Dark Knight FAQ (Up to March 2008)
Official Dark Knight Posters:
Why isn't there a "Batman" in the title? :
The director Christopher Nolan wants to do something different from Batman begins (2005), his first film in the series. The title is a way of telling the public as much. It also distances the film from kiddie comic books, Saturday morning cartoons, the campy 1960s TV series and the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher movies of the late 80s and 90s. In fact, this will be the first Batman movie not to have "Batman" in the title.
Are Christopher Nolan's films connected to the previous Batman series ? :
No. Christopher Nolan has reinvented Batman and distanced themselves as much as possible from the previous series.
Then why bring back the Joker ? :
You can't have Batman without the Joker. In the public imagination, he's more important to Batman than Robin (who has yet to appear in Nolan's series). Besides, the Joker is a nasty figure who is very much in keeping with the grim tone of the new series.
Why isn't Katie Holmes returning as Rachel Dawes ? :
Katie Holmes's publicists said she had scheduling conflicts because of her new movie, Mad Money.
How will the Joker differ from previous on-screen portrayals ? :
In Tim Burton's Batman (1989), Jack Nicholson gave the public a grimmer, scarier Joker than what they had known before. Christopher Nolan continues the trend by making the Joker more sinister and less pranksterish than ever.
Heath Ledger based his Joker on Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange (1971),
which wipes away any thought of the previous charactor. Publicity photos show him with the sides of his mouth cut, giving him an unnaturally wide grin. The new Joker is a brutal killer with a macabre and malicious sense of humor.(Nasty)
Will Robin appear in this film ? :
No. Christopher Nolan said he is depicting the early days of Batman. Robin is "in a crib, out there somewhere."
Will Catwoman be making an appearance ? :
Rumor has it that there is a mention of Selina Kyle, aka The Catwoman, towards the end. But it's only a rumor.
Will the Scarecrow return ? :
The Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) is returning, though the size of his role is unknown.
Who are the villains of the film ? :
The following have been confirmed:
1. The Joker (Heath Ledger)
2. Salvatore Maroni (Eric Roberts)
3. Gamble (Michael Jai White)
4. The Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy)
5. Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart)
Are there any indications of a third installment ? :
Yes. Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman are all under contract for three films.
It is widely believed that Two-Face will be the main villain of the third installment. The Joker's role in the third film, if any, is unclear, especially with the death of Heath Ledger.
Many believe that Ras Al Ghul, an immortal in the comic books, will return from the dead--even though the series has until now shunned the supernatural. And, according to speculation, his daughter Talia will arrive with him.
How will Heath Ledger's death affect the film ? :
Heath Ledger, who died Jan 22, 2008, had finished filming his role of The Joker in the The Dark Knight. The release date is still set for July 17, 2008.
Warner Bros. has restructured its marketing campaign to focus more on Batman, which up until now, had concentrated on The Joker. It's unknown whether The Joker will be recast and appear in the sequel.
Source: IMDB
(hope we can continue updating this thread without starting a 100 new ones..)