After Michael Caine let out a so-called confirmation about the Batman's foes casting rumor a while back, Philip Seymour Hoffman, the actor rumored to be portraying Penguin in "The Dark Knight" sequel, has finally spoken up about it. At the 33rd Annual Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, September 9, the 41-year-old stated to MTV News, "No one has talked to me about it ever - never."
Sounded similar to the reaction given by Johnny Depp who has been linked to the role of The Riddler, Hoffman put off the burning flame by confessing that he has never met director Christopher Nolan and the speculation is a mere rumor. "It happened, like, five years ago, too," he said. "It was a rumor back then and it's still a rumor. [laughs] It's just in the press. It's funny."
When asked about his interest in starring as the mobster-type criminal with high-tech umbrellas, he confessed, "I don't know. I think I'm more interested in seeing someone else do it. I don't know if I'd be a good Penguin to be quite honest." He also noted that as a fan of comic book movies, he intended to stay purely as a fan saying, "I'm such a fan of those movies. Comic book movies in general I look forward to - I am a real cheerleader for them."
"I want them to do well because those are terrific stories. As a kid I was a big comic book collector. What [Nolan]'s doing is taking it in a whole other exciting great place. I'm more a fan, so the interest of being in it isn't that great. It's more the interest in wanting to see the next one. It's probably better that way."
Following the massive success of "Dark Knight" on retaining the second slot of highest grossing movie of all time with $512.4 million nationwide, speculations about the possible sequel which is tentatively named "The Caped Crusade" has been streaming in, especially from the possible casting of the villains. Aside from Hoffman and Depp, other thesps linked to other Batman's foe, Catwoman, include singer Cher and "Wanted (2008)" star Angelina Jolie.
 |   Boom Boom Pow Black Eyed Peas |
 | LoveGame Lady GaGa |
 | Knock You Down Keri Hilson |
 | Poker Face Lady GaGa |
 | Halo Beyonce Knowles |
 | Waking Up in Vegas Katy Perry |
 | The Climb Miley Cyrus |
 | Please Don't Leave Me Pink |
 | Second Chance Shinedown |
 | I Do Not Hook Up Kelly Clarkson |
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NYC COMIC-CON NEWSLETTER: author: Dave Micah 4/18/08 NEWS OF BATMAN: KNIGHT FALL / BATMAN: HARSH WINTER / BATMAN: HARSH WINTER KNIGHT / BATMAN: DARK CHILL OF KNIGHT Batman 4 Synopsis: Years ago, Lucius Fox was moved up from his dreary job in archives. He assumed an apprentice position with Wayne Enterprise's premiere scientist Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze). Fox,Victor and his wife Nora's studies led the company in unsurpassed innovations. Unknown to Victor and his new assistant, they had a black market arms dealer in their mist. A young products manager in corporate named Richard Earle. Earle's ambitions to be the majority stock holder and one day run the company out weighed his morality. Fries discovered the truth after being confronted by a dying man named Guillermo (Brutale) Barrera. The team leader of Hasaraguan soldiers used as guinea pigs to create an impervious army. Once Earle gained knowledge of Barrera's presence. He began to plot Victor's demise. After a lab accident left Nora at death's door. Fries discovered the substance that nearly killed her could be used to save her. In order to slowly replicate new cells from bad and one day wake his beloved whole again. Victor resorted to cryogenic freeze and induced his serum for it's properties of cellular fission. Upon reading Richard Earle's fraudulent status report and Victor's refusal to reveal his work. Thomas Wayne ordered Fries to hand over his research or shut down his project. In desperation he embezzled millions to continue his work privately. After being unable to crack Victor's security access. The lab was shut down electronically which produced catastrophic results. Lucius discovered the true madness of it all. As the unseen project he had worked on revealed itself to the light of day. Victor forced his friend out of the lab. Leaving Lucius trapped behind locked doors, helpless from saving his mentor from certain death. Victor fought to stop a containment breach before it reached critical mass. As liquid nitrogen flooded the room and Victor's body grew stiff. In a last educated guess to grant him some mobility and save Nora. He plunged the serum into his heart. An effort which would prove too little, too late. After he awoke in a morgue and mourned the finality of it all. He began planning humanity's domination. Now, nearly 40 years after the largest scandal in the history of Wayne Enterprise. A man whom was presumed to be dead returns to exact his revenge. With the promise of great wealth, Richard Earle travels to the heart of Antarctica with a series of nuclear launch codes. He is to meet a man known only as Mr. Zero. He is greeted by a being with an ageless face, he could never forget, and a badly deteriorated body. So much so, Victor has replaced his decaying organs, bones and flesh with cybernetics of his design. As promised their exchange will go unfettered. However, Freeze never said he would fly Earle home. As Gotham is met by a less than warm homecoming. Batman goes on the hunt for the villain dubbed as Mr. Freeze. Meanwhile, Dick Grayson promising never to dawn the shadow of Nightwing again. Defiantly he takes on a new persona as Robin. Changing the name of the game, Robin takes it upon himself to free the world's top scientific minds from Freeze's bidding. Only to be ambushed by Brutale and his men. Trained assassins who will prove themselves to be more than just deadly. Fries engages a bitter sweet union with Fox to unveil Bruce Wayne's alter ego and take control of his company's satellites. As Freeze is unaware Nora lays within arms length of him. Lucius Fox makes a final plea to save Victor from his demons. Batman and Robin race against the clock to topple his four decades of meticulous planning. Plans which will melt the polar ice caps and leave the ocean's Great Conveyor Belt in its tracks. Mr. Freeze vows that his Earth will be a new age of reason. As half of the planet is covered in ice and the other bows down to his logic or dies in opposition. The Dark Knight faces his deadliest foe yet. An enemy that is bigger than Batman, bigger than Gotham, with the fate of the world laying in his remorseless grasp.
