Ugh, I hope none of the following is true. As you all know, Christopher Nolan is in preproduction for Batman: The Dark Knight Rises. Christian Bale is confirmed for it, and there have been lots of rumors about Tom Hardy and/or Joseph Gordon Levitt joining the production. But what about “the girl”? Who will be “the girl” in the new Batman? Well, both The Hollywood Reporter and Collider have some theories and ideas about which actresses are coming in: Jessica Biel (HA!), Naomi Watts (ugh), Eva Green (not bad), Keira Knightly (too squirrelly), Anne Hathaway (not bad), Charlotte Riley (who?) and Kate Mara (ginger). Is this seriously the best that they can do? I had higher hopes for Nolan’s sensibilities when it comes to actresses. Anyone who replaces Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhaal is pretty good in my book.
When it comes to the ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Rises’ cast, we don’t know much, and this only adds to the confusion. Conflicting reports emerged on Tuesday over which women have been asked to audition — or have already been cast — for the roles of anti-hero/love interest and reporter/innocent love interest in the next Gotham installment. So who is Batman’s new leading lady? Depends on who you ask.
First, Collider.com reported that a source told them that Eva Green and Naomi Watts had been cast in the Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film, potentially as the anti-hero/love Talia al Ghul and love interest Vicki Vale, respectively.
Shortly after, The Hollywood Reporter came out with its own version of things, casting a wider net and asserting that the film was still holding auditions for the parts. They had Keira Knightley, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway, Kate Mara and Charlotte Riley as scheduled to try out, along with Gemme Arteton, though she may have scheduling conflicts given her new role in an upcoming Snow White adaptation.
Katie Holmes, and then Maggie Gyllenhaal, starred as Rachel Dawes in the first two Nolan-directed films. Dawes, a Gotham Assistant District Attorney, was killed off by The Joker in ‘The Dark Knight.’
In the comics, Talia al Ghul is the daughter of Ra al Ghul, who in the first Nolan film trained Bruce Wayne and then became the nemesis of Batman. Vicki Vale, a photographer, hearkens back to the first modern-era Batman film — Kim Basinger played the part in the 1989 Tim Burton-Michael Keaton effort.
Here’s what is certain: Nolan co-wrote the script and will direct, while Christian Bale will return for his third adventure as Batman. As for possible villains, Aaron Eckhart, who played Two Face in the previous film, said he hasn’t been asked to work on a third, while Nolan shot down the rumor of Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing The Riddler, as well as the possibility of Mr. Freeze (once played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) returning to the series.
A new rumor has ‘Inception’ star Tom Hardy taking on the role of the evil Dr. Hugo Strange.
[From Huffington Post]
If I had to pick from just that list, I would go with either Eva Green or Anne Hathaway, but even then, Annie’s a stretch. But Jessica Biel is such a joke. I mean… did her publicist call up The Hollywood Reporter to let them know that Biel was being discussed? Because I can’t think how Biel would even get sent the script, at all.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Will she be taking Keith Ledgers part?
Why?? Why does the Batman franchise consistently kill the movie for me with their crappy tastes in actresses?
I wouldn’t watch Batman Begins for almost a year until a friend swore that Katie Holmes was hardly in it. And I think I’d still prefer Katie over Jessica Biel.
I vote for Charlez Theron. I know it’s way below her talent level and she’d over shadow the hero but it would be a fun romp for such a gorgeous gal….something like Jessica Rabbit does Pee Wee Herman.
didn’t the little girl from ‘true grit’ wear a very similar outfit?
jessica never gets it right. poor thing. 🙁
How does Nolan always pick a spectacular cast for the new Batman movies, but fails when it comes to the leading female role? I can’t understand it.
I think the problem is that the women’s roles are so poorly written in these Comic book movies (eventhough Nolan is talented) that no one good wants it. Unless it’s Catwoman the female role is just to sit there get kidnapped almost killed and then rejected by Bruce/Batman so he can stay stoic. Meanwhile all the real thrust of the action comes from the male characters. Maggie Gyllenhal was good but anyone could have done that part. I hope it isn’t Biel but beyond that who cares.
I would boycott. I love love love these films, I’m a comic book junkie, but I will not stand to watch anything Biel. I want to like her but I just can’t. I just can’t do it.
