. It's good to be a fanboy these days.
That may have turned out to be a good thing, though. It's less-than-expected grosses perhaps showed producers that it's best to give the comic book movies to the people who are most appreciative of the source material and stick to it fairly well. Though there is that Catwoman thing coming out that's going to be a disaster.
It not having anything to do with the Catwoman character from the comics is the problem. It's not the Selena Kyle Catwoman character from the comics, but it is a Catwoman like the Catwoman from the comics. It's a different person with a very similar backstory and essentially the same "powers". An earlier script actually had this movie's Catwoman taking over for a dead Selena Kyle, and at one point, the script had an appearance by Batman. This is definitely an attempt to use the character from the comics, but in a reimagined way. The name change is nothing more than a shallow attempt to keep the fanboys at bay (so they can say, "this is a different Catwoman"). Plus, despite the name change, people will relate this Catwoman to the Catwoman from the comics and the Batman TV show and Batman Returns.
Okay, Jim Gordon has finally been cast. * * * IGN FilmForce Exclusive: Who Is Jim Gordon? We know who has been cast in Batman Begins! March 03, 2004 - IGN FilmForce can break the news as to who has been cast against type as Sergeant (later Lieutenant then Commissioner) Jim Gordon in Batman Begins: Gary Oldman! That's right: honest cop Jim Gordon will be portrayed by the 46-year-old British thesp best known for playing Dracula, Dr. Smith, Mason Verger, Joe Orton, Sid Vicious, Pontius Pilate, Beethoven, Drexl Spivey, and Lee Harvey Oswald! He'll next be seen as Sirius Black in another Warner Brothers franchise pic, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Past rumored contenders for the role of Gordon included Chris Cooper, Dennis Quaid, and Kurt Russell. Our sources advised us that Oldman's casting will hit the trades later tonight. (UPDATE: Sure enough, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed it as of 11PM EST.) Batman Begins starts filming March 16th on location in Iceland, the U.K. and the United States. Christopher Nolan directs from a script by David Goyer. The cast includes Christian Bale as Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred, Katie Holmes as Rachel Dodson, Liam Neeson as Ducard, Ken Watanabe as ra's al Ghul, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Crane, and Larry Holden as D.A. Fisk. http://filmforce.ign.com/batman/articles/496/496492p1.html?fromint=1 Here's a little on the cape as well. http://www.batman-on-film.com/b5news.html
This is awesome news. Oldman's the best actor in a cast full of good actors. Rokkit: David Goyer's one of the best writers in comics. And all reports are the script is smoking. You've got nothing to worry about.
