Because Christopher Nolan likes keeping his projects as secret as nuclear launch codes, there’s been heavy speculation over who Tom Hardy will play in The Dark Knight Rises. Nolan apparently thinks that if we know who Hardy is playing now instead of a few months from now when it’s inevitably revealed, our enjoyment of the film will be absolutely destroyed. However, it’s okay to rumor-monger to our heart’s content and the rumor du jour is that Hardy is playing Dr. Hugo Strange, one of the film’s villains. As we previously reported, the other villain will be a woman.
If you don’t know much about Strange, that’s okay. He’s not one of Batman’s more famous rogues. Hit the jump for a crash course in this potential nemesis.
According to Wikipedia, Strange has actually been around since 1940 and was one of Batman’s first recurring villains. He’s a villain in the mad-scientist mold and possesses genius-level IQ and is a master of psychology. In the comics mythology, Strange learned Batman’s secret identity but kept it to himself. He eventually becomes obsessed with Batman, even going to the point where he starts dressing up like the Caped Crusader.
Keep in mind, Hugo Strange as the film’s villain is just a rumor at this point, although the folks over at Batman-News say that their source is reliable and knew that The Riddler wouldn’t be the villain and that Rachel Weisz and Anne Hathaway were in the running for the lead female role.
Assuming this is true, what are your thoughts on Strange being the villain? Do you think Hardy is right for the role? And if it’s false, who do you hope the villain will be? Sound off in the comment section.
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That would be amazing! I hope this is true.
I’m still holding out for Crazy Quilt.
Thanks for reporting on this rumor guys!
This was the first rumor I published from this source. They had previously told me The Riddler wasn’t going to be in, and that Weisz/Hathaway were in the running for the lead female. Since those turned out to be true, I figured I’d run the latest rumor from the same source. I hope this turns out to be true!
That sounds great. Choosing a psychological villain instead of a physical one is what separates this franchise from the other superhero franchises. Hope this is true!
Perfect.
Perfect.
Tom Hardy would be perfect as Deadshot
But Hugo Strange is a better character.
I never read the comics so Im not familiar with all the villains. I just hope that it isn’t CATWOMAN or PENGUIN.
Nolan already proved with BATMAN BEGINS that he doesn’t need the best or most popular villain. It’s all about the story. SO Hardy playing this STRANGE dude sounds like it would be a cool story.
Scarecrow and Ras are some of the best AND most popular villains in the rogues gallery.
Not mainstream popular.
Uh, yeah, mainstream popular. Since you’ve admitted you don’t read the comics and aren’t familiar with the villains, you don’t know what is mainstream popular in the comics.
Exactly, he doesn’t read the comics, therefore he only knows the ones that are mainstream popular, i.e., the Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Riddler, etc.
To further clarify: the Scarecrow and Ra’s al Ghul generally weren’t familiar to the mainstream audience, or at the very least, not as familiar as those that I mentioned above.
Thanks. That’s what I was going to write.
I love the idea of strange as one of the villains, he would certainly make for interesting foil and Hardy is a badass. Call me crazy but I am still convinced that Two-Face will be the main villain. Similar to how Scarecrow appeared to be the villain in Begins, I think whatever villain that will be announced will be a macguffin. I think that the Dark Knight was the Two-Face origin story and we will see him in his full glory in Dark Knight Rises. The one villain who won’t appear but needs to is the Joker. I read an interview with Nolan before Batman Begins came out and he said the single biggest mistake the original set of films made was killing the Joker. If Rachel Dawes can be recast then the single most important character in the Batman mythology other than Batman himself needs to be recast! You can check out some more of my thoughts on the matter here http://www.nickel-eyenews.com/2010/10/dark-knight-rises-without-riddler.html
“if Rachel Dawes can be recast then the single most important character in the Batman mythology other than Batman himself needs to be recast!”
Rachel could be recast, because she was stupid. But more than that, the recasting sucked! this is a terrible argument. Most were glad that the character was killed off.
As for Joker, I think its going to be incredibly difficult to pull that off. I don’t think its possible, though I wouldn’t limit Nolan’s skillz. If the joker was used then he would have to be used in a more peripheral, behind-the-scenes role. There are ways to make him a shadow, a puppet master.
