It can’t be denied that Christopher Nolan has reinvented the way we look at comic book movies today. This was accomplished once he realized that he can take away the “Pow!” “Boom!” and “Kablamo!” attached to the Batman legacy where he then found material for some deeply moving, thrilling, and innovative stories. As shown in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Nolan created a believable universe in which Batman and his band of not-so-merry men could truly exist where they were once thought too cartoon-ish or unrealistic for serious cinema. He successfully brought the Scarecrow, Ra’s al Ghul, Two-Face and the Joker to life but what lies ahead for the third (and future) installment in this new Batman franchise? Which characters have the greatest potential to make the cut in the Nolanverse?
Name/Alias: Several – Clayface
Story: Clayface is the only person on this list with superpowers which is an attribute we have yet to see in any Nolanverse villain but don’t cast him aside just yet. Not only can he make weapons like saws, hammers, and blades with his own body, he can shapeshift into anyone. Think of him as the clay baby of T-1000 from Terminator 2 and Mystique from X-Men. The actions Clayface is capable of are endless. Does he want to infiltrate Wayne Enterprises? Pose as Lucius Fox. Does he want to break someone out of Arkham? Pose as a security guard. Or better yet: Does he want to ruin Batman’s reputation? Pose as the Bat himself.
Clayface could very easily become a bad decision in the Nolanverse should the production team make him into a Sandman-esque character from Spider-Man 3. I say that just because a villain has powers doesn’t mean he needs to go overboard with said powers. Allow Clayface to absorb a batarang or fall off a skyscraper without a scratch. He doesn’t need to turn into the Blob and mud up the city for him to be impressive and/or worthwhile.
Overall Challenge: High. A character made of clay who can be anyone at any time and who can get out of almost any situation? Yeah. I hope it rains a lot in Gotham.
Name/Alias: Talia al Ghul
Story: Move aside Rachel What’s-Your-Name! You’re yesterday’s news. Enter Talia al Ghul, the daughter of the League of Shadows leader Ra’s al Ghul. Although, you don’t want to label her as some damsel in distress. Not only can Talia’s exotic beauty stun a man, she can work a number of weapons expertly and her handle of the sword is not easily matched (pun slightly intended). In the comics, she (like her father) knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman and she is convinced that he is the most suitable man to bear a child with. The two share an on-again off-again relationship, making Talia not a strict Batman villain, but rather an anti-hero who errs on the side of good from time to time.
As we saw in Batman Begins, Ra’s al Ghul blended into the Nolanverse perfectly so the chances that his daughter can do the same are equally good. Plus, we don’t hear anything from Ra’s during the second film, so what better way to reintroduce him in the third film then by sending his daughter to seduce Bruce back into his favor? Ra’s gets a “son,” Talia gets her man, and Bats gets some booty. Everybody wins!
Overall Challenge: Medium. What stops Talia from being a true villain is her love and respect for Batman so if he’s smart, he’ll use that infamous playboy charm of his when he needs it most, say, right before she beheads him to please her father.
Name/Alias: Noah Kuttler – Calculator
Story: As a relatively unknown rogue, Calculator first began as a third-rate criminal. It wasn’t until recent that he discovered how to reinvent himself for the modern war between heroes and villains: start a business! Serving as the “evil” counterpart to Oracle (Barbara Gordon, a.k.a the former Batgirl), Calculator began a business where he serves as the villain community’s information broker. In need of henchmen? Weapons? Jobs? Maps? Connections? The Calculator is the man to hook you up with your criminal needs… for a price.
One of the good things about Noah is that doesn’t run around at night in a costume. The threat he poses is a technological one. We’re beginning to see more of Batman’s detective work (primarily in The Dark Knight) and a perfect villain to test these skills is Calculator. This cyber terrorist can hack almost every known database and for a billionaire who’s got a big secret to hide, Bruce should be wary of this seemingly unthreatening man.
Overall Challenge: Medium/High. I can’t personally see Calculator being a big, Two-Face/Scarecrow/Joker ranking rogue, but I do see him aiding the main villain in a film. The focus wouldn’t necessarily be on him, but his work/efforts against Batman should prove to be very troublesome overall.
