No "Batman 4" after The Dark Knight Rises

THE DARK KNIGHT ENDS
Why there will be NO “BATMAN 4” after The Dark Knight Rises; and what future holds for the Dark Knight?
by Xyde

Director Christopher Nolan has wowed Batman fans with his artistic approach to filming major studio films. His ability to wipe away all the harm that was done upon the character by Joel Schumacher's atrocious Batman and Robin, was truly remarkable. No longer was would a Batman film be a two hour long toy commercial

With all journeys they must come to an end and Christopher Nolan discusses the importance of bringing his trilogy to a rightful conclusion. Chris Nolan always considered (his) Batman a trilogy and, as such, the journey is about to be over soon.

 “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 … unlike the comics, these things don’t go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful.”

INEVITABLE END
Many of us fans will feel excitement the first time we see Batman back on the screen this week, but deep down most us know there will also be a deep sadness when the credits roll. One of the best chapters in comic book movie history will have concluded, and the search for a new director and most likely a new Batman will begin again. Christian Bale who has been behind the mask for Nolan's franchise felt that impact the first time he read the script.

 “I remember when I first read the script, of course it was all top secret. I went round by Chris’ house, was shut in the room with the script — not allowed to leave with it — and it hit me that this was the last one. What Chris couldn’t believe was how slow I read because I go back and re-read until I have it all in my mind. I was in there six or seven hours. It was dark when I came out. And I was smiling.”

Morgan Freeman also feels the weight of knowing that he has worked on Christopher Nolan's last Batman film.

“Back in Gotham, back in Chris Nolan’s city,” actor Morgan Freeman said as he stepped past barbed wire and debris used in a just-finished scene. A moment later, he added: “The only drawback is this is the last one we get to work on with him. And a lot of us won’t really get that until later. It’s not until the curtain goes down that you think, ‘Jesus, that’s the last one.’”

BEYOND BATMAN
It's just like how James Bond movies work; with a new actor playing Bond, there is a feeling of a reboot, as if one Bond lives in an alternate universe with the other Bond, but can also sometimes vaguely exist in the same universe. It's like how, when the George Lazenby James Bond had his wife killed by arch-villain Blofeld in the end of the movie ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, the Sean Connery James Bond goes on a vengeful and bloodthirsty search for Blofeld in DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, but in a vague manner that it does not clearly acknowledge the previous movie. Or when Timothy Dalton became Bond, it feels like it’s an entirely new universe, independent from the previous ones, but somewhat vaguely acknowledging the previous ones. Just like this, the Batman movies can come back in a similar transformation format.

Even in the comics, it feels like there are various versions of Batman that co-exist. When you read the storylines of such Batman stories as The Killing Joke, Batman: Year One, and Arkham Asylum, it feels like a separate Batman from the one who is a member of The Justice League, or faces enemies like Clayface and Poison Ivy. But both have the similar tone, almost the similar universe but with a slight twist of mild fantasy and sci-fi on the latter. Chris Nolan has created a universe that appropriately brings to life stories like The Killing Joke and Year One. If Batman on film continues to be a reboot, I think he should merely take the Nolan template and make his revisions minimal.

JUSTICE LEAGUE
Because Warner Brothers & DC plan to make a Justice League movie, hoping to gain a similar success with Disney & Marvel's Avengers; The reboot of Batman is one can co-exist with other DC Universe characters. So far, it is the animated department of the DC Universe headed by Bruce Timm were the only ones who really effectively create a DC Universe on screen that are serious, mature, and at the same time can be fun and spectacular, even better than the other DC movies. How I wish the guys from the animated department were consultants for the movies.

DC has already begun on attempting to create a road to a Justice League movie; but the GREEN LANTERN movie was a FAILURE. SUPERMAN RETURNS was also garbage and never got out of the recycle bin. And the WONDER WOMAN TV pilot was unwatchable. DC has to start again from scratch. If the MAN OF STEEL fails, it would take a longer time for DC to really hit it good. Marvel got it right with his casting and the writing. DC has to learn from them. But the problem is that DC is taking a scarier experimental route.

Gangster Squad scribe Will Beall was set to work on the mega-superhero film, which (traditionally) features Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, and the Flash.

DC is actually going to do it in reverse; they are planning a Justice League movie, then from there, they hope to make Wonder Woman, Aquaman, etc... Which seems like a really wrong thing to do. And DC seems like its digging a deeper hole.

If you ask me, if they wanted to pave the way for a Justice League movie, they should hire the people behind the DC Animated Universe to be consultants for this project.

For now, we wait and enjoy the moments with The Dark Knight Rises.