I’m up for something new, yet connected to the old. Two-Face may be involved, but I don’t think he’s strong enough of a character, in this franchise, to be pulling the strings. He was too easily manipulated by the Joker. We’d need some more character development.
I’m cool with strange; I’m cool with whatever Nolan decides. I even want him to pick something more outrageous, and then prove that he can do it. I think the Ventriloquist could be a great psychological character to work with, myself. There is the potential for so much depth. That one may be a bit corny, though.
Using the word ‘skillz’ is always a good way to get people to listen to your argument.
Using the word ‘skillz’ is always a good way to get people to listen to your argument.
It’s already been confirmed that Two-Face is dead.
It’s already been confirmed that Heath Ledger is dead.
It’s already been confirmed that Heath Ledger is dead.
I truly believe that Tom’s role would be Hush think about it is one of the villains that would suit to the Nolan’s vision and also make a perfect combination with Catwoman.
I’m predicting a more known villain for the main manacing. Hardy could be a background villain.
Basically what Nolan did with Dark Knight was reimagining a known villain, and it was a hit. Why not do the winning formula again?
Because he’s not a director that sticks to any one “formula for success”. He sets out to do something different everytime.
If Nolan approves, it’s ok to everyone.
I’d actually prefer Black Mask – fits perfectly in Hardy´s profile and shape! Strange is ok too… but he´s kinda older on comics, right?
Strange has the chops. And while I’d prefer giving the role to a older actor, Hardy with makeup could definitely do it. Strange is like a evil Rusty Venture, and it’s extremely exciting if he is going to be on the silver screen. Nolan already used super science in the Prestige so this could be amazing.
This or deadshot (just no wristguns, more of a bourne type character I’m thinking)
I’m just going to say Clayface because I know it’ll never happen.
after seeing Bronson, i have faith in Hardy to pull off any character.
after seeing Bronson, i have faith in Hardy to pull off any character.
hmmm.. strange can be a strong contender.. but their are other roles that can fit him as well.
he can be black mask, ubu(along with Talia Al ghul if ever she’s the female villain), bane
or even hush.
whoever he will be I know Chris Nolan and co can pull it off:D
hmmm.. strange can be a strong contender.. but their are other roles that can fit him as well.
he can be black mask, ubu(along with Talia Al ghul if ever she’s the female villain), bane
or even hush.
whoever he will be I know Chris Nolan and co can pull it off:D
What? Of course Hardy is right for the role! This bloke is right for any role. ‘Bout bloody time he gets a meaty role. He’s finally given a chance to showcase his talent.
With that said, this is going to be very interesting if its true. It would seem that his brooding sense of situations is finally taking centre stage here with this supposed character. Then again who bloody knows, he could be the popcorn bloke behind the counter at a cinema Batman and friends are fighting and it would still be cool.
Get A Bloody Grip!
Fingers crossed for Poison Ivy
Here are my top man-woman villain combos that would be amazing/fit for this movie
1. Hush and Catwoman
2. Black Mask and Catwoman
3. Black Mask and Tahlia Al Ghul
4. Holiday Killer and The Hangman
5. Hush and Tahlia Al Ghul
My top vote is actually combo 4 becuz it fits with nolans set-up and anyone who knows anything about those chars knows that they were brought in as a result of Two-Faces creation. I don’t know much about Strange but I’m sure Nolan could make it work, please god don’t make Hardy into Harvey Bullock, no cop villains please. I would love to see Hush and Catwoman/Tahlia, just because the fights would be great and Hush is a genius level doctor with batmans ninja abilities. No matter what happens I know Nolan will pull it off.
