We posted these rumors a short while back (along with a Jolie Catwoman one), but now some news of this casting has come from the lips of Michael Caine in speaking with MTV:
“They’ve already got them in mind,” said Caine, when asked who he’d like to see take up arms against the Caped Crusader. “It’s Johnny Depp as The Riddler. And The Penguin is Philip Seymour Hoffman. I read it in the paper.”
So Caine is like the rest of us, reading gossip in the tabloids, right? Except for one thing…according to the actor, he confirmed the news through the studio itself.
“When Christopher [Nolan] said we were going to do ‘The Dark Knight’ next, I didn’t what that meant in Batman terms,” related Caine, who plays Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. “I said, ‘What’s the story?’ and he said The Joker. I said, ‘Oh, s–t! How are you going to top Jack [Nicholson]?’ He said, ‘Well, I’ve cast Heath Ledger. And I went ‘Ha! I couldn’t top Jack, but if anyone could, maybe Heath could.’ And he did.
“I was with [a Warner Bros.] executive and I said, ‘Are we going to make another one?’ They said yeah. I said, ‘How the hell are we going to top Heath? And he says ‘I’ll tell you how you top Heath — Johnny Depp as The Riddler and Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin.’ I said, ‘S–t, they’ve done it again!’” [Laughs]
No doubt there will be some official clarification of this announcement in the coming days, however what is interesting is the clear intention for The Penguin and The Riddler to star in the third movie, whether Depp or Hoffman sign on is another matter - and one that I still don’t see being confirmed for a long while yet.
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Comments 22 Responses to “Depp as The Riddler, Hoffman as Penguin in Batman 3?”
I like the idea of having the Riddler, and I think Depp would do a hell of a job.
Not depp… anyone else but depp… well get another Sparrow. Dont get me wrong, i love Depp, hes brilliant, but his best character is Duke from Fear and Loathing. All his roles are trying to copy that.
I dont believe it though, Nolan would look for someone who is willing to really push it and give the character some real soul, like ledger did. Im a bit fan of David Tennant (Dr Who, harry potter) or someone else as the joker.
But Hoffman as Penguin could work.
But i like the riddler and penguin. wouldnt mind seeing some lesser known characters, they worked well in the BB.
None of that is true. Nolan isn’t bringing the Penguin into his films and Depp has already said he wasn’t approached to play the Riddler but did say it would be a “fun gig”. These rumors are so old, btw.
why would they be casting only two months after TDK came out?
It doesn’t make sense.
I expect news this summer; anything before that is 95% chance to be a rumor
I think these are just rumours. I also think it would be REALLY hard to bring The Riddler into Nolan’s Gotham. He’s just a lame second rate character. Penguin could work, if careful.
You never know, maybe certain folk will feel differently about re-casting The Joker in 2 or 3 years time. I suggest Crispin Glover for the job, although I don’t think anyone could do it better than Mr Ledger. I would prefer lesser known villains, tho.
My choice would be a Zsasz & Hugo Strange. But The Joker has always been my favourite since I was a kid.
Given the right motivation Tom Cruze would make a good joker,or Vin Desael as Bane,hell CGI Killer Crock lots of ways 2 go insted of the latter.
Johnny Depp or Jude Law as the Riddler would satisfy me. Bob Hoskins play the Penguin would be badass. And Sheri Moon Zombie play Harley Quinn would be cool, and have Rob Zombie design the costume.
Sheri Moon Zombie is a third rate, piss poor actress who ruins Rob Zombies films. Her poor acting always takes me out of the story, reminding me thayt she is only in it for one reason. Nepetism is a bitch.
Also, Philip Setmore Hoffman is one of my five favorite actors and would do for Penguin what Ledger did for Joker. He would knock it out of the park. I think Depp is a little too obvious and hollywood, but it could work if he put in some effort and didn’t just crank out a same old same old character.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman denies rumor here:
http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/09/09/dark-knight-update-philip-seymour-hoffman-responds-to-casting-rumor-i-dont-know-if-id-be-a-good-penguin/
Depp denies rumors here:
http://www.comics2film.com/index.php?a=story&b=35369
I think they need to do the lesser known villians. I think Black Mask/Roman Sionis would be perfect for the world that Nolan has created. Plus to see him sort of play off both Batman and Bruce Wayne I think would be great.
This may sound crazy, but I think they might be able to bring back the joker. I saw a picture of Mark Paul Gosselaar in his new steven bochco series. Right away when I saw the picture, it made me think that in appearance, at least, he might serve as a replacement for Heath Ledger. Also, I don’t know much about the original batman comic book, but I think Charlise Theron would make a good Vicki Vale. I have questions about Having Angelina Jolie as catwoman. She has the look, but I don’t know if the more serious, dark aura of the new batman movies would be kept real if she was in it.
personally, i don’t like dark knight very much at all. so does it really matter who the villains in the sequel are? it’s just gonne be really boring like the first two movies. if they did have two villains, it should be Mr. Freeze and Mysterio! those guys are awesome
Mysterio? From the Marvel comics? No wonder you didn’t like The Dark Knight. Very mis-informed you are, sir.
lol @ Fuschnikt
Guy Pearce will be the Riddler
thats all
FORGET THE DUMBASS PENGUIN!!!!!!! GIVE US BANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Begins and DK have some lovely elements and ultimately it would be wonderful to see a city ravaged by chaos and these films provide an introduction to the Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller. I feel if we discuss villians like the riddler et al then this is a step backward. A starting scene in the next film with a 60 year old man racing a motorbike and finishing with the triumph over Superman would be exciting, refreshing and finally put this character into the Sin City type genre it should always have aspired to. The material has always been there but he damage to the Superman bandwagon is what is preventing this milestone. Wishful thinking pehaps but anything less will be milking the audience. Special effects are easy. Give us plotlines!
No Depp, no Jolie, get some real actors like they did before.
I dont care about the riddler or penguin just as long as catwoman is in it, somebody tell Nolan that he should have a strong part for a woman in at least one of his movies (my pick is Rosario Dawson)
David Tennant would be way better as The Riddler, if you don’t know who he is, look up Doctor Who or Harry Potter 4.
And Jack Black should play as the Penguin.
Oh and Depp is like the worst choice for the Riddler. I don’t want him Nolan’s batman films at all or Jim Carey