Some might say that they were hinting that Catwoman may be in the next movie, due to Lucius Fox's comment that the Batsuit "should do well against cats".

Then there are those who complain that Catwoman has already been portrayed too much, due to being portrayed by three actors in the 1960's, as well as being defined by Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal in Batman Returns. Not to mention the arguement that the image was ruined by Halle Berry...

I believe that Catwoman would have major potential in a new Batman movie. David S. Goyer has stated that he would prefer to have villains previously portrayed onscreen, as opposed to "classic" villains like the Penguin and Catwoman - well David, why did you write the Dark Knight to include both the Joker and Two-Face?

This version is inspired by her appearance in Catwoman: Year One.

Catwoman is shown in an opening sequence trying to pull off a jewel heist, but is captured by Batman, who restrains her and leaves her to be captured by the police. Later on, Commissioner Gordon decides to hire a bounty hunter to capture Batman (watch the Dark Knight, and this plot will make sense), and decides on Arkham inmate Selina Kyle.

Much of her background is discussed during her interrogation, in that her parents committed suicide when she was very young and grows up in an orphanage. After witnessing the administrator of the orphanage embezzling funds, the administrator tries to murder her by putting her in a bag and throwing her in a river, but survives, and grows up to be a prostitute. After witnessing Batman in action, she decides to take on the image of a cat (due to her mother's love of cats over her, and the incident where she is nearly drowned) and becomes a costumed thief.

As stated before, the Gotham City Police Department decide that the best way to capture Batman would be to hire a bounty hunter, one who shares the theatrics of the Caped Crusader. She undertakes gymnastics and martial arts training in order to prepare.

The characterization shows her as mentally unstable, due to her upbringing. She makes hissing noises, and has no qualms about killing people, unlike Batman.

As for casting, I'd say someone quite younger than Christian Bale, say, in their late 20's/early 30's. I'd prefer to go against the popular rumours of Angelina Jolie, and instead, go for an actress that could give us the sense of mental instability as portrayed here. Take Heroes, for example, where you have the character of Elle Bishop, who had a very tragic upbringing, and as a result, has grown up a sociopathic sadist. That being said, I think Kristin Bell would be an interesting choice.

I don't really have a final decision, but I'd rather take time to think over who would be a good choice and end up with an interesting portrayal, as opposed to just pick a random or big name and end up with a bad portrayal (like casting George Clooney as Batman).

This is my idea so far. Please tell me what you think. I'm open to constructive criticism if you think there's something wrong with my idea.

Overall, I really like it! Gordon going to such lengths on a real actual effort to capture Batman wouldn't make too much sense I think. Maybe if someone else orchestrated it, like my new addition hopeful, Ventriliquist played by Michael Emerson (Ben Linus:Lost) or Gene Wilder (Yes, an unlikely 80 yr old Gene Wilder comeback). I like Kristin Bell plenty, but as Catwoman? Erh.. If they chose to go with her, then I'll trust them, but I'm gonna say no for now. Just cuz'. Sorry. I personally envision several others: Kate Beckinsale, Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johanssen. Truthfully, if they choose a actress Bale's age or a little younger with an acting range as well as a mastery of the subtleties of acting, I'll be impressed I think.

I think perhaps someone else on the police payroll should suggest using a costumed Arkham inmate to capture Batman (think of the film Silence of the Lambs). Gordon reluctantly agrees. He then makes a deal with Catwoman to return to her cell in Arkham after she has captured Batman.

In the end, Catwoman betrays Gordon, and then the alliance between Gordon and Batman is reignited. We then have a showdown between the two masked characters.

I was also thinking of a sub-plot with the Riddler, an under-appreciated technician who rises to power via computer hacking. In fact, I was thinking perhaps a throwback to Batman Returns where he gains control of the Tumbler (hey, perhaps they could create a new one that can change into a boat).

how about Natalie Portman? just a thought...

how about Natalie Portman? just a thought...
I'd prefer Natalie Portman (or Shawnee Smith) as Harley Quinn - if they would use her.

is it at all confirmed that catwoman will be in the next movie?
i really hope shes not... i mean, shes my least favorite female villian in batman. i'd really like to see harley quinn instead, but i doubt they'll ever do that.