NYC COMIC-CON NEWSLETTER: author: Dave Micah 4/18/08 NEWS OF BATMAN: SHADOW OF THE NIGHT Batman 3 Synopsis: Jervis Tetch (Mad Hatter) is a neuroscientist who pursues his theories despite genetic sanctions. He creates a synthetic organism by combining his nano technology with human stem cells. Then he gambles to reverse his autistic patient (Riddler) Edward Nigma's mental degradation and prove himself right. He is caught, fired and shunned by the scientific community, but not before discovering the key to mind control. He has the misfortune of testing a subject by the name of (Catwoman) Selina Kyle. She is reclusive secretary suffering from split personality disorder. A home body who's only companionship lies in her cats. Batman is confronted by a new foe named (Dick Grayson) Nightwing. A revenge driven vigilante who's sole declaration is to do to criminals what the Dark Knight will not. Which is kill those who commit atrocities on the people of Gotham like his family. A series of mysterious deaths are approximated within sightings of Nightwing. However, once he announces responsibility for murders Batman had Commissioner Gordon blame him for to preserve Harvey Dent's good name. Batman begins to question the validity of Nightwing's claims to being a murderous vigilante. Batman hunts down Nightwing in an effort to persuade him from becoming what he hates most. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is seduced by Wayne Enterprise's newest addition Selina Kyle. Selina's alter ego becomes her psyche's dominant personality due to Jervis' attempt to control her. After unforeseen side effects on Selina's neural pathways send her adrenal glands into overdrive and her conscious mind to fall victim to Tetch. Catwoman emerges with unbridled strength, agility and an overconfident sexual appetite. As Tetch uses a cognitive transmitter to impose his will. He plagues the citizens of Gotham, as Mad Hatter, with an organism which gives him reign over their consciousness. The Dark Knight is engulfed at every turn with attempts to end his life by the citizens he swore to protect. Their very eyes act as cameras and their bodies act as weapons to prevent Batman's attempts to stop him. Under the guidance of Lucius Fox, Batman infects himself with Tetch's organism to establish a telepathic link. Bruce Wayne pits himself against Mad Hatter in a battle of mind vs madness. He is greeted by a world from which he wished he had come from. Then in an instant he is confronted by a nightmarish existence from which he can not escape. While he tries to convince Selina Kyle that she is the key to stopping Mad Hatter. Lucius Fox succumbs to Tetch's control and Batman is left trapped in his own head. This leaves a psychotic Catwoman as one of the Dark Knight's only hopes of waking up to the real world again. As a blood thirsty vigilante, who blames Batman for not stopping the man responsible for his family's death, is left to choose his fate.
I went to the New York Comic-con this year. I found a lot of people talking about the Dark Knight of course. As well as the future story lines for the next 2 films. Several patrons were saying the film is suppose to deal with the introduction of (?Guy Pierce?) Dick Grayson. I heard word that his character was to be spun in the 3rd film directly into the Nightwing character. A vigilante which will later become Robin in the 4th. Selina Kyle / Catwoman (?Angelina Jolie? / ?Keira Knightley?) is supposedly going to be in the next film. As well as ?Johnny Depp? portraying Jervis Tetch / Mad Hatter. There was talk about (?Elijah Wood?) the Riddler's appearance would be small in the 3rd installment. If the franchise makes it to a 5th movie. There is word he will play one of the villians. Aaron Eckhart has been quoted as saying Two Face is dead. Even so, there was mention he would be returning as a budding Harvey Dent. Who begins his career as a public defender. He defends the client who killed Dick Grayson's family. There was also talk that Christopher Nolan has written the predominant story for the 3rd film. Though the screenplay maybe in re-writes now. I have been reading there maybe no further involvement on his part in future Batman films. So the future for the series is up in the air. Despite speculation there would be a Joker and Two Face reunion. I did not hear anything of the kind at Comic-Con. Where it was said Jonathan Nolan has been writing the story for the 4th film with ?Razor Sharpe?. Who I heard will be starring as (Victor Fries) Mr. Freeze. ?Natalie Portman? is speculated to star as Nora Fries. ?Joey Ansah? is said to possibly play Guillermo (Brutale) Barrera. Richard Earle (Rutger Hauer) was mentioned to return in the 4th film as well. It was tossed around that ?Chiwetel Ejiofor? is to play a young Lucius Fox and ?Wentworth Miller? would play a young Richard Earle. Linus Roache (Bruce Wayne's Father / Thomas Wayne) is said to appear in the 4th film too. I did not hear anything on whether David Goyer has any ties to the writing of the next 2 films. Also, is there any truth that Jonathan will be taking up the series in his brother's absence? Are Goyer and Christopher Nolan truly leaving The Dark Knight series to pursue other projects of interest? I hope not. It would be a damn shame if they did. If so, I hope if Jonathan does assume his brother's duties. He is at least half as good as his brother if not as good. If so, I see no reason to fret about whether or not the next films will be good. Because they will be destined to be great.