Possible villains for The Dark Knight Rises

With the announcement of the title of the third movie in Christopher Nolan’s Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises, there has been speculation of which villain from Batman’s rogues gallery will be featured in the movie. 

According to an interview with Hero Complex, Nolan said that the Riddler will not be in the movie.  He did say the movie will be introducing new characters, as well as old characters.  While Batman’s rogues gallery is extensive, in each Batman film, the villain is usually someone who can drive the story of the movie and push the Dark Knight.

While there is a wait to see which of the Caped Crusader’s villains will be featured in The Dark Knight Rises, here are several guesses of which bad guys could be appearing along side Batman.

Hush

Introduced in Jeph Loeb and Jim Miller’s “Hush” story arc, Hush is a character who was originally a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne’s by the name of Tommy Elliot.  Elliot would grow up to resent him and bring many of Batman‘s enemies together in a plot to destroy the Dark Knight. 




Holiday

A serial killer introduced in Loeb and Tim Sale’s Batman The Long Halloween.  Holiday would kill a person each month.  He was also a character who was closely involved with the Maroni crime family, who has been featured in the Nolan Batman films.

Calendar Man

A criminal who commits crimes in conjunction to the day they are committed, Calendar Man is one of Batman’s oldest foes, yet is not as well known as the Joker or the Penguin. 




The Ventriloquist/Scarface

Anrold Wesler is a man with multiple personality syndrome, using a dummy to express his darker side.  While Ventriloquist may seem unusual for Nolan’s style of film at first, the idea of a dummy as a mob boss could work as Nolan has used Gotham’s different crime families in his films.  Wesker’s disorder could also work in Nolan’s film.

Catwoman

Catwoman is perhaps the front runner of possible villains appearing in the film, with actresses like Angelina Jolie rumored to play the part.  Julie Newman, who played Catwoman in the 1960’s Batman movie was quoted as saying that Jolie would own the role.  Regardless, Catwoman is not necessarily a homicidal maniac, but having her in the film could not only give Bruce Wayne a romantic interest, but also give Batman an ally.




Maxie Zeus

Like Wayne, Zeus is a wealthy businessman, yet he also has a god complex.  With Zeus in the film, there is a chance to put some beautiful artwork and set design, influenced by Greek lore.

Black Mask

Black Mask is one of Gotham City’s most notorious crime bosses and has risen in the ranks to become one of Batman’s most feared enemies.  Black Mask was also an enemy to Catwoman.  This could reinforce the idea of an alliance by Catwoman and Batman.







Bane

Although Bane’s only appearance in the movies was in Batman and Robin, he was one of the Dark Knight’s most formidable enemies.  In their initial encounter, Bane broke Bruce Wayne’s back and sidelined the Caped Crusader for a lengthy period of time.  Bane has also great physical strength, with or without the use of Venom.  One of the misconceptions of Batman and Robin is that Bane is a just a lackey henchmen, when in fact, he is quite intelligent and articulate.

Talia Al Ghul

One of Bruce Wayne’s loves, Talia Al Ghul has yet to make any kind of movie appearance.  Her father was killed in the first film and having her come for revenge in the third film could make the movie full circle, or maybe she will act as a romantic interest.  She is quite skilled in fighting and also has the resources of her father’s League of Assassins.


Scarecrow and Ras Al Ghul
While these two villains were in the first film, who says they can not be brought back.  As of The Dark Knight, Dr. Jonathon Crane is still alive and still has his Scarecrow mask and equipment.  As for Ras Al Ghul, the Nolan decided to keep the Lazarus Pit out of the movie, but he may bring it back to explain Al Ghul’s resurrection.

Legacy of laughs

Mark Hamill to retire his Joker voice

Mark Hamill, known primarily for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars series, has voiced the comic book villain known as The Joker on and off for the last 18 years.  He will be retiring from the role of the Joker after this year.

Hamill’s career

According to the International Mark Hamill Fan Club website, Hamill was born in Oakland, to a large family in September of 1951.  He made his professional acting debut on the Cosby Show in 1971, and would go on to star in television shows like General Hospital and The Texas Wheelers.

In 1977 he would make his film debut in Star Wars and would star in its two sequels The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

After Star Wars, Hamill would go on to make movies and also do guest appearances in television shows, such as Just Shoot Me and the Flash.  He also went on to star in various theater productions. 

Hamill would also lend his voice to different cartoons for the next several years, including the Simpsons, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Spiderman: The Animated Series. 

An avid comic book fan, Hamill is also the writer of the comic book series, The Black Pearl.

Getting the role of the Joker and voicing the character

Hamill was originally denied the part of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS), as the producers had already cast Tim Curry.  Hamill was brought in guest star in the episode “Heart of Ice” as a one-time appearance.  After Curry dropped out of the role, Hamill was one of the first choices to replace Curry.

In an interview, Paul Dini, producer and writer for BTAS, said Hamill nailed the role of the Joker perfectly.

“The second we heard that scary laugh, we knew we had the Joker,” Dini said.

Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett, producers of BTAS, said that the Joker, who in the comics has been depiected anywhere from a homicidal maniac to a comical character, could not kill in the show. 

“Instead of murdering people we would have him give them that hideous Joker grin which on its own way almost worse,” Timm said.

Hamill said that one of the things that of the things that informs the Joker is his laugh.

“His laugh should be like a musical instrument,” Hamill said.  “It should sort of illustrate his mood.”

Hamill said he would practice the Joker’s laugh on the way to the recording sessions.  He also said that he would stand up during recording sessions.

“I thought to energize the character, to shake my fists, I’ve felt I got to stand up,” Hamill said. “I’ve always thought I was in a radio drama.


Hamill’s different Joker moments

Hamill played the Joker in 15 of the 85 episodes in BTAS.  He also played the Joker on various DC Comics related animated series and animated movies, including The New Batman/Superman adventures, Justice League, and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker.

Kevin Conroy, who has played Batman about as many years as Hamill has played the Joker, said that Hamill played an extraordinary Joker.

“His face transforms and he kind of devours the microphone,” Conroy said.  “It’s something to watch.  The two of us interact really well since we’ve been doing this for so long.”

Hamill has also voiced the Joker on DC Comics video games.  Most recently he lent his voice on the 2009 hit Batman: Arkham Asylum, and the upcoming titles: DC Universe Online and Batman: Arkham City.


Actors who have also played The Joker

After Hamill took a long break from voicing the Joker in 2004, other performers have stepped up to voice the Clown Prince of Crime. 

Veteran voice actors like John DiMaggio (Batman Under the Red Hood), Jeff Bennent (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and Kevin Michael Richardson (The Batman) have voiced the Joker in animation.

According to an interview with IGN, Hamill spoke positively of Heath Ledger’s award winning performance of the Joker in The Dark Knight. 

“He was the most joyless Joker,” Hamill said.  “Not a hint of theatricality; he was almost like a heroin addict.  It never would have occurred to me, and that’s why it was so delightful and surprising.”

The Last Hurrah

According to an interview with the Animation World Network, Hamill said that what he liked about voicing the Joker was his villiany and the different kinds of laughter he brought to the character.

“Instead of having it be one continuous laugh, I could use it like a color on the canvas,” Hamill said.  “There could be sinister laughs, there could be joyful, gleeful, maniacal laughs, there could be malevolent and evil laughs.”

“I do have to thank the people at Batman, because this work opened an entire new career for me.”

In the interview with the IGN, Hamill said that this role would be his last as the Joker.

“There’s no question about that,” Hamill said.  “But it’s the last hurrah.”