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The Unofficial Christopher Nolan Website / Archived News / January - March 2003 |
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Archived News April - June 2003  June 30, 2003 Michael Gough in Nolan's Batman? According to a scooper from Dark Horizons veteran Michael Gough might be reprising his role as the butler Alfred in the next Batman film That would mean that Gough played Bruce Wayne's butler in every Batman film. June 29, 2003 Batman rumors and Warner Bros' answers... well sort of From E! online comes a report that kind of confirms what was reported here and at BoF last week: So, we called Warner Bros. and asked them if Ashton Kutcher was Batman, and they said, "No." Naturally, we're hearing from everybody else that he is. We also asked if the Batman 5 is about to happen and whether screenwriter David Goyer was, in fact, flying up to Vancouver, British Columbia--where Goyer's shooting Blade 3 this summer--to hang with director Christopher Nolan and talk about preproduction. Again, the answer was, "No."  So, we asked the basic "Is the movie shooting in Vancouver?" question. And, as they say, we were "met with static." So, when are these big announcements going to happen? When will we get that splashy pronouncement about the next Batman and the fact that it will likely roll out some time in 2004 or 2005? ('Nuff Said has already pieced this together.) When will it be too late in the summer to start shooting the movie? Our sources report that the script is great, actually, and that everything is smooth sailing, except for the disagreement between the studio and Nolan over the casting of Bruce Wayne. The studio wants Kutcher, Nolan wants Guy Pearce or somebody who could actually play the role. Not always a bad thing. When Sony and Sam Raimi went to war in the Leonardo DiCaprio versus Wes Bentley Spidey fight, we got Tobey Maguire out of the deal, so why not? As long as Kutcher gets punk'd in the equation, we could[n't] care less. To add just another name to the confusion, Batman on Film reports that they have received conflicting reports about Christian Bale (American Psycho, Equilibrium) being attached to the Batman project. While one source says that: "Bale is NOT in the running. His name associated with the role is nothing more than fanboy wishing." the other one "keeps the fire burning" - although I personally think that this is really just another rumor...  To tell you something about Guy Pearce, there is an interview with him at the imdb where he was asked what he was doing next. Pearce answered: [Musician] Nick Cave actually has written a film that I may do but we don't know when it's going to happen - it will be September or March. I think he's worked on other screenplays before but this is his first full screenplay. They actually came to me over a year ago. But right now, I plan to just go home to Melbourne and write some more music. Doesn't really sound like he is pretty involved in any way regarding Batman... June 28, 2003 Christopher Lloyd in Batman 5?
While Lloyd would probably make a good counterpart, I advise you that this again is just a rumor - it hasn't even been fully confirmed that The Scarecrow is in the script. An insider mailed me some additional information, but said it would be best to hold them back for a couple of days due to the uncertainty of the current situation. June 26, 2003 - II Site readers comment: The Batman Lead - Ashton is not (yet) Batman by "WildFire06" 
Hello, I know I am not one of your main sources, but in the state of turmoil we are in regarding the Batman/Ashton Kutcher situation and the outrage of Batman fans, I felt I had to let someone know the real situation. You are one of the most viewed Nolan sites out there, so I decided to come to you. I check your site frequently and would like to comment on the Ashton Kutcher situation. Ashton is not Batman. He is WB's #1 candidate for the picture, but not Nolan's. Nolan has several unknown/semi-stablished actors in mind and will most likely end up with one of those as a compromise to the Ashton/Guy Pearce situation. Luckily, WB are indeed letting Nolan have a little more control with this project as they are very pleased with his ideas and views for the movie. Notice how WB let Nolan hire his own writer (Goyer due to his comic experience) and have almost complete control. The good thing is, what we see on the screen will most likely be Nolan's true, full vision, without too many compromises, this includes actors. Nobody wants another Superman situation. Batman is now on the fast track my friend, and WB wants it done right to compete with Marvel and bring DC back in a big way. The new DC comics movies are going to be darker and more loyal to the source material then before. They are looking for a mature audience believe it or not, and Batman, the darkest character, is the way to establish it right. And what do you know, Batman-On-Film is already on the right track with their recent report (6/25) on a 2005 Summer release and the fact that there are several names in the running for Batman. We wont know for sure until screen tests are done. If Kutcher has the best test, then he'll be Batman. But right now, he has a long way to go yet. Theres a big obstacle for him to overcome, Nolan. Sure everybody gets along on the project, but that doesnt mean they cant have creative differences. WB hired Nolan for a reason. So again, hold your horses. Kutcher is not Batman and may never be, Nolan will probably go with an unknown as a compromise, unless Kutcher blows everybody away, and while he tested well for Superman, it was just that...decent. June 26, 2003 A 2005 release for Batman / Edward McDonnell as a producer / The Guy Pearce rumor A source from Batman on Film reports: "I feel pretty confident saying that the studio is shooting for a 2005 release for the Chris Nolan 'Batman' film. I'm sure it would get a holiday or summer slot, most likely the latter. Look for pre-production and filming to start in 2004." "Frosteey" from aronofsky.net adds that while Kutcher is indeed a serious contender for the role--perhaps even the front-runner, there are other actors in the mix. He also comments that he has seen a re-run of the Daily Show with Guy Pearce as a guest and says that Pearce did not mention anything regarding the Batman film. And various sources again from BoF report that Edward McDonnell has been choosen to produce Batman the Frightening. Along McDonnell's credits as a producer are Three Kings and Nolan's Insomnia. Greg Silverman has been named as the executive producer for Batman. June 23, 2003 The Batman lead: It's Kutcher then - apparently contrary to Nolan's plans 
An insider from DarkHorizons confirms the recent rumors about Kutcher as being cast for the Batman lead and elaborates a bit more on the situation "Christopher Nolan wants Guy Pearce. I think that's about the extent of it. Essentially, the studio has had another 'Ratner' situation on their hands, because the director wants someone, and the studio wants someone else. That someone the studio wants is Ashton Kutcher. Thankfully, it's not as big a deal as the whole Superman thing [which has been madness], because in this place everyone gets along - and from what I hear Kutcher is the new Batman. Done deal." Personally I think that it is a shame that Nolan is not in a position to choose his lead actor - being forced by the studio to work together will probably not help the actor-director relationship. But then, maybe it isn't really such a big deal - just as the so-called insider states. And just to remind you all: Guy Pearce wasn't Nolan's first choice for Memento either - although with this independent film the situation was a little different. The actor Chris Nolan considered first (rumored to have been Alec Baldwin) simply wanted a bigger salary... 
