Is the third Batman film Christopher Nolan's last? He makes it sound that way. Plus the director spills a few details about Inception, Hollywood's first "metaphysical heist film," and why his Superman may be the loneliest hero on the planet.
The LA Times interviewed Nolan, and he revealed a few details that will help us better understand what to expect from Nolan's Batman, Superman, and dream movie Inception.
Inception:
The first little bit of interesting information was on Nolan's exceptionally complicated and delightfully original dream movie Inception. The interview revealed that not only was the final work shot in six countries but that it flips between three levels of dream-time. What those are, we have no clue, but we can't wait to hear the main character, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, explain it.
Batman 3
Next up is the news that this Batman, Nolan explains that this might be his final Bat-picture he makes and why:
"Without getting into specifics, the key thing that makes the third film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story," he said. "And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story"..... "Unlike the comics, these things don't go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful. Viewing it as an ending, that sets you very much on the right track about the appropriate conclusion and the essence of what tale we're telling. And it harkens back to that priority of trying to find the reality in these fantastic stories. That's what we do."
I think we all saw this coming, but it doesn't make it any less sad. Still, at least here you have a team of people that know when to say when, and really care enough about the characters to end a saga before it drives itself into the mud, Spider-Man style. Also, it sounds like all of the surviving characters are coming back, possibly including the Joker, though there was no way Nolan was revealing who would replace the late great Heath Ledger, and whether the Joker would be back indefinitely. But he did promise no Mr. Freeze — and we thank him for that.
Superman
And finally, Nolan's other upcoming superhero project, Superman's comeback, is slowly rolling along. The leaked title, The Man Of Steel, and the presence of Brainiac as a villain, are apparently just rumors — but they have a great story lined up. From what we can tell his idea is to keep Superman as the only superhero in his world — but we have no idea if that means no superpowered villians, as well.
Right now David Goyer is now writing the screenplay and Nolan is producing — there's no word on any possible directors of if one of the Nolan brothers will be directing.