Name/Alias: Victor Zsasz – Mr. Zsasz
Story: This nihilistic serial killer carves a tally mark on himself whenever he takes a life (already he sounds like a barrel of fun, right?). Deemed criminally insane, Zsasz’s outlook in life is a rather twisted one. He believes he’s doing people a favor by killing them. His kills are brutal, graphic, and sick. Plus, I hear he doesn’t think much of puppies.
Zsasz is an Arkham inmate which is an institution we have yet to fully explore in film. With the success of the recent video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, we could potentially be seeing more of this hellhole if Nolan collects Zsasz and other similar patients. The best part of this character is that most of us have already seen him on film. In Batman Begins, audiences are introduced to Mr. Zsasz for the first time (google for screencaps of the movie where he escapes Arkham; the tally marks can be seen on his neck). The chances that we’ll see him again are looking pretty good at this rate.
Overall Challenge: Medium/High. Like Calculator, I don’t see Mr. Zsasz as a central focus villain but he could definitely be a pain in the Bat-butt.
Name/Alias: Roman Sionis – Black Mask
Story: Black Mask is heavily involved in the mob scene in Gotham City. His brilliant mind has lead him to become a powerful man in the criminal underworld. His desire for vengeance mimics Batman’s own drive, but he pushes the envelope to a very twisted end (e.g. going so far as making someone eat part of a corpse, just to drive them insane). He doesn’t get invited to many parties.
Whether he wears his mask (usually depicted as a black/burned skull) or the mask is infused to his face, either one could be pulled off in the Nolanverse as a Scarecrow-esque character. His use of sadistic torture methods to toy with people’s minds could fall into the films should they decide to up the creep factor.
Overall Challenge: High. Black Mask’s main vendetta lies with Bruce Wayne, rather than Batman. Any enemies of the billionaire would be rather difficult to combat if he doesn’t want to give away his cape and cowl.
Name/Alias: Lazlo Valentin – Professor Pyg
Story: Huh, who, what? Professor Pyg? Never heard of him. That’s because he’s a villain of the newest Batman (Dick Grayson) in the DC Comics universe. So then why is he here on this list? Because Professor Pyg is one sick freak that redefines the term “wrong.” Adorning a bloody butcher’s apron and a pig mask, Pyg’s one desire is to make people perfect. He accomplishes this by welding a doll-face on his victims and performing a crude lobotomy on them, ultimately making them his nurses/henchmen. Not only that, he taunts people before torturing them in a disturbing and sickening display that simply makes your skin crawl.
Nolanverse Batman is rated PG-13 but we all know that some parents are indeed taking their kids to go watch these movies. Although I’m okay with that myself (I fell in love with Bats at a young age myself), the edginess and darker route that we’re traveling down with these movies is becoming seemingly less suitable for kids. Adding Professor Pyg to the villain roster would blot out what little of the kid-friendly element there is to Batman. Personally, I’d love to see Bruce kick Pyg’s sick, twisted face into the ground but it very well may end up with an R rating if they want to stay true to Pyg’s M.O. Did I mention he was sick?
Overall Challenge: High. He targets everyone and knows no bounds. Additionally, I think Bruce’s rule against killing would be tested greatly if he ever faced the Professor. After you meet him, you too would want to reduce him to bacon bits.
Name/Alias: Thomas Eliot – Hush
Story: Let me paint a picture for you: two young boys, the sons of wealthy and successful parents, grow up to be best friends and who share years of happiness and laughter… that is until everything goes to hell. Young Tommy Eliot hated his parents so after a failed attempt to kill them both, he began to resent young Bruce who received all his family’s fortune after his parents’ untimely death. Thus began this surgeon’s deep seeded hatred for Bruce who ultimately got to live the life Thomas always wanted. Sort of.
Tommy learns Batman’s identity and uses this knowledge to his advantage. Not only that, he uses the fact that the two of them used to be childhood friends against Bruce as well. Packed with a set of guns and playing psychological mind tricks on Batman can not only be easily filmable, but Hush could carry on through an entire movie as the main villain. Bring on the frenemy drama!