June 20, 2003 - II Some small Following updates I added the Following script (unfortunately of mediocre image quality - if someone has a better version or is willing to retype the script - which would be greatly appreciated just drop me an email) and some information on the VHS versions (thanks to Stefano!) June 20, 2003 The Batman lead - just another rumor™? 
First it was "That '70s Show" then "Dude, Where Is My Car?" and "Just Married" and now it will be "Batman"? Yes you heard right I'm talking about Ashton Kutcher. It seems he is the next one to be rumored for the leading role in "The Frightening". Well this could be just another rumor™ - but it would go along with Chris Nolan's intention of casting an "absolute newcomer". While Kutcher is no newcomer per se - regarding dramatic material he probably is. I see a lot of you (including me) raising an eyebrow here. Depending on what I saw of Kutch to date (some 70s episodes and the trailers for the features her starred in) I would think he is a questionable choice for Batman. But you never know. When former Superman director Brett Ratner tested Kutcher for the lead last year, he apparently did well and Ratner came close to casting Kutcher. And keep in mind that Michael Keaton had been considered a comic actor before Batman, too... June 19, 2003 Doodlebug & Cinema16 - and a new old Batman actor rumor Sorry that there have been so few updates in the last time - there have not been many news to announce... So now I have added some information for Nolan's short film Doodlebug and the Cinema16 DVD on which it has been released. I will add more information shortly after. Just found something new to report: The rumor of Guy Pearce to be cast as Batman has been around for quite some time. I always turned that down as the typical rumor that just arose because Pearce starred in Memento and has the stature to play Batman. But now Dark Horizons has the following quote from The Daily Show were Pearce
Guy Pearce: "Chris Nolan seems to think I'd make a good Batman.", Jon Stewart: "When did you turn that down?", Guy Pearce: "I haven't yet". That sounds to me like Chris Nolan has talked with Guy Pearce about Batman, but not directly asked him. Contrary to these news a recent report stated that Nolan would like to go with a newcomer for the role of the caped crusader - but to the mayor audiences Guy Pearce is probably just that (although I doubt that Chris Nolan really meant it that way). June 6, 2003: Batman: Script Review I added a short Script Review of Terry Hayes' and Rafael Yglesias' first draft of the Frightening Script. June 2, 2003: Batman: Short Actors Update - Nolan to cast an absolute newcomer? Batman on Film reports of some rumors saying that Chris Nolan would like to cast someone real young and unknown for the role of the dark knight. According to BoF Nolan "seems to be looking to go as unknown as humanly possible". May 25, 2003: Update: Biography I added a little information to the biography section: assorted facts and inspirational directors/films. May 21, 2003: Heath Ledger in Batman? A guy who reported to aintitcool.com saw Christopher Nolan and Heath Ledger sitting together talking for over 2 hours at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles just recently. This could mean, that Nolan considers to Cast Heat Ledger in the Batman film, probably even as Batman. I have to say that this evokes some mixed feelings for me, although I would not want to judge Heath Ledger, since I did not have the ambition yet to see most of the films he starred in (Knights Tale, 10 Things...). May 19, 2003: Christopher Nolan at the UCLA; news about Batman A couple of days ago Chris Nolan took part on a series called "The Movie That Inspired Me" which is hosted by Curtis Hanson and the UCLA. For an in depth take on the evening click here April 17, 2003: 
17/04/2003: The new Nolan Brothers movie is: The Prestige Christopher Nolan will most probably direct "The Prestige" an adaptation of the Christopher Priest novel, to which his brother Jonathan Nolan wrote the script.
The story begins in 1878, as a seance hatches a bitter rivalry between two young stage magicians. April 16, 2003: 16/04/2003: Further confirmation for Batman The Australian website news.com.au mentions in an article that Warner Brothers plans to release the new Batman film around the same time as the new Superman movie - in early 2004. April 4, 2003: 04/04/2003: It's Batman: The Frightening It seems like Chris Nolan will go with the script for Batman: The Frightening, that got loose all over the net some time ago. The script will be rewritten by Goyer and some mayor parts will be changed but at times Goyer will probably stay close to the original Frightening script. April 1, 2003: 
01/04/2003: Goyer on Batman Variety reports, that Warner Brothers hired David Goyer, writer of Dark City and Blade. He will write an entirely new version of the Caped Crusader based on a take by Christopher Nolan unrelated to non-starters like "Batman vs. Superman" and "Batman: Year One." |
              
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