By William John
Now we've all had time to reflect and recover from Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, The Dark Knight Trilogy, I can't help but feel slightly disappointed that we aren't getting any more, mainly because there are so many fantastic members of Batman's Rogues Gallery just waiting to be Nolanised (yes, that's a word now... Because I said so!).
Let's be honest, Nolan's work breathed much needed life into Gotham City, which, considering the death toll, was very impressive. The most important and memorable stamp he made however was with the villains. Not a week goes by now that I don't hear "It's all part of the plan" or "I'm Gotham's Reckoning" spoken in those eerie, rather terrifying voices.
Now we've all had time to reflect and recover from Christopher Nolan's masterpiece, The Dark Knight Trilogy, I can't help but feel slightly disappointed that we aren't getting any more, mainly because there are so many fantastic members of Batman's Rogues Gallery just waiting to be Nolanised (yes, that's a word now... Because I said so!).
Let's be honest, Nolan's work breathed much needed life into Gotham City, which, considering the death toll, was very impressive. The most important and memorable stamp he made however was with the villains. Not a week goes by now that I don't hear "It's all part of the plan" or "I'm Gotham's Reckoning" spoken in those eerie, rather terrifying voices.
Of all the classic Batman Villains, Nolan treated us to his own 'real world' versions of quite a number. We've seen Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson), Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), Victor Zsasz (Tim Booth), Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson), The Joker (Heath Ledger), Sal Maroni (Eric Roberts), Harvey Dent/Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart), Bane (Tom Hardy) and Talia Al Ghul (Marion Cotillard). However this only scratches the surface. So which of Batman's villains do we wish we'd seen Nolan tackle, and how would they be brought into the real world?
The Riddler
Personally my favourite choice from the list, The Riddler would've made a fantastic addition to Nolan's Gotham. Batman Forever fans will know that Jim Carrey portrayed the Quizzical master in the third 90's Batman. Though his performance was true to the comics, it would fall flat in Nolan's gritty, realistic world.
Enter The Riddler from the 2011 video game hit Batman: Arkham City. Cold, calculating and nasty, this version of the Riddler captured members of an unfortunate medical team, placing them in Jigsaw-like death traps that only Batman could save them from. From his tatty suit to his chipped 'Question Mark' cane, his appearance and personality perfectly captured the image of a mentally tortured man who always has to be better than those around him, driven to the edge against the unstoppable enigma that is The Batman.
When The Dark Knight Rises was first announced, Doctor Who star David Tennant, Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp, Michael C Hall and the wonderful Neil Patrick Harris were all rumoured to have been cast in the role, to the point where fan made posters were created in anticipation. Alas it was not to be.
Personally my favourite choice from the list, The Riddler would've made a fantastic addition to Nolan's Gotham. Batman Forever fans will know that Jim Carrey portrayed the Quizzical master in the third 90's Batman. Though his performance was true to the comics, it would fall flat in Nolan's gritty, realistic world.
Enter The Riddler from the 2011 video game hit Batman: Arkham City. Cold, calculating and nasty, this version of the Riddler captured members of an unfortunate medical team, placing them in Jigsaw-like death traps that only Batman could save them from. From his tatty suit to his chipped 'Question Mark' cane, his appearance and personality perfectly captured the image of a mentally tortured man who always has to be better than those around him, driven to the edge against the unstoppable enigma that is The Batman.
When The Dark Knight Rises was first announced, Doctor Who star David Tennant, Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp, Michael C Hall and the wonderful Neil Patrick Harris were all rumoured to have been cast in the role, to the point where fan made posters were created in anticipation. Alas it was not to be.
Harley Quinn
One character it seems we're never likely to see on the big screen (at least not any time soon) is the Joker's psychiatrist-turned-psychotic girlfriend Harley Quinn. First introduced in the Batman animated series, Quinn became a regular within the comics and a fan favorite. Sporting a red and black harlequin unitard, Quinn was every bit as crazy as the Joker, although he exploited her romantic interest in him, using her as bait, leaving her for dead on occasions and generally treating her like dirt.
Quinn's most popular appearance by far comes from the Arkham video game series. In Arkham Asylum, she's instrumental to the Joker's break out, using her knowledge of the Asylum to help him take over, all whilst dressed in a very revealing nurses outfit of course! Later, in Arkham City, she returns in a biker chic style outfit, taking control of the dying Joker's operations.
Along with the Riddler rumours, it was circulated that Quinn had been cast for the newest film, played by Kristen Bell. Fan made artwork again appeared online, however the untimely death of Heath Ledger rendered the character's use impossible.
One character it seems we're never likely to see on the big screen (at least not any time soon) is the Joker's psychiatrist-turned-psychotic girlfriend Harley Quinn. First introduced in the Batman animated series, Quinn became a regular within the comics and a fan favorite. Sporting a red and black harlequin unitard, Quinn was every bit as crazy as the Joker, although he exploited her romantic interest in him, using her as bait, leaving her for dead on occasions and generally treating her like dirt.
Quinn's most popular appearance by far comes from the Arkham video game series. In Arkham Asylum, she's instrumental to the Joker's break out, using her knowledge of the Asylum to help him take over, all whilst dressed in a very revealing nurses outfit of course! Later, in Arkham City, she returns in a biker chic style outfit, taking control of the dying Joker's operations.