Overall Challenge: Really High. A villain you’re unable to fight because your past friendship and who knows your secret identity and your weakness? Be strong Bruce. Be strong.
Name/Alias: Floyd Lawton – Deadshot
Story: As one of the best assassins in DCU, Deadshot can pose a number of problems for Batman. Floyd’s disregard for his own life makes him twice as dangerous because unlike the rest of the villains in this list, he could care less if he died or not. In other words, he’ll take all the risks the others won’t. A mercenary with nothing to lose doesn’t bode well for anyone.
Deadshot appears in the Batman: Gotham Knight animated movie that chronologically takes place between the Nolan films. It gives audiences a glimpse of the incredible talents of this assassin. He can also be seen in the Justice League animated series voiced and portrayed more accurately to his comic book personality by Smallville’s Michael Rosenbaum. With so much animated exposure, it won’t be surprising to see him make an appearance in film.
Overall Challenge: Very High. Batman’s strict “No Guns” policy is sure to collide with Deadshot’s “Nothing But Guns” policy. This anti-Batman of a character is one of the best marksmen in DCU, but it’s his adaptability that will prove to be one of the greatest physical challenges.
Name/Alias: Edward Nigma/Nygma – Riddler
Story: What’s lean, green, and nifty keen? Jim Carrey’s Riddler and shame on you for remembering him! Sure I love Carrey but his Riddler was a very flamboyant version of Nigma that hasn’t existed in the comics for some time. Edward is normally a debonair, suave, and pompous man who simply revels in knowing he’s two steps ahead of everyone else. Not to mention he’s quite a bit of a ladies’ man (the new playboy in town perhaps?).
Out of all the names flying around for the next film, Riddler is one of the top candidates. Why is that? As we saw with the Joker, Nolan is looking for a criminal that’s much more than just brute strength. He wants someone complex and twisted and who can challenge Bruce in more ways than one. Edward can fulfill that role and then some.
Overall Challenge: Extremely High. Not many can challenge Batman’s intellect but the Riddler is an exception. We have yet to really see how far Bruce’s intellect goes in the Nolanverse but with the addition of the Riddler, audiences would be introduced to an alarming brilliant playboy billionaire. They don’t say Batman is the smartest man in all DCU for nothing.
Name/Alias: Selina Kyle – Catwoman
Story: Oh c’mon! Who else did you expect to be Bruce’s greatest challenge to be? Superman? Well, now that I mention him… Wait, no! Catwoman is the best filmable candidate. Let me set one thing straight though (as many of you are probably thinking): she’s not an actual villain! Catwoman is an anti-hero, someone who acts like a criminal but has also been known to do a good deed every once in a while. So why add her at all?
Catwoman is extremely versatile. She could either work as a villain, an ally, or both. Here we have a character that could very well fit into the Nolanverse as long as the attention isn’t taken from Batman and given to her instead (it’s called “Batman” not “Look How Hot Catwoman Is”). And speaking of which, this character deserves to be redeemed after the movie debacle falsely titled “Catwoman” back in 2004. No, Pitof. Just no.
Overall Challenge: Extremely High. Three words to encompass the dangers of this woman: Sexy. Leather. Whip. Did I mention that Batman is single again?
People should know that Johnny Depp is playing the Riddler in the last of the trilogy, Batman Concludes.
Dang those so called "Batman fans" who don't know this!
Bane will be the next villain
Good list.
Cool list
I guess it’s allright. Not really into comics…
First!!!
Or not!
What about Bane? He may have been destroyed in that god awful adaptation but he is still the man who broke the back. He’s dark and gritty, perfect for the Nolan batman.
The prophet has spoken!
A quick correction, that should read bat not back.
great list loved batman as a kid
i wasn’t to impressed with the scarecrow in the batman begins movie
subjective
Very good list.
I was glad to see professor pyg included and I would be pumped for a Nolan take on Hush or the Riddler.