BUT if they are going to do catwoman, i would rather skip over angelina jolie (i mean, doesn't she have enough on her plate collecting kids from all over the world and all?) i'd much rather see scarlett johanssen for sure.

Nice idea ndrly.I like:)
But as for catwoman,I can think of only two gals for the part.
Sophie Monk,or Jessica Biel.
See Jessica in(I now pronounce yoy Chuck and Larry),very hott in a cat outfit.
Others.......
If they bring back Joker,Matthew McConaughy.
Penguin,Matt Lucas.
Riddler,Jerry Trainer.
Bane,Jim Parsons-The Big Show.

just remember Gordon knows Batman is innocent so he will make no real attempt to catch him. the hotly tipped baddies for the next film are penguin played by philip seymour hoffman or riddler with possibly Johnny Depp.

Nolan/Goyer said they won't do Penguin at al. Sorry. Can't find the source.

I think the riddler could be awesome, as a computer hacker working for the mob, who later betrays them and joins forcess with some other major villains.
that one steroid guy (bane I think) could be added, as a steroid using musclebound enforcer, given the mob thing.
Penguin could be a failed millionaire who joins forces with the mob to continue his lavish lifestyle, with the assistence of two highly trained assassins from japan, courtesy of Ra's Al Gule ( two chicks from The Batman cartoon series, don't know if they were in anything else)

Pretty much Johnny Depp'ed out.He's in 4 movies a year.Besides that, he's Tim Burton's muse.And now it seems Burton only makes(kid)friendly movies.He is a dad.Sort of.Plus Depp is to old for the part.Michael Emerson is way to old.Good actor!But to old.
But I see what Goyer and Nolan are doing.Making the characters more human,and less cartoon'ish.

Nolan has said that he likes the current comic book penguin who is eccentric and efficiently scheming but he also said it would be a tricky character to bring to the movies.

Yeah. I don't see how he'd be so tricky though. I'm not TOO eager to see them do Penguin myself, but I'd even go so far as to say that Penguin's outline would be no trickier to adapt than the books' Scarecrow or Ra's al Ghul.

Batfan, you bring up an interesting point. However, I can't think of anything that makes Riddler's age depend on being under 40. Is it just that you'd prefer him in is 20's/30's? Secondly, even if you're right, couldn't NAG (Nolan and Goyer) just use creative license here like they did with Joker's hair length and the setting of the scarring of Harvey Dent?

true Null they could use creative license as they already have and not just with the joker or two face, they did it with ra's al ghul turning him into a ninja and even his look in batman begins was different from how he looks in the animated shows and the comics,even the way that joe Chill was killed outside the courtroom was creative licensing as the comics always had batman go after Chill, but Nolan isn't the first with creative license as Burton did it having Jack Napier kill Bruce Waynes parents and Joel silver got creative with having two face kill dick graysons parents when originally in the comics it was a gangster named Boss Zucco.
Nolan probably means it would be hard to do a penguin differently from the sleazy animal like penguin protrayed by devito and still make him a successful baddie,personally I think whoever plays the next baddie will have a hard time because of how good heath ledger did with the joker.

True.

That's why I'm sticking with Riddler and Deadshot. I think that's their best shot... so to speak. I don't see a better balance of realism and fantasy out there that fits. Except maybe a well-done Catwoman, but I won't go there.

who says nolan has to have a baddie in the next movie, what about having another vigillante like the huntress who comic book fans will know is a high school teacher who got tired of watching her pupils kill themselves with drugs and so decided to rid Gotham of drug dealers by any means neccessary including killing, as we know batman will not kill and would feel like he had to stop her, having someone like the huntress in the movie another masked vigillante would mean batman would have to use his detective skills to track her(after the dark knight nolan got complaints that he isn't showing batman as the great detective he is meant to be) which would keep hardcore fans happy.

