Michael Caine “It’s Johnny Depp as The Riddler and The Penguin is P. Seymour Hoffman"

[Mr. Creasy]

I post it as I read it...
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/09/08/exclusive-michael-caine-says-johnny-depp-is-the-riddler-philip-seymour-hoffman-is-the-penguin/

It’s one of the biggest — and most hotly debated — questions in fandom…which actors (and characters) will director Christopher Nolan enlist as a villain for his third “Batman” film? Rumors have abounded since the release of “The Dark Knight,” and Nolan has remained fiercely tight-lipped. But now, has one of his main players let slip some of the biggest casting news of the decade?

In an interview with MTV News, Michael Caine seemed to confirm rumors that the next installment of the “Batman” film franchise will feature two very well-known names playing the roles of The Riddler and the Bumbershoot Bandit, The Penguin. “They’ve already got them in mind,” said Caine, when asked who he’d like to see take up arms against the Caped Crusader. “It’s Johnny Depp as The Riddler. And The Penguin is Philip Seymour Hoffman. I read it in the paper.”

So Caine is like the rest of us, reading gossip in the tabloids, right? Except for one thing…according to the actor, he confirmed the news through the studio itself.

“When Christopher [Nolan] said we were going to do ‘The Dark Knight’ next, I didn’t what that meant in Batman terms,” related Caine, who plays Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. “I said, ‘What’s the story?’ and he said The Joker. I said, ‘Oh, s–t! How are you going to top Jack [Nicholson]?’ He said, ‘Well, I’ve cast Heath Ledger. And I went ‘Ha! I couldn’t top Jack, but if anyone could, maybe Heath could.’ And he did.

“I was with [a Warner Bros.] executive and I said, ‘Are we going to make another one?’ They said yeah. I said, ‘How the hell are we going to top Heath? And he says ‘I’ll tell you how you top Heath — Johnny Depp as The Riddler and Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin.’ I said, ‘S–t, they’ve done it again!’” [Laughs]

While rumors of Depp and Hoffman have been hot topics around the upcoming film for quite some time, this is the first instance of one of the film’s stars speaking about the news, as well as Caine citing an albeit unnamed WB executive.

Meanwhile, when asked if he’s spoken to Nolan about the news or the next installment’s script, Caine made mention of Nolan’s vacation, and hinted that, “No. He’s gone. He’ll come back with a script sometime.”

[Smiert Spionam]

Caine's taking a piss.....no doubt about it.

[TeawithBlood]

Interesting. Don't know if I buy into it completely, but interesting.

[john_rambo]

I hope its true :D

[TheJadedGamer]

If Phillip Seymour Hoffman is the Penguin, I'll shit myself with glee.

[MidnightAngel]

No Harley Quinn in the next sequel? :mad:

[therealjohng]

Already a thread on this subject?

[Mr. Creasy]

No Harley Quinn in the next sequel? :mad:

I was thinking the same thing. Because personally AND I SAID PERSONALLY I think Quinn needs to be on the Nolan/Batman universe.

[RandalGraves]

I think both would be AMAZING casting for those roles! And Depp said he would love to do it already too!:cool:

[Smiert Spionam]

Why the fuck do so many people wanna see Harley Quinn?

Without the Joker, she is nothing.

[Jig Saw 123]

Thats the only possible way they could top The Dark Knight is by having Johnny Depp as The Riddler or any other character.

[sbunn10]

I dont know how true this is.. but it would definately be good news!

Two great actors might make up for the lacking of Heath's joker... maybe

[electriclite]

Caine's taking a piss.....no doubt about it.
Agreed.


This is exactly what every fanboy, internet film forum etc has been surmising for God knows how long now. Now all of a sudden Michael Caine is spilling it out himself word for word? As the Brits say: Bollocks!

How often have the internet message board picks and rumors been right when its come to guessing Nolan's moves and choices?

I'll let that question speak for itself.

[TeawithBlood]

Why the fuck do so many people wanna see Harley Quinn?