Along with the Riddler rumours, it was circulated that Quinn had been cast for the newest film, played by Kristen Bell. Fan made artwork again appeared online, however the untimely death of Heath Ledger rendered the character's use impossible.
Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin
Ok, I'm not going to lie here; I hated Danny DeVito's Penguin in Batman Returns. Not because of Danny's acting, he gave a fine performance, unfortunately it was written by someone who clearly didn't know or care much for the fascinating backstories of the Penguin. He was never a fish like creature. He was short, fat, with a long, ugly nose and a monstrous personality.
One of the best representations of Penguin in the comics comes from the recent five-issue story Penguin: Pain and Prejudice. The story portrays him a brute. A terrifying crime boss, who doesn't hesitate to destroy a mans life for the simplest of misgivings. But on a deeper level, the series delves into his past, highlighting his abusive father and brothers and the unwavering love of his mother, helping to explain his desperate sadness and need to be in control.
Couple this kind of backstory with his portly image and grating voice from Arkham City and Nolan would present us with the best, and most terrifying incarnation of Penguin we've ever seen.
Ok, I'm not going to lie here; I hated Danny DeVito's Penguin in Batman Returns. Not because of Danny's acting, he gave a fine performance, unfortunately it was written by someone who clearly didn't know or care much for the fascinating backstories of the Penguin. He was never a fish like creature. He was short, fat, with a long, ugly nose and a monstrous personality.
One of the best representations of Penguin in the comics comes from the recent five-issue story Penguin: Pain and Prejudice. The story portrays him a brute. A terrifying crime boss, who doesn't hesitate to destroy a mans life for the simplest of misgivings. But on a deeper level, the series delves into his past, highlighting his abusive father and brothers and the unwavering love of his mother, helping to explain his desperate sadness and need to be in control.
Couple this kind of backstory with his portly image and grating voice from Arkham City and Nolan would present us with the best, and most terrifying incarnation of Penguin we've ever seen.
Ramon Sionis/Black Mask
A slightly lesser known villain, Black Mask is still one of the most powerful crime bosses of Gotham City, giving Falcone and Maroni a run for their money.
Sionis parents owned the biggest industrial plant in the city, which proved too much of a temptation for Ramon, who killed his parents to take control, only to run the business into the ground. Worse still for Ramon, long time rival Bruce Wayne bought out the company. In a fit of anger, Sionis carved a black skull mask from his fathers coffin and reformed himself as a criminal. During a fight with Batman, Ramon suffers an accident, which fuses the mask to his face, permanently.
Black Mast has been portrayed differently through different media, sometimes as a scarface type gangster, other times as a cold and calculating businessman, but either have been equally entertaining. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wished we'd seen a film where crime bosses Penguin and Black Mask go head to head for control of the city.
A slightly lesser known villain, Black Mask is still one of the most powerful crime bosses of Gotham City, giving Falcone and Maroni a run for their money.
Sionis parents owned the biggest industrial plant in the city, which proved too much of a temptation for Ramon, who killed his parents to take control, only to run the business into the ground. Worse still for Ramon, long time rival Bruce Wayne bought out the company. In a fit of anger, Sionis carved a black skull mask from his fathers coffin and reformed himself as a criminal. During a fight with Batman, Ramon suffers an accident, which fuses the mask to his face, permanently.
Black Mast has been portrayed differently through different media, sometimes as a scarface type gangster, other times as a cold and calculating businessman, but either have been equally entertaining. I'm sure I'm not the only one who wished we'd seen a film where crime bosses Penguin and Black Mask go head to head for control of the city.
Deadshot
A master assassin who never misses his shot could easily cause a lot of trouble for the Batman, especially in Nolan's Gotham where everyone wants someone dead. Deadshot has always been an interesting enemy for Batman given his obvious distaste for guns. Deadshot did appear in the animated movie Gotham Knight, set between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, having been paid to assassinate the Batman.
When Tom Hardy was first announced for The Dark Knight Rises, rumours circulated that he'd be playing Deadshot.
There are many more villains we could've made interesting debuts within Nolan's world, but would've had to be changed drastically to fit with the realistic setting much like Bane and his venom steroids or Ra's Al Ghul's 'immortality'. Poison Ivy would most likely have been an Eco terrorist, Professor Hugo Strange could easily have been a corrupt Arkham doctor, much like his role in Arkham City. Even Mr. Freeze could’ve worked with the right backstory. Who knows what the future could hold, perhaps we'll see the Robin John Blake as Batman, or Nightwing, take on some of these thugs in the future.
A master assassin who never misses his shot could easily cause a lot of trouble for the Batman, especially in Nolan's Gotham where everyone wants someone dead. Deadshot has always been an interesting enemy for Batman given his obvious distaste for guns. Deadshot did appear in the animated movie Gotham Knight, set between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, having been paid to assassinate the Batman.
When Tom Hardy was first announced for The Dark Knight Rises, rumours circulated that he'd be playing Deadshot.
There are many more villains we could've made interesting debuts within Nolan's world, but would've had to be changed drastically to fit with the realistic setting much like Bane and his venom steroids or Ra's Al Ghul's 'immortality'. Poison Ivy would most likely have been an Eco terrorist, Professor Hugo Strange could easily have been a corrupt Arkham doctor, much like his role in Arkham City. Even Mr. Freeze could’ve worked with the right backstory. Who knows what the future could hold, perhaps we'll see the Robin John Blake as Batman, or Nightwing, take on some of these thugs in the future.
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