I’d like to point out the Great White Shark. He’s a financier who steals millions from his rich and poor clients so he’s beyond topically convenient. Even the Joker is disgusted by Great White Shark plus he’s got the whole massive disfigurement origin story, frostbite destroys his face, his fingers and he files his teeth to a point. Just sayin’ Great White Shark.
i too fell in love with Batman comics as a kid… but havent heard of a lot of them… seems i am not completely updated… well, whoever the villain is, the movie would be great. how do i know that? it’ll have batman in it.
I think DC comics are boring. The characters superpowers are boring. They are ALWAYS based on gadgets(Batman),alien(Superman), or witchcraft(Jinx). There are no critical issues being discussed. The story is always villain trying take over a certain habitat( Earth, Gotham City…). Although there are some same theme in Marvel comics in Marvel it can be seen that there are other issue being discussed that portray real life (registration of superhero act, human mutant struggle)
Superheroes in Marvel are also much more diverse and some characters have scientific basis to explain their powers. BUT NOT IN DC.
U should of picked a different name
Marvel comics characters are one dimensional my friend it's either radiation (ie. Hulk spiderman etc) or born that way ( mutants) or dc rip off like iron man (batman in a suit) or the fantastic four ( Stan lee " I created the fantastic for to compete with the justice league" also space radiation) dc heroes are born from tradgedy and overcoming it. The stories are more in depth and stay great. Plus no matter how many new heroes marvel makes or legions of mutants nothing beats Superman and Batman they been in the game so long and will always be the most loved and iconic. Even my 60 year old mom know supermans arch enemy is luthor but has no idea who wolverine is.
I used to be Marvel only and always hated DC. But you know what? I gave them a try. While I still don't care for Superman or Green Lantern, I really enjoy Batman, Green Arrow, and Nightwing. I really was into X-men, especially Whedon's run of Astonishing X-men. And I enjoyed some of Spidey and the Civil War. But I found that you can be fans of both sides. And don't forget there's other companies like Vertigo (DC), Dark Horse, America's Best Comics, Top Shelf. I don't know about you guys, but I am a comic book and graphic novel enthusiast, not a single sided fan boy.
the best list in the history of list making
@grey_h4t (15): yes you are right my friend.
wow left out the penguin?
rumour has it that johnny depp could be riddler or phillip seymour hoffman as penguin. either way, i think itd be sick.
cool list. . .
i’m not a fan of batman but i found this list very interesting. . .
I’m not really into comics but I really enjoyed this list. Well done!
well one of those is already there mr zsasz was in batman begins, but i think hush would be great for the nolanverse
jfrater- where are you?
i’m really missing the lists you write yourself. that is what started this very site, right?
hoping you’re well, out there in the ether (or out and about in NZ, but you get the picture). i miss you here.
oh and dead shot was technically in the nolanverse as well, the gotham knight animated films which are canon has him and killer croc
but honestly clayface not so much doesnt fit the nolanverse, bane i could see
being a big comic fan, and one of bats
ones i think that would work well would be
hush, bane, catwoman, talia, riddler. penguin, black mask, hugo strange, maxie zues, harley
all batman villians that could work that have not appeared yet in the nolan verse
as for the rumours catwoman and riddler, well depp would be ok for riddler… but oh god i do not want jolie as selina kyle…
awesome list batman is my life so i was very happy to see it
@Taargus (12): as fro greatwhite shark he and few others would be perfect for a story focusing inside arkham….
@Bob Kane (14): to be honest i switch back and forth currently dcs event is holding my attention more so than marvels…
@El the erf (16): who said it was a trilogy?
@Cowzrppl2 (6): agree completly people forget that bane is actually quite smart…
come on people i can see a movie based on knightfall… look it up very good read
@BravehisTickle (27):
well, we can hope that is the reason.
-we can hope!-
whatever, LV is less without jamie making himself known.
sure, it’s easier to just publish user submitted content, but without jamie input this site will lose what makes it better than any other list site…..
in closing, i miss the jfra-ee-nes. jamie, remember why you got the book deal[s] in the first place…… the site needs you to stay high-quality, you are missed.
Awesome list!! I really wanna meet Professor Pyg now!! And the best Catwoman will always be Michelle Pfeiffer. Halle Berry really makes a better Storm.
