After The Dark Knight Rises

*THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS. I HAVE WARNED *

So the Christopher Nolan Batman film series ended this year with third and final film “The Dark Knight Rises.” The film ended with Bruce faking his death and passing on the cowl and the cave to the young former detective John Blake. (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) Near the ending of the film we learn that John Blake’s birth name is Robin, making reference to Batman’s famous side-kick, and the film ends with him entering the Bat-cave. This has resulted in fan raving about a Nightwing film. Now they could have Blake become the new Batman, much like Dick Grayson did, but this would feel too much of a rehash, so taking a different persona would be for the best. Now realistically they’d have to go straight to Nightwing because could you really see the Boy Wonder in a gritty, no you couldn’t, so you would naturally go for Nightwing. However they could go with the ‘Red Robin’ persona Tim Drake took when wanting to become a superhero in his own right. Another reason you’d skip the Robin persona is that is name is Robin and he couldn’t just go around fighting crime under his own name. How exactly would that conversation go down with one of his friends?

“Hey Blake. Have you heard about this new vigilante? He’s going by the name Robin. He showed up round about the time you retired as a cop and started showing up with unexplained bruises. Blake isn’t your first name Robin? That’s such a coincidence.”

Some people are convinced that Nolan will be doing a Nightwing so I’m just going to outline the likelihood and plausibility of it all.

Now I keep hearing people say about Nightwing being Nolan’s next project and this is starting to really annoy me. Nolan will not make a Nightwing movie! He stated that he would not be making another Batman film and I’m pretty sure that would include any spin-off films. Though I’ll admit, if there is a Nightwing film Nolan could have a hand in it to an extent. Much like he is with the Superman reboot “Man of Steel,” Nolan could be a producer for the film, overlooking the production. However I believe Nolan would only produce it if he got to decide to write the screenplay and directed it because I think Nolan would want a lesser-known director to come in and take on the film. A director had only done indie or cult films, much like Nolan when he directed Batman Begin. A new director could take the film in a different direction but, possibly with some help from Nolan, maintain the realistic tones to the movie. With Nolan as a producer we could also have the fantastic composer Hans Zimmer, a frequent collaborator of Nolan’s, return and compose the musical score for the Nightwing film.

Now I’d say if they were to leave it a few years, perhaps 4 or 5, we could get a Nightwing film. That would leave the Batman films to simmer down and leave it open for a new DC film, this way it wouldn’t feel rushed. Gordon- Levitt is 31, round the same age Bale when he started Batman Begins, and if they were to leave it too long it mightn’t work out. There could be the possibility that Gordon-Levitt would look too old to be Nightwing, a young character, though he is pretty youthful looking right now so unless he changes dramatically I think its not a huge concern.

Then there’s the matter of training. The two things that made Batman so effective and intimidating were his gadgets and his training he received from the league of shadows. The ability to disappear and become invisible, the uses of explosive powder and the Keysi fighting method. All taught to him by the league of shadows. Unfortunately for John Blake, he would not be able to receive such training how Bruce Wayne killed Ra’s al Ghul, burnt down their headquarters in the Bhutanese mountains and became of the league’s most hated. So I doubt Blake would be able to ask for the training. Though John could always travel the work to learn skills, just like Bruce did. Blake could learn a new fighting style to help differentiate himself from Batman.

Blake’s costume as Nightwing would also need some alterations. Batman stated that the importance of the mask is to hide your identity, not to protect yourself but those who you love. The classic Nightwing outfit doesn’t exactly do just that. The classic outfit has the black & blue leotard with the small facemask that covers his eyes. Dick Grayson might get away in the comic’s but real people would quickly see through it and his identity exposed. So they would have to change the costume to work the realism into the film. Now Blake could still have the hardened Kevlar plates on titanium-dipped fibre tri-weaved body armour that Batman had in the second and third film but with a streak of blue on it and without the cape. The helmet of the armour could be redesigned to fit the Nightwing look, removing the bat ears. They could always take inspiration from the Red Robin costume, which uses a cape and cowl with a round helmet.

The plot is also something to consider. Personally I think one of the things that made the Nolan’s Batman is so good was the fact that he took elements from different Batman Graphic novel.