My theory is they pick homely or boring actresses because the female moviegoer can dream: If Batman met me, he’s leave that in 2 seconds flat!
whoa, naomi watts looks like ten shades of hell in that picture.
she might be a nice person, but she doesn’t belong to this business
marjalane… its HEATH LEDGER
I vote for Eva
I definitely vote for Eva Green. First time I saw her it was in “The Dreamers”. That’s a movie you won’t soon forget!
Yeah right. Almost every actress under 40 has been “attached” to these films at some point or another. And I’d think the film would have it’s pick of just about anyone so I can’t imagine them hiring JB.
I still can’t figure out how Katie Holmes got in the first one, but was very glad they replaced her with Maggie.
The first 2 were fantastic, hopefully the third is as well. Nolan is an awesome writer/director, so I have high hopes.
I hope it’s not Biel. Eva Green would be good.
Riley is Tom Hardy’s fiance.
For God’s sake, I hope they choose Eva. Jessica cannot be called an actress. Anne is not sexy or dark enough for Nolan in my opinion. Noami is beautiful but a bit too old for the part.
Oooo Charlize Theron would be a good choice. Haven’t seen her in a while.
Gawd, the roles are probably pretty crappy anyways, can’t they pick a new-comer? So tired of seeing the same 5 actresses being considered all the time…you know Blake wants Vickie Vale (oh wait she’s in some other comic book thing).
EVA GREEN EVA GREEN EVA GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! iM SO LESBIAN FOR HER….
mln76 & normades —
ITAWY.
The prob is these movies (and their sources) are conceptualized by middle-aged white males who still don’t know quite how to write out of their own existence/fantasy. Nolan, a truly IMMENSE talent, doesn’t have a much better track record of (co-) writing definitive women than any of the other writers/directors.
In all of these comic pics, the women are either over-/under-sexed, wide-eyed/weepy, a total idiot, and/or the reporter/secretary/lab assistant = grossly underwritten, interchangeable, and forgettable. Purely there for exposition purposes. A distraction, at best. A tit and a hair flip. They are thrown in so it’s not a total sausage fest on screen AND in the theaters/at the conventions.
I think the problem is with Hollywood, not necessarily with the comics. Poison Ivy was always a strong female character as was Selina Kyle/Catwoman. hello, Even Harley Quinn was more entertaining (and always loyal to her man!)
I think that Hollywood doesn’t want to explore the vast world of good and cool female characters in the Batman comics ( I think there was even a female Robin in one of the Frank Miller ones if I remember correctly)
ONTD posted an unconfirmed story that Naomi Watts (Vicki Vale) and Eva Green (Talia Al Ghul) had been cast.
I’d rather see them than Biel. That’s not even a step up from Zombie Katie.
NO JUST FUCK NOOOOOOOOOO
Batman is one of those franchises where any half decent pretty actress will do in the “girlfriend” role. I couldn’t even remember who had been in the first two…
I’m probably the only one thinking Kate Beckinsale, but I love her in Underworld and think she plays a great kick ass part. I could see her as Talia.
@Deniz … I know I don’t get it … Maggie was better than Kate but still …there was NO sexual chemistry there at all. I hope Nolan does a better job this time. I think Kate Beckinsale might not be TERRIBLE … but I think he can get someone who’d be awesome rather than just passable
“I can’t think how Biel would even get sent the script, at all.”
Why? It’s not Shakespeare we’re talking about here. I’m sure it’d be within her range. What about Julia stiles?
Either way I’ll be going to see it, I’m a big Christian Bale fan these days and The Dark Knight was fantastic.
Look, for this franchise they need a girl who knows how to have a playboy boyfriend that unapologetically sleeps with any girl that comes his way and expects his girlfriend to be a doormat and accept it.
….Jessica Biel will be perfect.
Apparently it’s been confirmed that Talia Al Ghul is definitely one of the 2 female characters, so I think Eva Green would be perfect for her. She’d nail the femme fatale aspect. And if Vicki Vale is the other female character, what’s wrong with Naomi Watts? She’s a great actress and it’d be nice to see an older actress get a lead role like that.