Without the Joker, she is nothing.

Actually you can. They pulled it off in Birds of Prey pretty well. There shouldn't be a problem doing it for the third Batman.

And who wouldn't want Harley in the next one? She's an amazing character.

[Smiert Spionam]

Birds of Prey was fucking terrible. There's a reason why it barely lasted a season.....

Harley Quinn is just not compelling enough on her own because she is completely defined by the J-Man. And although I will admit that she is fun, she's far from an "amazing" character.

[fooknasty]

Just blowing smoke....

[APzombie]

It's regurgitated rumors since 2005 and from an executive no less. Wishful thinking from the boys at WB who provide the cash to put up the film.

Really, we didn't hear about Heath's casting until well over a year after Batman Begins. If Nolan is still interested, we can expect the same procedure.

[the clever guy]

http://taylorhicksgirlfriend.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/bullshit1.jpg


no script, no ideas, no casting, no people are definetely signed on.....



for fucks' sake, that exec was probably looking on the joblo forums and reading everyone's response to "casting the next batman villian" and chose the most popular or obvious choices......














although if it is true, i will hide in a dark corner for a while before i get beaten with reeds.

[Elgyn]

This is obviously a bunch of crap guys. Why would some exec be saying this stuff to Michael Caine? The movie`s not even in the planning stages.

And Harley Quinn COULD work without the Joker.

[Smiert Spionam]

And Harley Quinn COULD work without the Joker.

Okay, let me put it this way: Someone explain to me what Harley Quinn's possible motivation would be without the Joker and without making her appear to be a Joker rip-off in the eyes of the average film goer. What could she possibly want? And on top of that, how could she come to exist without the Joker having a hand in it?





















See what I mean?

[spacemonkey]

could be major piece of bullshit...but damn does it sound nice to my ears.

[BatDaddy]

Caine probably got sick of people asking him if he knew anything and just picked up the rumors that have been flying around. That, and this is also a good way to get his name mentioned in entertainment news.

Though I agree those would be some fine casting choices.

[dellamorte dellamore]

With the Joker , nothing is as it seems , same with Nolan .

Don't expect him to cast someone you think is perfect for the part , because we should know by now , he'll do just the opposite . The very fact that people think Depp and Hoffman would be fantastic is the very reason he will find someone people would never suspect .

If the Riddler is one of the villains in the next one , and i have no doubt he will be , Depp won't play him , and whoever he picks will piss off the fanboys , at least at first , until they see him in action .

Same goes for the Penguin casting , although i'm not so sure he will be in the next one .

About the Caine rumor , i can stop the pontificating about it's alleged authenticity right now , the actors sign non disclosure agreements , so they are forbidden , under contract to reveal certain details about a production until authorized by the stusio , from what i understand . Is Caine sugned for the third , if so , then there is no way he would be revealing anything about the upcoming production ( yes , it's coming no matter ) , so this leads me to believe he is taking the proverbial mickey and having some fun with the fanboy culture .

[adamjohnson]

I was thinking the same thing. Because personally AND I SAID PERSONALLY I think Quinn needs to be on the Nolan/Batman universe.

Well then Im glad its not up to you.

[Elgyn]

Okay, let me put it this way: Someone explain to me what Harley Quinn's possible motivation would be without the Joker and without making her appear to be a Joker rip-off in the eyes of the average film goer. What could she possibly want? And on top of that, how could she come to exist without the Joker having a hand in it?



Simple: she`s obsessed with the Joker and thinks she`s continuing his work. As a secondary villian she`d be great.

[NuclearMisfit]

*spoiler alert*









Id like to see Harley Quinn show up eventually since The Joker is still alive for her to break Mr J out of Arkham. Nothing can top Heath The Joker but if hes not recast then he can no longer revisit the character down the line if he wanted to.











*end of spoilers*

[NuclearMisfit]

Simple: she`s obsessed with the Joker and thinks she`s continuing his work. As a secondary villian she`d be great.

