Of all the actors who got a boost off “Inception” this summer (which is pretty much all of them, to some degree or other), Tom Hardy was perhaps the breakout star. Those of who’d seen the likes of “Bronson” or his TV work like “Stuart: A Life Backwards” had been fans for a while, but his role as the playful, flamboyant forger Eames brought the joys of the actor to a wider audience. He’s already set for a small role in “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” and the lead alongside Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon in McG’s action-comedy “This Means War,” but suffered a blow over the weekend as “Fury Road,” in which Hardy was set to take over Mel Gibson’s role as Mad Max, was delayed for over a year.
This is no big problem for Hardy, as Deadline is reporting that he’s landed another of the most sought-after roles around — he’s joining the cast of Christopher Nolan’s still-untitled third “Batman” film, the follow-up to the critical and commercial smash “The Dark Knight.” Many had tipped “Inception” co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt for a role in the film, and while that could still theoretically be in play, Hardy looks to be locked in.
There’s no word on what character Hardy will play — Warner Bros. won’t even confirm if the role is villainous in nature. But unless he’s playing Robin (who Nolan has promised won’t make an appearance), it seems safe to assume that he’ll be a bad guy. But who could it be? The Lizard? Venom? Sorry, wrong superhero franchise…
The Riddler is the one that’s been batted about most by fans, as the character seems to fit the realistic nature of Nolan’s films the best. If that is Hardy’s role, it can be guaranteed that, like Heath Ledger’s Joker, it’ll be a wildly different version of the character than ever seen before. This is still breaking, so we’ll update if and when more information become available. The third Batman begins filming next spring for a release in the summer of 2012.
I bet he plays Harley Quinn, he has a wide range.
I hope this is true. Whoever he's playing this would be great.
I like this guy a lot, glad to see he is getting great work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Grundy_(comics)
Thus shooting in New Orleans.
Batman 3 is considered to be a Nolan version of The Long Halloween.
I hope he plays Batman.
They're shooting in New orleans because of tax incentives. Everyone needs to get that in their heads. It's not because of character.
Same thing for Green Lantern. It shot their for the same reason. They didn't choose the Cajun Lantern as the villain.
New Mexico, New Orleans, Michigan are three of the biggest tax incentive film states in the U.S. right now. Many, many productions are shooting in all 3 places for those specific reasons and pretty much no other reasons.
i knew since "mad max" is delayed and Emma Thomas said good things about him!
Davis,
http://www.illinoisfilm.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=2
Also the majority of Nolan's Batman crew were residents of Chicago. Illinois also had a higher instate worker tax credit than Louisiana. They are actually losing $ to go there.
Even though there are credits on out of state production costs (nolan, producer, actor) they are still losing money in the process.
I actually make movies for a living, man. People should research this stuff before getting snarky blog reader.
For Batman to move for a 0% change of the 30% tax credit which already has some of the soundstages and prop houses / lighting units / Caterers in makes no since.
Nolan uses every piece of the Buffalo. Chicago is a perfect fit for Gotham City whereas New Orleans only has 1 street Loyola which could possibly pose as a metropolitan juggerenaut.
If they wanted to save more $$$ they could film in Puerto Rico or Michigan (40%) .
Anon, whatever. Just don't get the nerds' hopes up that the villain will be Caijun Joker or the Gumbo Soup Catwoman or whatever, that's not gonna happen. It's gonna be the Riddler ppl, deal with it.
The Penguin will prolly show up as a very stripped down and normal Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.
What about Hardy for Oswald? I can see him as a great gangster character whether its a "Penguin" or just another Gotham mafioso…He could also play a pretty badass cop/detective who wants to find the Batman and Gordon knowing the truth has to find ways to keep him at bay or throw him off Bruce's trail…
may i suggest he would be a good Bane. and its easy. don't use stupid plant toxins. just good ol' steroids.
So the Riddler is basically gona be a dapper version of Bronson?
"Batman 3 is considered to be a Nolan version of The Long Halloween." That was The Dark Knight. Go back at re-read The Long Halloween. It is beat for beat The Dark Knight movie. Been there, done that.
Riddler is too similar to Joker. A sadistic madman leaving clues to toy with the detective? Again, been there, done that. They have one move as far as I'm concerned: Catwoman. Now that Rachel's dead, it's the only out for Nolan's franchise. How can Bruce Wayne find peace as both Bruce AND Batman? Catwoman. A love interest that suits both lifestyles. Fade to black.
I imagine the other villain, the requisit male villain, will be Hardy as The Penguin.
Killer Croc baby.
I would bet that Hardy will be playing Floyd Lawton, aka Deadshot…
A colleague and I discussed The Riddler maybe acting as a Joker copycat. That could be interesting.