@BravehisTickle (33):
as i’ve been feeling too. now might be an excellent time for anyone to submit anything, and it might just get published here. it seems that “quality control” or at least “the editorial board” are all on vacation (so, is it finally time for me to put in the “amazing plants” list i mentioned as a thought a year ago? lol.)
but really, jamie, the site needs you….
Clayface as a filmable villian?
I don’t think so.
You know why Spiderman 3 failed to enthrall?
The zing of the first two movies was missing in it.
Something just didn’t seem quite right about it.
Why?
Not necessarily because of the plot( I admit it was all botched up with too many sub-plots strewn around here n there)
The main reason it tanked were the two characters, Sandman and Venom. In the first two movies, Goblin and Dr. Ock played the perfect foil to Spiderman.
But Sandman and Venom…they were like… well, unbelievable.
I know Spiderman too is a wee bit unconvincing, but we can’t remove him can we?
So what should have been a smashing third in a series of two highly successful spiderman films turned out to be a childish and extravagant fantasy film chockablock with overblown special effects which was a bit too hard to guzzle down the neck.
It’s good to know that Favreau has Whiplash for Iron Man 2 and not some atrocious over-the-top shape shifter.
As far as I believe, Nolan is not the one to indulge in such flimsy characters and mess up his films.
@arkzist (29):
I dunno if it’s a trilogy or not, but the name of the next film, reportedly ‘Batman Concludes’ suggests so.
@BravehisTickle (30):
It was there in the wikipedia article of Christian Bale a few days back when I saw it, in his filmography list. But it has been removed since I dunno why…
@lo (34): Please contribute something coherent and adherent to this list dear, will you?
I personally would love to see the Hush story line in film but odds are I never will.
Also Mr. Zsasz did make an appearance in the Batman Begins, he is one of the escaping convicts that is released by Ra’s al Ghul.
long time reader first time writer! great list and cut Jfrater a break there are archives to read if you are not into the most recent
1. There is no movie called “Batman Concludes”. That title is pure speculation.
2. I like the list, sans Clayface and Pyg. Clayface is just too unbelievable (Nolan’s films are all based on “real world” possibilities) and Pyg is too recent to be a good fit. You need a more classic villain.
3. Speaking of classic villains, The Penguin. Now, I loved Danny DeVito’s vision, but it doesn’t have to go like that. The Penguin as a suave, debonair upper-crust guy with a criminal second life… it’s doable.
4. I’d love to see a more realistic Poison Ivy and Bane. Three words, however, will keep it from happening: Batman in Rubber.
BTW: Talia’s a fantastic possibility to work into a third film. It’d be a great way to re-introduce Ra’s and the whole “Lazarus Pit” concept, especially if she wasn’t a snearing, snarling, winking villain throughout the film…
I like the list. I prefer anime/manga myself.
Out of all of the Batman villains, I will always like Mr. Freeze. He is the only one I felt sorry for and truth be told, I cheered him on.
As a side note, Bale couldn’t have sucked more in The Dark Knight even if he were portraying a straw. He was good in Newsies and that was it.
The Riddler is a lame villain! Check out this: http://www.seanbaby.com/superfriends/riddler.htm
I would say bring Joker back (but in Arkham)and introduce Riddler and Talia. Extend the series to four films and that’s it. Have Riddler work for the mob, being a weak character almost forced to do it by Falcone/his OCD. Have Joker escape Arkham in a large (Hannibal Lector-like) scene. In the fourth film introduce Holiday (The Long Halloween), basing the plot around him, and have Joker/Riddler/Talia all supporting, with Riddler more a rogue detective (not evil) and Talia the love interest.
And anyone who says we can’t have Joker without Ledger, the voice ain’t hard to do and the makeup will make anyone look almost perfect. And Depp will just try to make Riddler incredibly weird, as he seems to want his characters to each be weirder than the last.
I don’t watch batman, I only looked at this list because it’s the newest one.
I don’t think Penguin is terribly unfilmable in this film universe. I think he’s more likely than Clayface.
My vote goes to Black Mask. I think he’s a perfect fit.