Exactly right, not saying she deserves her own movie but would make a great secondary villain mirroring The Jokers antics.

Theres been many villains Ive heard mentioned as of late including Black Mask and I think I would be very let down if it was the case.

[Mr. Creasy]

Well then Im glad its not up to you.

Well, is up to Nolan... not to any of us. Rumors are rumors but is OK to believe or not believe at them. Take a look at this rumor: "Sarah Jayne Dunn was cast as Harley Quinn in TDK, but the role was cut because of Ledger's death. She ended up playing Maroni's mistress (the girl in the club)." I don't believe it but the Depp/Riddler PSH/Penguin is more possible.

Rumour had it that one of the final scenes had Joker going to Arkham Asylum and Dr. Harleen Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn) was admitting him. Speculation is this scene was cut because of Ledger's death.

[Potter82]

Johnny Depp as The Riddler? Phillip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin? That's not what I heard when I ran into Morgan Freeman the other day! According to Morgan the next Batman film will feature Seth Rogen as Bane!!

[adamjohnson]

Well, is up to Nolan... not to any of us. Rumors are rumors but is OK to believe or not believe at them. Take a look at this rumor: "Sarah Jayne Dunn was cast as Harley Quinn in TDK, but the role was cut because of Ledger's death. She ended up playing Maroni's mistress (the girl in the club)." I don't believe it but the Depp/Riddler PSH/Penguin is more possible.


Why would it be cut when he finished filming long before he died?

[AshleysDad]

It is all disinformation. I want to see Depp do another Pirates of the Caribbean movie dammit.

[Smiert Spionam]

Why would it be cut when he finished filming long before he died?

Not to mention that there was literally no place for a scene like that in the film. This Sarah Jayne chick is just trying to milk as much publicity out of his as she can....

[bigred760]

I don't buy it . . . yet.

[NuclearMisfit]

Id like to see that scene be on an Unrated dvd.

[Elgyn]

Guys I remember hearing rumors about that scene before the movie even came out.

[The Postmaster General]

The best part of this is I'm now picturing Michael Caine posting on message boards.

[bigred760]

The best part of this is I'm now picturing Michael Caine posting on message boards.

The best part?

[Shockwave]

Heh.

I like how that story says Nolan is on vacation and hasnt reported back yet, yet the studio already has the villians in mind and the actors who play them already cast.:confused:

I just dont buy it.

I think they were more or less telling Caine who they would LIKE to be cast and who they would LIKE to be the villians and how they think this would top the Dark Knight IF they could get them on board.

I really hope the studio wont get too grubby with this one.

[The Postmaster General]

The best part?

I know this is Michael Caine and not Michael Bay, but I'm not so certain that it's uncommon for studios to have their actors and crew carry disinformation for the reason of building speculation and hype toward their movie. This is the same movie franchise that had people in joker face paint running around town looking for a cake, so I'm not too excited when an actor not involved in prepreduction comes out and verifies fanboy and fangirls wet dreams about who'll be in the next movie.

So yes, as they say, "The best part."

[Orson-Cockart]

Catwoman - Kate Beckinsale
Penguin - P.S.Hoffman
Riddler - Paul Bettany
Joker - who knows

They might go with the Reaper instead of all that.

[Superplasmatron]

Catwoman - Kate Beckinsale


YUCK!

[Orson-Cockart]

YUCK!

:D you serious? Kate in a tight catsuit, you describe as "yuck"?

[Superplasmatron]

Yes I can't stand her. I saw underworld it was pretty yuck, shes the person they hire if they cant get Rachel Weisz, now thats a lady who would look good in a cat suit, but either choice would not be edgy enough for Nolan's dark Batman.

[Smiert Spionam]

Catwoman - Kate Beckinsale
Penguin - P.S.Hoffman
Riddler - Paul Bettany
Joker - who knows

They might go with the Reaper instead of all that.

Who cares?

[Orson-Cockart]

Who cares?

Hahahah, don't worry about it :D