Fascinating idea! Kinda like the Daredevil vs Punisher story (which ought to have been considered for adaptation as a jointed "sequel" if they had the balls IMO).

I guess there's only one serious problem I have with that. Isn't Huntress' parents Batman and Catwoman? That level of character alteration would upset hardcore fans much more than her inclusion could satisfy, I think. However, if there were a different anti-hero NAG could use to draw out that side of Batto...

Null you are correct to a point the Golden age Huntress was Helena Wayne the daughter of Batman and Catwoman but in 1985 during the crisis on infinate earths she was removed from continuity and the modern day Huntress is Helena Rosa Bertinelli. One of the better stories involving the Huntress is Batman vs Predator 2, for anyone wanting to read something with the Huntress in it.

Null,most if not all career criminals peek between the ages of 20-30ish.Like most rock stars.Who wants to see a old rock star after the peeked?Take Nick Jagger,he looks like Barney Fife now.Eeeek!Lol.
I like to read about true life crime stories,and I belive thats the direction the movies and characters are going.Not a bad thing.
If they wanted to start from the (real) start.Batman carried a gun or two,and killed people.
But that dont sell toys,or(adult collectables).
Shawnee Smith/Harley Quinn???
Try,Alexis Dziena/Harley Quinn.
A Joker groupie,who like other inmates at Arkham,escaped.And now is in touch with him.
I like your other picks.Very good!
But for Catwoman,I can only look at those two I mention before.
If I was looking to go with (older)gals,I'd go with,Camron Diaz,Charlize Theron,Jenna Elfman,or Andrea Roth.
All fine actress'es,and smokin hott,but all are cougars.
Need a gal thats not a kitten,but a cat.25-30.
Besides,Batman now needs a new love intrest.

Hahahaha. It took me a while, but even though I think Smith would've done Quinn's voice and personality best, I finally submitted to the reality that a younger, more powerful box office draw would be necessary. I'm not married to any one actress (and it's all but moot since without Joker they can't do HQ anyway) but I like the Kristin Bell buzz I've seen.

Your "criminal peak" argument is a very fair one, generally speaking. I think some characters however not only get away with, but sometimes must, defy that principle. Some might be Penguin, Freeze, Ra's, and Riddler. Of the four, Riddler has the best case to broaden his criminal peak window if we take a look at his tactics. In each of his iterations, he is physically unintimidating, at best. One could argue that a [healthy] 45 yr old Riddler out-strategizing Batman and manipulating the police, fellow criminals, and ordinary Gothamites alike would be more acceptable and understood than say DJ Qualls (whom I might have hoped for the 20's Riddler route). I want a Riddler with thick skin and a seasoned criminal appetite, not a brilliant egomaniac who simply meets his match with Batman. I wanna see Batman pushed beyond his limits as a detective in hiding, going crazy with no one to hit hard enough to make it all stop. For Nigma to be believed by a wide audience, or even just us fanatics, as a man capable of mystifying Batman with a sinister web of schemes, control, confusion, misdirection, and despair without throwing a single punch, heh, we need "a tremendous amount of patience."

Oh, and thanks KK. That changes things. I'll check that out.

Harley Quinn need not see Joker .Just be in some scort of contact.Look at just released inmate,Squeaky Fromme.
I agree with you on a battle of the minds with Riddler.
How Joker is a anarchist,Riddle should be a mad genius.
But like you said,youth gets box office.

I still stand by having Rachel become harley quinn after having been mentally tortured by the joker, and before any annoying members(see a post of mine in Rachel Dawes dead or not in the dark knight section from about 1 year ago) who know nothing about batman say anything I know Harley Quinns real name is Harleen Francis Quinzeel.

Ok so let me get this.Rachel Dawes,becomes Harley Quinn.But Harley Quinns real name is Harleen Francis Quinzeel?Make that Dr.Quinzeel.Joker twisted her to his thinking.
Rachel dead.Theres no comming back.
And who to be Rachel next time?
If they can change people in movies,then Joker can come back.
If just for a few mins.
Just to set up a plot.
More than one thing can happen at a time.
Look at last movie.
A good plot would be a new love intrest for Bruce/Batman,Salina/Catwoman.
Villians,Riddler,Harley Quinn.