I would be ok with Keira Knightley, but Anne Hathaway is too….nice for a Nolan film I think. The idea of Biel is just laughable, but you know she’s going to lap it up. and Kate Beckinsale is terrible.
She really is quite pretty!
@ padiddle —
My inner-nerd is showing, but anyway —
I don’t blame comics wholly, just in part. Even in this day-and-age, w/ the growing surge in female followers, women are still pretty underwritten and overdrawn (= big boobed) in general (not just Batman/DC), and yes, HW is exacerbating it. They can’t even get ONE modern female superhero movie (Wonder Woman) made w/o lightweights like Beyonce (ugh) Megan Fox (please, no) being mentioned.
I believe Harley Quinn was on the animated series first, then written into comics due to her popularity. But she would be an AWESOME live-action villain, as would Lady Shiva (anti-hero).
Talk about having your brain turn to shit ! I was working on something else and it came to me that I called Heath Ledger, “Keith Ledger”, not once today but twice…..probably has something to do with this being the third snow day in a row and my precious children are driving me nuts! “No, honey, I won’t make you lunch. This is Mommy’s celebitchy time.” Please let me go back to work tomorrow!
Eva Green! YES!
I love the new Batman movies and attaching Jessica ‘I AM TOO TALENTED AND BEAUTIFUL, WOE IS ME’ Biel to this movie would suck,large, hairy donkey balls!
She is a horrible actress with an over-inflated sense of self!
WTF, no Harvey Dent?? Love me some Aaron Eckhart.
UGH! UGH!
Eva Green was the best Bond girl, hands down. She’d be AWESOME for Batman. Her and Jason Gordon Levitt should MOs DEF be in this installment.
No one else please!
Keep us posted as more info comes in, okay? I’m watching this story closely!
Didn’t read the article, but choosing these boring actresses is killing the Batman franchise for me. And as for Miss Beil, no thank you!
Biel is just blah. She’s not a good actress; she’s too rigid.
Eva Green would be an awesome choice IMO. So would Watts.
LOL at Riley being in it. Her and Hardy had some good chemistry in Wuthering Heights, so I guess it could work if he’s cast in it. But, she’s not gritty enough to play anything of substance.
As long as no one ever casts Maggie as ‘the hot chick’ ever again. She’s awesome in quirky roles but I absolutely cannot accept her as the woman who is so devastating that both Batman and Harvey Dent lose their heads for her.
Ok read it. I vote for Eva Green. She lights up the screen&she’s talented.
Eva Green or Gemma Atherton. And I really want JGL in it!
Just say a big fat NO to: Keira Knightley, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway. I couldn’t think of worse women to be in those films.
That picture of Naomi Watts is just wrongg …
LOL look at you guys talking like Batman is some great intellectual character who’s ill served by the lack of a similarly definitive female counterpart.
It’s BATMAN. He’s a dated, one dimensional, cape wearing reactionary conservative comic twat, not the second coming. Jeeze! The reason why Batman’s femmes suck arse is the whole premise, including the central character, is laughably bad- duh. JB belongs there!
Nolan is an overrated douche who huffs his own creative farts. No one with a sense of humour or a working auto-critique could have put his shit together. As much as I love Bale, you can see him gritting his teeth and counting the money the whole way through the franchise.
I would pick Eva, very talented and epic rack.
Please let this not be true.
Eva Green. All the way.
Eva, PLEASE not Jessica Biel, PLEASE NO!!!
Eva is definitely a good choice considering she gave a Bond Girl character some depth. And those girls are typically just supposed to be props.
I love Kate Mara (go gingers!) and she could use a big franchise movie like this to plump up her resume. After all, it’s going to be all about her sister Rooney once Girl With the Dragon Tattoo hits.
Haha and I love how you picked the most haggard of pics for Naomi. But I’d love for her to be in it. They always stick 20 something women with 30 something men. So it would be nice to see an older woman be around who isn’t Judy Dench.
Anne H isn’t the worst possible contender…but she’s not the best. And I think we can all say Jessica Biel doesn’t really belong here. Granted this is a comic book movie, even if it’s a highly esteemed one. But she belongs more in the Iron Man Green Lantern category where she can smile and pretend to act and show off her body. Ohhhh she must really hate Blake Lively for being younger and more popular.