Batman Begins:

Batman: Year One

Batman: Long Halloween

The Man Who Falls

The Dark Knight:

A Killing Joke

Batman: Long Halloween; this time using it for its retelling of Two-Faces origins

The Dark Knight Rises:

Knightfall

The Dark Knight Returns

No Man’s Land

 So I feel taking inspiration from graphic novels about the character would help make it that little bit more intense. Though I’m not the hugest reader of Nightwing comics so I wouldn’t really know what they could take inspiration from. However I have a few plot ideas

John Blake, being played by Gordon-Levitt obviously, begins his crime-fighting career as Nightwing.            After being a infamous figure in Gotham city, raiding drug deals and beating up petty criminals, Nightwing starts working alongside the serious crime unit, much like his idol. After gaining some attention from the press, being called “The new Knight of Gotham City,” A series of murders begin, with a riddle being left at each crime seen and at each scene the killer taunts and criticise Nightwing, stating that he is far less intelligent than him (the killer) The killings continue and he is now classed as a serial killer. The serial killer then gives himself the name Riddler. The Riddler begins to lead Nightwing to death traps, where he has the chance to save hostages if he is able to beat the Riddler in a battle of the minds, which he fails and the hostage die. After a close call with an explosion, Nightwing retreats to his cave. He begins to feel inadequate to Batman and believes he isn’t cut out to be Gotham’s protector. But when the mayor (or someone else of great significance) is kidnapped Nightwing returns and defeats the Riddler, by beating him up. Just a basic premise, it would require a lot more thought put into it.

To who would play the Riddler I am unsure of. After the announcement of a third Batman film from Nolan there was much speculation to who the villain could be. One of those villains was the Riddler, who even had very authentic fan-made posters made for him. The actor these people suggested to play the Riddler was Guy Pearce. Now I do like Guy Pearce as an actor but I don’t think he’d be right for the role. Pearce is too good looking to be the Riddler, and too masculine. The Riddler isn’t a man of physical power; he’s a man of great mental power. Edward Nigma should be small and quite nerdy, with a hint of mental breakdown. However the costume of the Riddler in the fan posters would work well. The green suit and trench, black leather gloves and a cane with a green tip, which has a question mark engraved on it.

 

Personally I think the actor David krumholtz (Numb3rs, 10 things I hate about you) would play the role well, though as he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2010 and has since begun treat I doubt he’ll be returning to acting anytime soon.

 

I also believe the actor Martin Starr (Freaks and Geeks, Adventureland) could portray the Riddler well, with his slightly long hair, beard and glasses.

 

Robin Williams could play the role, I think he would be able to covey the sense of a broken man who is on the edge, which is what I always seen in the Riddler.

Then there’s a matter of other characters. Would key supporting characters return?

They could take inspiration from Nightwing#1: Alfred’s Return. Alfred could have left for England when Bruce faked his death. John could travel to England, revealing he knew their secret and explaining he wishes to become like Batman but he needs Alfred’s. He convinces Alfred to join him and they return to Gotham together

Then there’s Lucius Fox, who would realistically need to remain in the story to allow for Nightwing to obtain gadgets.

Commissioner Gordon could have retired after the events of Dark Knight Rises. I don’t see how he could have continued to be commissioner after lying to Gotham City for 8 years. Though again his bravery could of kept him on. Gordon could remain as commissioner but now with a character such as Maggie Sawyer to be the captain of the serious crimes unit, who could also be Nightwing’s main contact in GCPD. Gordon could also be retired and occasionally be visited by Nightwing at night.

A love interest would also have to be thought out. As John Blake is a brand new character he doesn’t have an immediate love interests they would have to develop a new one. They could use a love interest from one of the other Robin’s but from what I’ve research only Dick Grayson had any significant love interests. Had Nolan had included Barbara Gordon as one of commissioner Gordon’s children, she could have grown up and returned to Gotham, later becoming a love interest of Blake’s, most likely to the commissioner’s dismay. However they could use the character “Catalina Flores” as a love interest. Catalina is a former FBI agent who becomes a vigilante in the comics, though they could leave that part out.

So that’s how I think a Nightwing movie could work. Film or no, I doubt Warner Bros are going let go the franchise anytime soon. Though again I could be completely wrong and they’ll never touch the idea of a Nightwing movie. What do you think?