Give me conclusive proof that Rachel Dawes is really dead in the dark knight.
The love interest story would suck we have already seen it over the course of batman begins and the dark knight and the bruce/batman in love with selina/catwoman has been done to death as has the riddler character he has been in the 60s batman tv show, the batman forever movie and he is the second most used baddie in the batman comics just behind the joker.

I'm with you, KK, on feeling uncomfortable towards the blatant obviousness of using Riddler yet again in a new Batman series. However, I just can't deny the... blatant obvious of using Riddler yet again in a new Batman series. As much as I'd appreciate being pleasantly surprised as I was with the choice of Ra's, I can't think of anyone who can better fit the timing of not only having to equal or one up TDK, but also have to follow a tragically deceased super artist like Heath - playing arguably the best version of the best villain in Batman's history. Dude. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear it! But, it's gonna take more than a short opinion about Freeze or Black Mask (for example) to get people to ignore that Riddler, in all honesty, IS right there.

They said they're not doing Penguin. Bale said he wouldn't have a Robin. Two-Face is insisted to be dead (although I'm holding out some hope otherwise). And, Joker stays Heath's forever according to Nolan. Aside from adding some hench-villains for Riddler to use and what not, I got nothin'. Nothing that sounds as attractive as an Emerson/Riddler (and maybe Deadshot) panicking the audience half to death with mystery.

Null that is what I like about you, your posts are well thought out and researched. but if I were to suggest a never before used in movies batman baddie I would say Abattoir, who Batman comic fans will know as a serial killer who targets members of his family and just about anyone else who is near his intended family victims, it could be fun to watch batman entering the crime scene almost catching Abattoir only for the police to arrive and add this murder to the list they think Batman reponsible for, and also watching batman use his skills to evade the police but also catch Abattoir.

Kriskaos,Joker was done before too.Look at what a great job they did on his make over.
More hell bent on terror than ever.
But Riddler,now you can have a battle of the minds.
Catwoman,Harley Quinn,cheese cake sells movies.
Plus theres the action figure sales.
You just cant make a action movie with out(stuff).
With the Batman movies that are being made,these are by far the best!
Plot,actors,outfits,location.....New York would be better.
But you have to look at botton line,money.
Movies arent made for arts sake.There made to make money.
Thats why I cant see Michael Emerson in a green spandex jump suit.
I dont think anyone else would want to eather.
But I do belive a couple of gals in latex and spandex,people would want to see.
As well as a young guy in it as well.
Batman is on the run.What better way to clear himself than with the challenge to end all challenges,X's 3.

true the joker has been done before and more often than any other batman villian but he is used so often as he is instantly recognisible by anyone in the civillised world and also he has been reimagined as often as batman has,the joker is the ultimate villian it pits a derranged mind against a focused mind,the ultimate in evil as he has no morals against the ultimate force in good who has morals,that is what makes the battles with batman and the joker fun, where as the riddler is the baddie who has plans and has a strange need to leave clues that make it easy for batman to catch him making it less fun, but then again it would bring out the detective in batman.

Hmm. That's an interesting point you make about multi-marketing and merchandising. I hate to acknowledge the significance of the influence of such things on art, but it is undeniable. However, I think you neglect Batman Begins with your analysis, Batfan. Sure, making money is a staple of Hollywood and a critical goal for any film, especially superhero films. But, NAG have made good efforts to find a finer balance between money and art.

Liam Neeson is an attractive man, but not nearly the young draw that today's Josh Hartnett or Chad Michael-Murray might've brought to the role. I shudder at the thought of swapping Neeson for "a younger, sexier draw". At the same time, I do have to recognize that in BB we still had something of a romance between Bruce Wayne and Rachel Dawes; with Scarecrow being cast by a younger, more attractive good actor than would've been loyal to comics.

