Batman vs. Indiana Jones in 2005
The release date of the next Batman film has been rumored, and if our sources are reliable Batman 5 will go head to head with Indiana Jones 4 on the weekend of Independence day 2005. Will we get to see how Indy fairs against the Dark Knight? Probably not.
Release Date: July 4th, 2005 (wide)
Release Date Note: (9/29/03) I've received word from an anonymous but reliable source that Warner Bros. is aiming for one of the biggest dates of 2005: Independence Day, July 4th. July 4th is a Monday in 2005, but this is one of those holidays (like Christmas Day), where studios often release movies regardless of the day of the week. This decision puts them head-to-head with one of the *other* highly-anticipated movies of 2005, Indiana Jones 4. Now, historically, we don't normally see two such high-profile films open on the same day, so ultimately, the odds are that someone will flinch (for example, one of them could just open a week earlier in late June). Who will make the first move now that the game is on?
Title Note: (9/3/03) According to a completely unconfirmed scoop over at AICN, the current working title may be 'Batman: Intimidation.' (9/11/03) IGN FilmForce reports that the title may actually be 'Batman: Intimidation Game.' Thus far, Warner Bros. has made no official statement or confirmation of any sort of title, except to call it the 'next Batman movie.' (9/29/03) For now, I'm going with 'Intimidation' as many sites are.
MPAA Rating Note: (6/2/03) Nothing's official until the MPAA sees the final cut, but it is extremely likely that Warner Bros. will be aiming for a PG-13.
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Company: DiBonaventura Pictures (G.I. Joe, Constantine)
Cast: Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman); other cast not announced yet.
Cast Notes: (9/3/03) The past casting notes and thoughts have become so lengthy that I have moved them over to the Greg's Preview Thoughts column. (9/11/03) "Variety" reports the big news we've all been waiting for. Warner Bros. made the decision last night to go with Christian Bale, who also happened to be the fan favorite in the poll that has run on the site for the last week, with 47% (of 10,391 votes).
Director: Christopher Nolan (Memento, Insomnia, Following)
Screenwriter: David S. Goyer (Blade, Blade II, Death Warrant, The Crow: City of Angels, Freddy vs Jason; he's also got Blade: Trinity coming)
Screenwriter Note: (6/2/03) Recently, before David S. Goyer was announced as the screenwriter of this project, a script appeared online called 'Batman: The Frightening' which may have been a spec script that Warner Bros. optioned (or not), with there being conflicting reports about who might have written it. This script, which is available to read over at Batman-on-Film.com, focuses on the Scarecrow as the main villain, with a small role for the Joker. It will not be used for this movie, but it is the origin of rumors that Nolan and Goyer may be using the Scarecrow as the villain. Something that is worth remembering is that rumors that the Scarecrow would be the next Batman villain go all the way back to 1997, when there was talk of the "next George Clooney movie" after Batman and Robin (such talk stopped after that movie flopped critically, becoming the target of fan derision).
Based Upon: (6/2/03) This movie is, of course, based upon the character of Batman, which has been published in a variety of comic books by DC Comics since 1939 ("Detective Comics" #27).
Premise: (9/11/03) Warner Bros. is being very tight-lipped about what exactly this take on the 'Batman' legacy is like, except that it will focus on the younger Batman (ie, not long after the setting of Batman: Year One). What is definitely known is that this film will follow one of the adventures of billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, whose obsession with bringing justice to the evil-doers of Gotham City compels him to fight crime as Batman, master detective. There have long been rumors that the villain (or at least one of them) will be the Scarecrow, who uses drugs and chemicals to alter people's perception of reality, sending them into nightmare-like hallucinations. Harry Knowles of AICN is also reporting that another villain will be Ra's Al Ghul, an international criminal mastermind obsessed with taking over the world (and maintaining his immortality, after having lived 600+ years). Knowles also reports that much of the film will be set in London. The appearance of Ra's Al Ghul also suggests that his daughter, Talia (whom Bruce Wayne has had a romantic relationship in the comics), will also be featured.
Filming: Production is scheduled to start in February, 2004 at the Shepperton Studios near London (source: AICN).
Genre: Action, Crime, Eye Candy, Sequel, Superhero