©Warner Bros/Courtesy of The Everett Collection/The Everett Collection
David S. Goyer is the co-writer of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. The director hired Goyer to help flesh out the story and co-wrote 2005’s Batman Begins before Nolan and his brother Jonathan wrote 2008’s The Dark Knight and 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. based on stories uncovered by Goyer. What does Goyer think of Nolan’s potential fourth Batman film? Don’t count on it.
“I don’t think that’s ever going to happen,” Goyer said when asked on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about Nolan making another movie. “And I wouldn’t want to do another Batman project.”
YouTuber HugoDécrypte previously asked Nolan during the Oppenheimer press tour if he would make “another superhero movie.” Nolan answered bluntly: “No.” Fellow Batman actor Christian Bale told ScreenRant last summer that it would only be the fourth time he would play Batman if Nolan directed.
“I had a deal with Chris Nolan,” Bale said at the time. “We said, ‘Hey, look. Let’s make three films, if we’re lucky enough to make it. And then let’s go our separate ways. Let’s not linger too long. I think it would be great if Chris Nolan ever said to himself, “You know what, I have a story to tell.” And if he wanted to tell this story with me, I would agree.”
Elsewhere during his Happy Sad Confused interview, Goyer confirmed reports that he was in favor of Jake Gyllenhaal being cast as Batman instead of Christian Bale. Although he noted: “Bale is amazing.” He also recalled how the head of Warner Bros. personally asked him to include Riddler in The Dark Knight Rises and have him play Leonardo DiCaprio. The Riddler was previously played by Jim Carrey in Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever (1995).
“After The Dark Knight, the head of Warner Bros. at the premiere he said, “You should play the Riddler.” Leo as the Riddler. You have to tell Chris, Leo is like a riddler. But we don’t work like that.”
Goyer said that he and Nolan never chose villains first. Instead, they revealed Batman’s story for each film and chose an appropriate villain to fit that story. Bane (Tom Hardy) was chosen to star in The Dark Knight Rises as the film struggled with Batman’s age and physicality following the more intellectual warfare of the Joker (Heath Ledger) in The Dark Knight.
As for the finale of their trilogy, Goyer said “yes, of course” when asked if Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s cop John Blake would take over the role of Batman after the events of The Dark Knight Rises. The film ended with John entering the Batcave, leaving the door open for the start of his tenure as Batman.
Watch Goyer’s full appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in the video below.