Well they did cast Katie Holmes after all. Which proves that they have bad taste about woman on Batman. And Meggie… I like her as a person. But she was miscast as hard as Katie. I just don’t see her as pretty lead actress with charisma. She is supporting actress. She can’t lead in big movies.
And who knows – they can eventually hire Biel. She will probably play some furniture in the background like she did in A-Team.
And why they even have to write love interest in Batman? No one cares about it. And even Batman doesn’t care about love. He always tortures himself with other problems.
But if to choose from those – Eva Green if the effing best choice. She was killed in Bond and we still miss her character.
I agree with everyone who has expressed frustration that the same 5 actresses are always being considered for these female lead roles.
Secondly, wasn’t the character of Ra al Ghul (played by Ken Watanabe) Japanese? Can’t they find an Asian actress to play her? It’s hard enough for minority actresses to catch a break in Hollywood. I’d love Nolan to cast some unknowns AND add some color to the cast.
@49 – the role was played by Liam Neeson in the first movie. Given the name it should have been played by an Asian character. Agree with you 100%.
Al Ghul was played by Watanabe. Henri Ducard was played by Neeson.
Long time lurker, first time poster 🙂
Give how I’m a fan of Nolan’s work, I’m really hoping that he’ll pick an actress who’s more than just a pretty face. Out of all the contenders so far, I would agree that Eva Green is the best choice, along with Gemma Arteton. Anne Hathaway isn’t so bad but I just can’t envision her co-starring along Christian Bale. Jessica Biel is definitely a NO because she can’t act her way out of a paper bag. While Keira Knightley isn’t a bad performer, I think I would yell if I see her pouty her lips every time she’s on screen (sorry, but I’m a comic book nerd so this shit is serious).
I would like to suggest my personal pick – Milla Jovovich, from the Resident Evil franchise. I think she’d be great as Talia. She’s tolerable in terms of acting and she’s got this demure kind of beauty that’s very, well, Talia.
ahahha – i came home tipsy for the first time in ages (I’m so boring now I rarely go out) and read “Jessica Biel might be batman in the dark night”…. bwahahaha… Thank God I read wrong- that would be such a flatliner.
Ra’s al Ghul is played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins.
Lucy Liu. That’s it.
There’s rumours that Christina Aguilera is in talks to play Vicki Vale too.
What was Naomi thinking when she fried her skin in the sun. She is in motion pictures (or was). Her face is her money maker and it’s absolutely wrinkled to hell. She’s pretty, but come ON.
Excuse me, but wasn’t it Biel who was whining all over not long ago about not getting any work because she was ‘too beautiful’?
Talia Al-Ghul is a kick-ass, half-Asian martial arts expert who takes over the League of Shadows when her daddy is finally offed in the comic books.
Eva Green is stunning and was fabulous as Vesper Lynn but they’d have to completely ruin the character in order to cast her, while the Biel rumour just makes me stabby.
Devon Aoki + protein shakes + parkour training?
@Marjalane.. bless your heart.
I hope you get back to work soon! 🙂
I’d be happy if they just steer clear of all Gossip Girl tartlets and such-like talentless dreck.
@tapioca. Devon Aoki was great in Sin City, though she rarely spoke in that movie. She’s definitely got screen presence. Didja know she and JGL used to date?
as long it is not alba i don’t care
oh my goodness I cant see any of these actress’ being in it, but please not Biel she is a terrible actress and doesnt have the look..I think she was totally wrong for the A-Team movie as well..I think the only reason she gets parts now is because of who she is dating..she is now on for some cosmetic advertisment , I thought is that face really going to sell anything, not to me. I agree I would like to see Charlise she is gorgeous and a great actress, also I was thinking Jessica Alba..i really dont like Anne Hathaway either , at least not for this movie..I hear they are also trying to get Anne to play Judy Garland talk about poor casting.
@ Futurest…say it isnt so,Christine A. she is such a phoney..I dont think I could stand to watch her platinum blonde hair and red lipstick..its all I can do to look at her in a mag never mind a whole movie yuck.
Jessica Biel is not even pretty never mind beautiful, did she actually say that, she was “Too beautiful”, Stronzilla wow..in her own eyes maybe
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