Jett here. The following comes in from a LONGTIME source who has provided BOF with much dead on info regarding BATMAN in the past. Some news has been revealed/broken here at BOF (like Ken Watanabe and Katie Holme's casting in BEGINS); some has been kept secret to keep this source anonymous. This is a rather lengthy report, but it clears up a lot of stuff and reveals the Joker info I alluded to cryptically last week. (One note regarding news from BOF: If you copy and paste this on message boards -- cool; But PLEASE include a link back to BOF. Thank you.) Anyway, here goes...
I first slipped you information many years ago that centred on the possible casting of Jude Law as Bruce Wayne/Batman. This was long before Christopher Nolan?s involvement with the franchise. Law?s name was also thrown about re: Petersen?s BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN project. Now it seems we have come full circle. Your site has mentioned Law as a candidate for Harvey Dent. This is incorrect. Law is being [considered for The Joker]. He is a WB suggestion (one of a select few). WB do not have a ?wish list,? but WB has narrowed down a couple of names for Nolan etc. to consider later this year.
As far as I know, Paul Bettany is not on this list. His name holds some appeal with a section of the Batman fan base, but the idea is not exactly setting WB?s world on fire. Too many creepy villain roles; been there, done that. He was never really in this race, as your site intimated recently ? well done
Lachy Hulme is on this list. He is not the ?frontrunner? as many have suggested; he is the ?dark horse.? WB is concerned about his lack of profile in the US, but they are keeping a very close eye on him. Hulme?s lack of profile could be remedied with two projects, MACBETH and an Australian comedy called BOYTOWN. The buzz for both films is very strong. Cillian Murphy landed his casting call for BATMAN BEGINS off the career boost 28 DAYS LATER gave him; likewise, Hulme only needs for one of these films to click. FYI: Hulme HAS met with the producers. He is the only actor not contracted for sequels to have done so.
I can confirm that The Joker role is a small and mysterious one in the sequel. It will be nothing like the Jack Nicholson-style showcase that the previous Joker provided.
Reps for Sam Rockwell were pursuing the role in the hope that this Joker would be on par with the 1989 Joker, but soon discovered otherwise. Hugh Jackman also expressed interest in The Joker. Upon learning the size of the role he explored the Harvey Dent option instead. Due to Jackman?s association with Marvel, however, you can probably count him out of either role in the BATMAN BEGINS sequel. Probably.
Hugo Weaving is also on the WB Casting list; Johnny Depp is not. Guy Pearce has never been discussed for any role in the sequel; neither has Robin Williams.
The other issue perplexing WB is Katie Holmes. I can?t confirm whether she will be in the sequel or not. This is not due to whether she was weak in BATMAN BEGINS; the consensus at WB is that Holmes delivered a fine performance. The issue is, what to do with her character? That is a problem for Jonah and Chris to resolve.
And that?s the point: Chris Nolan now has the power to do whatever he damn well pleases. The "WB Casting List" has been compiled simply as some ?helpful suggestions? for him.
So, Bettany's out (possibly), and Law is in. Hulme is in, but is a "darkhorse candidate." Weaving -- as reported here -- is a candidate. And when it is all said and done, it's going to be whomever Chris Nolan wants it to be. Oh, don't take "small and mysterious" as "cameo." Stay tuned!