Perhaps, the missing piece to the speculation, or at least in the discussion between us three, is an inclusive compromise of these attributes. With Emerson/Riddler, we get the "Neeson/Ra's" of B3. (And btw, I wouldn't underestimate how much young people, even young children, love them some Ben Linus taking on the bat. Oh, and green spandex? Please.)

@kriskaos: Though it may be risky for us to see the multiple romance angles getting old and predictable after a while, maybe SOME aspect of sexual tension wouldn't hurt. I'd "like" a Catwoman rework. But, they wouldn't even have to go that far I think. Why not include a less explosive character like photographer Vicki Vale? Or, putting a swift and easy end to the imposter Batwoman of comics? Or, less likely, a small-to-medium size role for Gordon's daughter turning 14 and doing part-time clerical work with her father - maybe the super obvious Dakota Fanning? (In case anyone wonders why, Gordon's daughter would one day work full-time with her father while fighting crime as Batgirl, and one day as Oracle. But it doesn't necessarily have to go nearly that far this time. And, "14" because of minimum age for child labor law and she could be a draw for well.. 14 yr olds.)

As for a single-serving hearthrob dude, again I'm with Flanery as Deadshot. But I suppose there's a library to choose from at this point between actors and henchvillains. Hartnett/Deathstroke??

I have to say I kinda like the idea of NAG developing a groove if they choose to go older villain, younger villain, older villain, younger villain as far as the spotlight is concerned - the oldest perhaps being Freeze (or Dracula lol). It would set a good rythym overall I think.

Ive heard rumors that catwoman will be portrayed by Megan Fox in the next one although I haven't seen any proof. I personally think its a bad idea but I also didn't think Ledger as the joker would work, and boy was I wrong.

I kind of like the riddler idea, especially since he is a mind game villain. Like the Joker in a way, maybe this leads batman to think its still the joker or some twist like that.

A previous post talked about mathew mcconohay (spelling). He might work for a villain, especially the riddler. I really think brad pitt could play a role as a character as well, hes pretty versatile think seven to oceans 11.

Assuming Megan Fox can act worth a damn (not saying she can't, just that we haven't seen anything too impressive from her as an actress yet), I like the idea. Unfortunately, after some snooping on your sig site as well as IMDB and others, Warner Bros. has officially denounced "the rumor" that Fox has even been reached, let alone signed. Even the All-IMAX rumor has more of an opening than Fox/Catwoman. And, considering it originated with Britain's The Sun, I'm not surprised. Eddie Murphy, people. Eddie friggin' Murphy. That image is scarred onto my retina everytime I see them mentioned.

The rumours about Eddie Murphy surfaced when Batman Forever was being made saying he would either play Robin or the Riddler, those rumours are just being rehashed again, I read a interview with Goyer and Nolans brother saying that most expect us to do catwoman and the penguin in the third batman movie but who says we have to, makes me think it will be a villian that hasn't been done in the movies before.

Now all Magen Fox needs to do is get some acting lessons if she gets the part.
Just look at the great actors in these series of movies.
Kind of young for the roll,still a kitten not a cat.
Kriskaos,Rachel is still dead.
Last seen raining down in flames on Gotham.

prove to me she is dead, go on give me irrefutible proof, they don't have a funeral for her, there is no mention of finding her body in the movie.
If you type villians for next batman movie into a search engine you can find a quote from someone at warner bros stating that Megan Fox hasn't got the part of Catwoman and hasn't been approached,the script hasn't even been started so on the Nolan Bros know who the baddies will be.

Look at the movie again please.
Joker gave Batman the adress'es crossed.
He wanted Harvey saved so he could bring him down to his level,and he did.
Joker said,"Do I look like someone with a plan?".
Well he did.He had plans all along,for everyone.
Kill the girl,kills the Batman.
And it worked.
Listen to what Joker talks about closly.Thats his plan.
I think when they gather all the bits n pieces and put them out.
They will have something for her.
Makes for a great dark opening for the next movie.
Look closly at her tied up in wearhouse,50 gal drums of gas and TNT all around her.
BOOM!