Every Batman Villain Rumored To Appear In Dark Knight Rises (That Didn’t)

The Dark Knight Rises was the closing episode in the Christopher Nolan trilogy, and in the excited lead-up to its release there were plenty of rumors about classic Batman villains who could appear – from The Riddler to Hugo Strange. These rumors came on the heels of the game-changing film The Dark Knight, whose unforgettable portrait of the Joker was a radical departure from what had been seen in other Batman movies and TV shows. Needless to say, fans were keen to see what Nolan might do with other members of the DC rogues’ gallery.

After grossing over $155.3 million in what was the biggest three-day opening in box-office history, and winning numerous Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor for the late Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker, DC fans were desperate to know which character (or characters) Nolan would choose as Batman’s final foil. Warner Bros. gave Christopher Nolan carte blanche to develop the Dark Knight sequel as he saw fit after his two previous hits, and Christian Bale had repeatedly said he was only willing to continue if Nolan was ready to make another.

Related: The Batman’s Catwoman Actor Is Having To Keep In Movie Shape Throughout Pandemic

Ultimately it was Tom Hardy’s Bane who was put in the main villain role, with Marion Cotillard’s Talia al Ghul revealed to be the mastermind behind the scenes and Cillian Murphy making a brief return as Scarecrow. As The Dark Knight Rises‘ development unfolded, however, there were plenty of other names in the mix.

Hush

Hush is a latecomer compared to many of the other villains in Batman. Still, this dark character has made a lasting impression with fans, and there was even a recent animated film featuring the bandaged evil-doer. Hush was once a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne’s named Tommy Elliot, whose youth was almost a mirror reflection of Bruce’s own. In contrast to the man who would become Batman, however, Tommy took a darker path and, in the years that followed, orchestrated a sophisticated plot to destroy his old friend. Some fans clamored for actor Michael Sheen to play the role of Hush, and Tom Hardy was also rumored to have been cast as the mysterious villain before his true role was revealed.

Hugo Strange

Hugo Strange was another fan-favorite choice for Nolan to bring to the big screen. For a time, the late Robin Williams was rumored to play the maniacal Strange. There are many versions of the character, but the more prominent one is as a master psychologist who becomes obsessed with Batman and his true identity – to the extent that at one point he even started to dress up like him.

Killer Croc

Killer Croc would have made for a fascinating choice for the closing chapter of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movie trilogy. Nolan’s version of Gotham City was grounded and eschewed the more fantastical elements of DC Comics. Killer Croc would therefore have been a surprising and fascinating detour from that commitment. How would Nolan have been able to explain a creature such as Croc existing in Gotham? Unfortunately fans never got the chance to see that happen, though there was a passing reference to Killer Croc in The Dark Knight Rises.

The Penguin

After the Joker, there was no character more in-demand than the Penguin. The Penguin is a smart-dressing gangster who can flourish within the worlds of both politics and organized crime. This rumored version of the Penguin would have been what Heath Ledger’s version of the Joker would’ve hated: the ultimate schemer and genius manipulator, and a criminal mastermind who hides behind the political circus to accomplish his deeds. He’s the one person that can challenge Bruce Wayne Enterprises using both the judicial system and the underbelly of Gotham at once. Rumors poured out that Phillip Seymor Hoffman was in talks to play Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot himself.

The Riddler

Of all the villains to terrorize Gotham, many in and around Hollywood felt the most obvious choice within the Nolanverse would be the Riddler. There were many actors rumored to play E. Nigma, but the most popular name that surfaced was Leonardo DiCaprio. Those within Warner Bros. wanted to see DiCaprio play the iconic villain within Nolan’s version of Gotham, but unfortunately it never came to be.

Another famous actor rumored for the role was Johnny Depp, but that didn’t pan out either. Many felt that the Riddler would have been perfect because he’s just the type of character that appeals to Nolan’s strengths: a mysterious psychopathic criminal who excels at mystery and deception, and revels in shattering the expectations of the world’s greatest detective through his numerous crimes.

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy has had a long-lasting cult following within the Batman universe. She made her debut in 1966, but her popularity exponentially grew after her appearances in Batman: The Animated Series. She’s been an occasional love interest for Batman and has even evolved from a super-villain to an anti-hero committing crimes for well-intended reasons. Actress Marion Cotillard was rumored to be playing Poison Ivy instead of the role she did play, which was Miranda Tate. Many guessed that Miranda Tate was a cover for Poison Ivy, when in fact, despite Marion Cotillard’s emphatic denials, it was a cover for Talia al Ghul.

About The Author