It will never happen, but here are suitable Joker Re-Casts
1. Benicio Del Toro (should have been Joker in the first place)
2. Sam Rockwell
3. Timothy Olyphant
4. Chris Pine
5. Joseph Gordon Levitt ( has the acting chops and looks uncannily like Ledger)
6. Johnny Depp ( obvious why he’s on the list, only argument against britains domination in Acting ability)
Add to Joker Re-Cast
Mark Strong
Robert Downey Jr
Andrew Garfield
Tom Hardy(this would be amazing) see Bronson
Hmmm don’t think so, they want to finish the trilogy. I hope ra’s is in tdkr. Also I wouldn’t be surprised if hardy is the joker, I know that he said no, but they also said that the tumbler did not come out the tumbler. Soooooo batman needs to have the joker to complete the trilogy or else they would have to reboot again and I don’t think there gonna have that. Imagine if Heath did not die, and said that he did not wanna do tdkr. People would be furious. Also probably the people that say nobody could be the joker probably said that nobody could beat jack. I feel horrible about mr. Leger but there not gonna recast because he was horrible, but he passed away. He wrote the book on how to be the joker. I would trust Nolan to do what’s best to finish there legacy. Instead of rewriting the plan. Nolans a genius, am pretty sure they had this trilogy planned. So people if the joker is in tdkr don’t get mad. Lol
Hugo Strange feels AWESOME! and very much like what Nolan would choose.
They are bringing back Two-Face. A hint from the last movie is that they never showed his body at the funeral scene.
Hugo Strange ABSOLUTELY should be the next villain… he, like Ras al Ghul have been Batman’s most cerebral villains and both have made for some of the most compelling comic book storylines in Batman history. Penguin, Joker, Catwoman, Riddler, Mr. Freeze have all been done to death… they’ve had their time… Strange would be a perfect character to introduce to the general public who’re unenlightened as to the complexity of the modern age comic books. People need to be informed that the age of the campy caped crusader went out with the classic t.v. show!!
HUSH. I think HUSH.
You guys make no sense at all with Hush… Ridiculous Idea. You would have to set up the character like in the comic book and you would see the ending from a mile away. The only reason i didn’t see it coming in the comic book is they went through the entire rogue gallery. It was obvious in the comic and would be worst in the movie. SERIOUSLY STOP SAYING HUSH LOL!
You guys make no sense at all with Hush… Ridiculous Idea. You would have to set up the character like in the comic book and you would see the ending from a mile away. The only reason i didn’t see it coming in the comic book is they went through the entire rogue gallery. It was obvious in the comic and would be worst in the movie. SERIOUSLY STOP SAYING HUSH LOL!
Just think of the script. What’s going on in Nolan’s universe right now? Batman took on the mob to clean up Gotham, kills Ras al ghul in the process, mob gets desperate, seeks Joker’s help, joker takes advantage, batman crosses some boundaries but not all and sorta gets things under control but is now on the run. There’s a lot of mob stuff in there would black mask be too much of the same or would he be right in line? What options make sense with this story. Not just with the characters or with Nolan’s habits. Because many seem to think Nolan’s habits aren’t very habitual, other than going unsuspected routes.
After seeing Tom Hardy in Star Trek:Nemesis I think he would be perfect and would that
be Catwoman or Harley Quinn as the female villian I thought Morgan Freeman’s character
was done with Batman,how is he coming back ? Have they decided on a new actor too play Batman if Christian Bale doesn’t come back after the third and if they do a fourth wouldn’t the Boy Wonder Robin be ready to be part of Batman’s life and how is Mr.Nolan
going to outdo the Dark Knight next to Princess Bride Empire Strikes Back Titanic and
even The Godfather The Dark Knight is rank up there with one of the best movies ever
made .And wouldn’t by now a backstory on Alfred be in order and what about minor characters that later appear in the lifeof Batman like BatGirl or Man-Bat ? But the third
installment somehow better outdo the Dark Knight somehow .rkallao@aol.com
Um. Everyone’s talking about villians like Strange, (or before that, the Riddler) discovering Batman’s true identity and using it against him. Does it matter to anyone that he already has to deal with the fact that Reese already figured it out in TDK? The only villian that really makes sense to me is the Penguin. I envision a plot where Oswald Cobblepot runs a hugely successful company based on all the government weapons contracts that Bruce Wayne’s company refused to make as part of their business back in the first film. Anyways, the Penguin can use this access to such bountiful weaponry to bring Gotham to its knees. And who would help him with this endeavor? The remainder of Gotham’s Mob syndicate. By convincing them that the only way to ever hope that things will go back to the way they were, is to evolve, turning what’s left of the mob into a well-supplied army. Oh and Paul Giamatti would be cast as the Penguin.