News : "The Dark Knight Returns" movie?

[Clint]

Frank Miller, author of the greatest-fuckin-Batman-story-ever (sans the script for Joel Schumacher’s “Batman and Robin”) “The Dark Knight Returns”, has given “300” director Zack Snyder the thumbs up to bring his ‘Elderly Caped Crusader’ tale to the big screen.

According to Slashfilm.com, Miller’s comments were made at this past weekend’s Comic Con.

Snyder, who bought Miller’s “300” to the big screen, says he’d be prouder than punch than to bring “Dark Knight Returns” to the multiplex.

“I would love to see Frank Miller’s Dark Knight made into a movie, but that’s just me”, Snyder (at Comic Con to promote “Watchmen”) said.

Nope, it ain’t just you Snyder – Frank wants it, Warner’s Michael Uslan wants it (and that’s a big someone!) and we want it.

“The Dark Knight Returns”, told over 4 issues, is set twenty years in the future, at which time Batman has retired from crime fighting following the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin.

Bruce Wayne funds the rehabilitation of Harvey Dent ("Two-Face"), leading to his release from a mental hospital, but upon re-entering society, Dent returns to crime. Wayne dons the Batman costume again and apprehends Dent, but in an increasingly media obsessed society, the populace debates publicly whether Batman is a savior or a menace.
The Joker, along with a psychiatrist, appears on a talk show to discredit Batman. Before he leaves the studio, he murders everyone in sight.

It’s a great story.

Who would you have play the aged Batman? (Clint Eastwood was rumoured at one stage - - but isn’t he just a tad too old?)
What about the Joker? It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Heath Ledger in the part.

It might never happen, but considering the big business “The Dark Knight” is doing at the box-office, and Christopher Nolan’s plan to end his Batman series after the next sequel, Warners are going to be looking for a way to keep the series going for a few more post-Bale years. It’s probably already been discussed.

[Clint]

Can you believe I've actually read TDKR? Yeah, made myself.

What else should I read graphic-novel wise? any other good Superhero ones about?

[TheFraze]

OMG Clint, I've been waiting for this - I just posted a long list of recommendations in my last column, but here's the long and short of it

Batman: The Long Halloween (Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale)
Batman: Dark Victory (Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale)
Batman: Year One (Frank Miller)
Batman: The Killing Joke (Alan Moore and Brian Bolland)
Batman: Hush (Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee)
All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 (Frank Miller and Jim Lee)
Kingdom Come (Mark Waid and Alex Ross)
Marvels (Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross)
Watchmen (Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons)
New Avengers Vol. 1: Breakout (Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch)

Non-Superhero Graphic Novels:

Pride of Baghdad (Brian K. Vaughan)
Fables: Legends in Exile (Bill Willingham) - once you read one, you'll be hooked
The Walking Dead (Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore)
Stephen King's The Dark Tower - Gunslinger Reborn

[memberofQuantum007]

We'll see how this devlops I'd prefer if WB looked at Batman as MGm looks at 007 and kinda keep nolan's verse going well post nolan. Perhaps a hire a young director who would be willing to use the more outlandish villains.

but that is just me.

[Clint]

Originally Posted by TheFraze

OMG Clint, I've been waiting for this - I just posted a long list of recommendations in my last column, but here's the long and short of it

Batman: The Long Halloween (Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale)
Batman: Dark Victory (Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale)
Batman: Year One (Frank Miller)
Batman: The Killing Joke (Alan Moore and Brian Bolland)
Batman: Hush (Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee)
All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 (Frank Miller and Jim Lee)
Kingdom Come (Mark Waid and Alex Ross)
Marvels (Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross)
Watchmen (Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons)
New Avengers Vol. 1: Breakout (Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch)

Non-Superhero Graphic Novels:

Pride of Baghdad (Brian K. Vaughan)
Fables: Legends in Exile (Bill Willingham) - once you read one, you'll be hooked
The Walking Dead (Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore)
Stephen King's The Dark Tower - Gunslinger Reborn

Awesome. I've read a few Jughead comics in my younger years, even a Casper and Wendy, but have barely read a comic since. Time to pay a visit to the library!

[jordan4584]

Old Batman, eh? I have but one word:


Keaton.

[Up_All_Night]

I don't know, nice throw back, but i don't think he really has the edge. Can you see him as a cantankerousness old billionaire/ex superhero?



I like the idea of trying to continue batman in the mold of the bond franchise, the similarities between the characters and everything is there.
Speaking of bond, i am a huge bond fan, films and books, and i was thinking about this the other day, how remarkable it is that the franchise has lasted so long and how awesome it is, and how i never want it to stop. The creation of bond on to film, really has to be one of the greatest achievements in film making. To make a character and a formula which is so enduring, and is still able to have new life breathed into it after so long. Although credit goes to the creatives behind it, and the broccoli's they are the one's who have ensured it's been so great. If it was own by a big studio handed around to different people instead of this one group in charge, it properly would have been doomed.


Anyways.. on a The dark Knight Returns.. I'd be all for it as a stand alone to be done once Nolan and Bale are finished with their batman films. But i don't want that to be after just one more. However i understand it. But something is to be said, as with the bonds, when you have something good, and can do it well.. keep at it. You've won the lotto, the chances of doing it again are so low.

[TheFraze]

Robin Williams as the old, effeminate Joker

As for Batman, who knows. Clint Eastwood's probably too old - but it's got to be someone like that.

[Man-spider Venom fan]

how about mikel keaton as old bruce wayne and jack nikleson as joker?

[Up_All_Night]

If sean connery could ditch the accent...

[Stone_Cold_Steve_Austin]

im confused on this one? if this gets made, is it a seuqel to TDK? or is it a new batman movie altogether? i dont really see 2 batman movies out at the same time span or close to it

[Up_All_Night]

It's just people talking about a movie they'd like to make. No relation to current Nolan Batman.

[PrivateEye]

Very interesting concept though, I've never read any of the TDKR issues, I would be very interested in watching it. I can say I never been disappointed with Miller or Snyders work, as I am looking forward to seeing both The Spirit and the Watchmen.

[TheFraze]

Stone Cold,

The Dark Knight Returns is a graphic novel by Frank Miller that takes place when Batman is an old man. Dick Grayson and Jason Todd have come and gone as Robin and now Carrie Kelley, this 13-Year-Old girl has taken up the mantle. Meanwhile, all the other old supervillains have died except the Joker, he is strangely effeminate and possibly homosexual. A new gang called The Mutants comes to Gotham and threatens to take over, so gruff old Batman has to come out of retirement to kick their ass.

You should def. check it out. It's in a universe of its own, if they were make a movie of it - it would probably resemble something like Sin City + Watchmen - basically, Zack Snyder SHOULD do it ha.

[PrivateEye]

Someone should tell Warner Brothers to pump out a Nightwing movie. Except cast someone whose not Chris O'Donell.