The interview Christopher Nolan did with Empire to promote INCEPTION is making a lot of waves. That movie’s the one I’m looking forward to the most this summer, but it’s not Nolan’s words about that which have gotten all this attention. Of course, it’s what he’s said about BATMAN 3 and the new SUPERMAN movie. There’s a lot of quotes to wade through (at SHH and Collider) so I’ll break down the tidbits into little points for your convenience.

* The Joker won’t be recast. This really makes Heath Ledger’s death all the more a loss for audiences. It seemed like they were setting up the Joker’s return for a third movie at the end of DARK KNIGHT. I remember reading at one point that TDK was planned to be two movies, the second opening with Harvey Dent prosecuting the Joker for his trial. Two-Face’s whole acid scarring would’ve occurred there. Obviously, Ledger’s performance was so iconic that it’d really be impossible to follow it up. His presence will probably be akin to Ra's al Ghul's, now. 
== TEASER ==

* Nolan hasn’t committed to directing BATMAN 3 yet. He’ll be producing, for sure, and his brother Jonathan’s writing the script right now off of a story they worked out with David Goyer, but Chris is wisely not dividing his attention between this movie and INCEPTION. Maybe that’s not the answer that fans want, right now, but it’s going to lead to better product in the long run. Better to do it right than force it.

* They’re keeping Superman close to his roots. Nolan says that the idea for SUPERMAN that’s got everybody at Warner Bros so excited sprang out of a discussion he and Goyer had while they were running into writer’s block for BATMAN 3. Goyer idly proposed how he’d do a Superman movie and Nolan thought it was the best take that could work in a modern context. Although, ironically, he thinks it’ll work by not straying too far from Supes’ roots in the context of the 30s and, also, that it will be better executed by somebody else (possibly his brother, Jonathan.)

* There’s no Superman/Batman crossover in their sights. Though he’s producing both movies, Nolan thinks it would dilute the nature of the characters to have them meet. He thinks the big DC characters resonate because of their individuality. He’s curious to see how Marvel’s characters’ team-ups will work, though he’s a little skeptical. If they do work, he thinks it'll be because they’re fundamentally different from DC’s.

-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Studios and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. HYBRID BASTARDS! is available  here and UNIMAGINABLE is available here for pre-order on Amazon.com.  

cant wait for either movie!

i just hope that either catwoman or poison ivy are in the next film, its about time that he faced one of his iconic female enemies i would also like the mad hatter to be there aswell 

No really much info there. Oh well.

" cant wait for either movie! "

I thought they'd go with blackmask but I think probably the riddler or catwoman would be the best suited given Nolan's grounding to reality as much as possible. Enemies like clay or bane are out. 
 
It just seems like they already set up a lot with the mob and the black mask could set in and fill the power void. I'd like to see the riddler myself.

I know him saying he does not believe the heroes should intertwine is something fans won't be happy about but I do think something should be said for Nolan thinking of the characters first. 
 
 Him saying he will be keeping Superman close to the roots makes me wonder the original Superman was more concerned with the problems of the everyman and fought crooked politicians or businessmen not really supervillains.  
 
I personally do not want to see a villain that has already been in a movie they should use Black Mask or the original Reaper.

I always thought this was what they would do, well at least until they get rid of Nolan as a director.

I'm kind of glad to hear that. The character was really made iconic for the movies. It would be hard to imagine anyone else really taking on that version of the Joker. It would feel like an imitation.
The reason Michael Gambon did so well whe he took over the reigns of Dumbledor in the Harry Potter films was that he didn't try and do it the same way. He did this own thing.
 
I never got the vibe that the Joker would be returning at the end of Dark Knight. It would of made Batman's moral victory at the end feel kind of pointless if it just had to happen again.
 
I don't understand the constant need to have the Joker be the villain. He is Baman's most iconic villain, but Batman has many. How many would translate well to this more realistic setting is the big question.
It's like with the Arkham Asylum games. How many times does Batman have to fight the Joker before it starts to feel silly? It was perfect for the first game. I'm unsure about the second, but we will have to see.

With no Superman/Batman crossover in sight, does that mean no plans for a JLA film at least in the next forseeable future?

