It seems like it’s been forever that Christopher Nolan and co have been repeating the constant refrain that this current Batman franchise would be over with July’s Dark Knight Rises. Well, actually it’s been even longer than that, remember that a third installment wasn’t always a guarantee. However, things might, once again, not be quite so set in stone.
You can thank Christian Bale for that newfound hope in your chest, because in an interview with Empire (going against the party line he’s been toeing with both Chris and Jonah Nolan), Batman himself was the one to cast a bit of doubt on the finality of the series’ finale.
My understanding is that this is the last one. I think it’s appropriate, I think it’s going out at the right time. But…if Chris came to me with a script and said, ‘You know what? There is another story’ then I would love the challenge of making a fourth one work.
I wouldn’t say Warner Bros. has backed the dump trucks full of cash up to their houses yet, but the Nolans and Bale can probably see them coming up their blocks already.
If nothing else, maybe (hopefully) this can put those idiotic “Batman’s going to die” rumors to rest. I had to talk to someone about that yesterday. It’s always the same, “But wouldn’t it be cool if Batman died?” Not really*. There are more stories to tell with this Batman, even if we never get to see them. And besides, the film is called The Dark Knight Rises. Does the title even make sense if he dies?
* – Yes, I was the guy who wrote an impassioned editorial about why Batman should have stayed dead a few years ago. I see the irony. There’s a difference, read it and you’ll understand.