14 DAY TRIAL // Chris Nolan is working to bring fans the third installment in the “Batman” franchise and, while everyone knows who’ll play the caped crusader, speculation about the film’s villain has been running rampant for weeks.
The most popular theory is that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who also worked with Nolan on “Inception,” would take on The Riddler – but it could be that it’s another Nolan collaborator that’s up for a part.
Deadline has picked up on a very interesting tidbit according to which it’s not Joe who will appear on third “Batman” but Tom Hardy, who also appeared in “Inception.”
Before this summer’s blockbuster, Hardy was not exactly mainstream – though his performances in “RocknRolla” and “Bronson” are truly memorable – but he’s now riding the high wave.
He may be adding another notch on his belt by scoring a leading role in “Batman,” the movie-oriented e-zine says.
“While Tom Hardy’s plan to play Mad Max in the George Miller-directed Mad Max: Fury Road has hit another delay, the fast-rising Hardy’s in the mix for another big film at Warner Bros.,” Deadline writes.
“I’m told that Hardy has been set by his Inception director Chris Nolan for a lead role in the next Batman film at Warner Bros.,” the e-zine informs.
As of now, all details are unknown, since Warners is going out of its way to keep everything a secret – but, obviously, some leaks simply can’t be prevented, even if they only get out in the media as rumors.
Chances of Hardy playing a villain are very high, though, Deadline believes. Moreover, should that really be the case, he will most certainly deliver.
“Insiders are keeping the role secret and won’t even say if he’s up for a villain role, but that seems a reasonable assumption,” Deadline writes.
“Hardy has followed up Inception with lead roles in the Tomas Alfredson-directed adaptation of the John Le Carre novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and he’s currently starring with Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon in the McG-directed Fox comedy This Means War,” the same e-zine says of Hardy’s busy schedule these days.
So far, only this is known of “Batman 3”: Chris Nolan is directing on a script by himself and brother Jonah Nolan, Christian Bale will reprise his role as Batman, and Heath Ledger’s part as The Joker will not be recast.