To be honest it doesn’t matter what villain they opt to use first everyone will just compare it to Ledger’s Joker and secondly Nolan has gone so far from the source material for Batman (firing cannons on the highway, ramming police cars, running over low income housing with a tank) that the movies should be unwatchable for any real Batman fans
Hey,
I have always been a fan of comic conversions to the small and big screens – but not such a fan of the actual comics/graphic novels themselves.
Not surprisingly then, I didn’t know most of these characters except for the last two.
The original Keaton Batman (the first one) is still one of my all time favourite movies. Sad I know. But true.
You have Calculator but not Mr. Freeze? Seriously? Mr. Freeze, like Catwoman, deserves redemption after a horrific film portrayal, in his case by the Governator in “Batman & Robin.” Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and, worst of all, Bane, deserved better. Though I would like to see the Riddler, I kind of think it’s too soon to have anyone who is manic or criminally insane following Heath Ledger’s tour de force as the Joker. Any villain who can be compared to him will be, probably unfavorably.
Not being an avid comic book reader, i am confused by the different storylines in comics, cartoons and movies. which is the real thing that we are supposed to follow?
Penguin? Isn’t that better than Prof. Pyg?
WHERE TF IS BANE?! MUCH EASIER TO PORTRAY THAT CLAYFACE!
THAN
BANE
DC should just sign over and give us a spinoff with 5 Joker movies in a row.
How cool would that be?
BTW,
Anybody remember The Notorious Dr.*****? Best Batman villain EVAR!
@Bob Kane (14): im pretty late with this reply, but that’s alright.
i disagree, DC characters are not always gadgets or aliens.
think of the flash, he was drenched in electrically charged chemicals. green lantern was given his ring by the protectors of the universe. Captain Marvel is the alter ego of Billy Batson, chosen to be a champion of good by the wizard Shazam. Aquaman got his powers just by practice.
i actually think that marvel has less diversity, the whole x-men is mutants, so is spiderman, fantastic four, the hulk etc. iron man and the punisher use gadgets.
you should read more before criticizing.
Wow, someone actually posted a list that is not an anti-American rant. I suppose the next one will make up for it.
ok. next villain. the penguin. played by phillip seymour hoffman. doesnt that sound good?
I never did like Catwoman as a character so I don’t agree with #1. However, I would love to see a Zsasz, Dr. Pyg, and Riddler team.
I dont mean to be a grammar nazi but i hate glueing words together: “nolanverse”, “frenemy”. What the hell is that?? Also i think LV is doing pretty well. Some good lists were posted.
I thought that david tennant was gonna play the riddler in the next film.
@60 never really liked penguin but it would be interesting to see phillip seymour hoffman in that role. thanks for bringing that up!
Personally, I’d like to see Harley Quinn, but without the Joker, it’d be pretty off.
@ (63) Bethan M As a Tennant fan, I’d like that very much. Unfortunately, the rumor’s not true
i thout terry mcguinnis is the new batman?
I don’t do the comic book thing but new villains for any serial hero to have contend with is part of the fabric of the genre. And since I do try to catch up on most of the new releases at my rental service, it would be nice to see someone besides Joker, Riddler and Catwoman in a bat-flick.
That said, since there has already been so many different actors portraying the Batman, when will we get someone to replace Bale? I can’t say I’ll watch any more of the franchise if he’s going to be the key actor.
The hero that I’d really like to see put on the screen would have to be some CGI type piece (like Beowulf) that features Aquaman. After the appearance of Avatar, and the next gen of production tools that Cameroon has brought to the art, an undersea based comic-hero movie is coming due.
@deeeziner (67): that should be Cameron, not Camaroon. Sometimes my “o” key gets jealous of the usage of the other keys. Bad “o” key–no treats for you.
I only know 4 of them. No MR. FREEZE?! they SHOULD do Mr. Freeze but base him off of the animated show.
oh and Bane there is so much potential with this guy
64- I think Harley Quinn would be a perfect lead in now that we won’t be hearing from The Joker anytime soon. Wouldn’t she want vengence?
I’d say she’d be a great secondary villian.