" With no Superman/Batman crossover in sight, does that mean no plans for a JLA film at least in the next forseeable future? "

" @Dracade102 said:

"
Mad Hatter and Catwoman need to be in the Next one... Then; DARKSEID!!! "

Can Mad Hatter be made realistic though? "

shame about the joker.

@Foxxfireart, Thing is with video games you can get away with doing the same thing over and over again with slight differences and new things introduced(we've seen it for YEARS with Mario to fighters to adventure games) 
 
However, with a movie you can't really do that without being criticized for it and obviously if people are paying 30 bucks+ to see a movie, people do not want to waste their time. At least with a game you can get your money back or trade it in for credit...lol you can't really do that with a movie in theatres, it's either a bust or not by that point.  
 
To sum it up in a nutshell, movies and video games may be similiar in some aspects but very different overall...
 
Personally, I think this is interesting news. I'm not so hung up on the whole "OMG Joker MUST be in a Batman movie" like others mentioned, he has quite a few people in his rogue gallery of villians lol.  
 
As for Superman movie, you know he won't change but question is what kind of battles will he be fighting? Political ones? War? Super Villian? Lex? Also like Bats, quite a few options.  
 
The only remote news I'm a little disappointed in hearing with this interview is the fact that nolan seems so against Batman/Superman in one picture, I think this would be rad personally....I don't see how it would take away from either of them being as how they're the two most popular comicbook characters to begin with already....even if it's for like 5 minutes or 3 times in a 2 and half hour movie...

in the future I want to see the joker again. maybe we get the   Arkham Asylum s toryline without the titan formula.

 Black Mask is the best choice for the next villain.

so will nolan's superman take place during the 30s??

Joker's performance in TDK was nowhere near to being iconic, people just are hung up on the death and mere presence of the Joker. Although it was a good performance.
Let's hope this goes well, with news rumbling on rumors 

I love how he's doing both Batman & Superman. I hope he gets Tom Welling in it. 
 
But I disagree with him trying to make them in seperate worlds. Thats where WB's should tell him no. It should be in the same world.

Hmmm... This is a wait an see situation... although recent Batman flicks haven't disappointed yet!

Dang, thats sad about Joker. I mean don't get me wrong Heath was/is amazing both in the role and just all over as an actor but I'd still like to see the joker return later on in Nolan's series. :(

you know it's a real shame Heith Ledger had to pass away because he made that Batman movie into a masterpiece well at least His row but he played a really good Joker

Jesus whats so good about his Joker anyway? The only reason people like it is cause the actor died. Boo-Hoo. Get over it. Actors can be replaced. And it wasn't Heath doing all of that, that wasn't Heath's ideas. It was the writers. So easily, HEath could be replaced with the same writers. 
 
Honestly, I think Nicholas Cage should have played Joker. His performance in Bad Leiutenant explains why.

Wow, The Dark Knight was supposed to be two movies?  I guess it makes sense considering how quickly they introduce Two-Face, only to get rid of him shortly after.   
A shame, I woulda liked to see the movie that revolved around him.

Well this is both good news and bad news. I guess I can't be too upset about that.

I own said Empire issue and I'm going to give it a good read this weekend.

" Jesus whats so good about his Joker anyway? The only reason people like it is cause the actor died. Boo-Hoo. Get over it. Actors can be replaced. And it wasn't Heath doing all of that, that wasn't Heath's ideas. It was the writers. So easily, HEath could be replaced with the same writers.  Honestly, I think Nicholas Cage should have played Joker. His performance in Bad Leiutenant explains why. "

I think it's a smart move.

I'd like to see Batman go up against Bane on the big screen.... it could happen. Deadshot would be cool to see too.

Greatest caption ever on that picture!!!

who's gonna play Superman?

"he thinks it'll be because they’re fundamentally different from DC’s"   
 
true, true he has a point there. 

it will be called  Shadow Of The Bat

No Joker recast is great news, & Superman in a 30s context would be interesting.

"   He thinks the big DC characters resonate because of their individuality. He’s curious to see how Marvel’s characters’ team-ups will work, though he’s a little skeptical. If they do work, he thinks it'll be because they’re fundamentally different from DC’s"  
 
---Gotta love Nolan. 
 
So, I was not even close to being born in the 30's... can somebody explain to me how that Superman is different from the current one?