Jersey's Top Ten: Batman Villains I'd Like To See In The Next Movie

Well, this is kinda out of the blue. No matter. I love Batman, and it's always on my mind. I've been working on this list for a while, and it's finally come to fruition. With The Dark Knight coming out on DVD very soon, perhaps my timing isn't so terrible.

I know most Top Ten lists tend to count down, but considering that this list is less climactic and more of a ranking, I've chosen to use the basic 1-10 format. This is the first Top Ten list on my blog, and if I like it, there may be more at sporadic intervals. Enjoy.

1. Ra's Al Ghul


My ideal Batman villain is, in fact a repeat. That's really his only drawback, though. Ra's is a very prominent antagonist of the Caped Crusader, and contains more than enough villainy to return for a second flick.

So... name power? Check. Viable actor? Check again-- Liam Neeson can reprise his role from Batman Begins. Possible storyline? You bet. Ra's can return in an attempt to once again destroy Gotham, only to face an even more formidable Batman. But this time, his daughter Talia plays a role. Arguably Batman's greatest love interest, Talia was noticeably absent in Begins, and would satisfy many fans with an appearance in film numero tres. Plus, with Rachel Dawes out of the way, Bruce Wayne is ready for a new lady.

But isn't Ra's dead? Not necessarily-- his lifeless body was never shown at the end of the movie, and it's commonly known that without a body, no one in the comic book world can be considered dead. And of course, fans of the comic books know that Ra's is essentially immortal, and can be resurrected via Lazarus Pits. Bringing him back would emphasize his immortality, introducing a critical element of the character not seen in Begins.

Unfortunately, the immortality aspect is problematic in Christopher Nolan's highly realistic Bat-universe. I don't know how to make it all work out, but Nolan's the genius, and he can do it. I think Ra's Al Ghul is the ideal villain to be featured in "Batman 3," repeat or not. He can be teamed up with somebody new to give a fresh look-- you won't see Scarecrow on this list.

Possible actors: Liam Neeson. Case closed. He did a great job in the first movie, so why fix what aint broke?

2. Catwoman

Catwoman makes so much sense as the next star villain. She's a big player in Batman lore, and she's recognizable to fans and non-fans alike. She's realistic, an advantage over Ra's Al Ghul, and has yet to appear in a Nolan installment, another advantage over the Demon's Head.

Not only that, but she fits Nolan's trend of "personal" villains: Ra's, Joker, and Two-Face all have some personal connection to Batman, and while he has many enemies, only a few have such personal ties to him. Catwoman is almost like an evil version of Batman, a masked rogue who scours the Gotham rooftops at night in a black, animal-themed costume. Plus, her twisted little love affair with the Bat makes her an intriguing option to follow as a character. She's got a tie to Batman that no other villain has, and, like Talia, is ready to shine without Rachel Dawes in the picture.

Plus, Catwoman's flexible morals make her unique from the other villains to this point. She isn't always completely evil, which will make her an interesting foe for Batman to face. Sounds like a winner to me.

So why isn't she number one? Why put a repeat ahead of this awesome character? Well, she has one tremendous drawback: she doesn't have the terrorist effect. Ra's Al Ghul wanted to destroy Gotham City. The Joker almost did exactly that. Their work was on the grand scale, and pushed Batman to his limits. But Catwoman is... a thief. She's dangerous, sure, and would be more of a challenge for the Dark Knight than a typical street criminal, but she'd seem rather easy after the last two episodes.

Sure, that issue can be gotten around. Focus Batman 3 less on Gotham and more on Batman the character. Get into his psyche, show what happens when he falls in love with a criminal. If you thought Rachel affected his motivation, wait until you see what Selina Kyle does to him. The last movie ended with Batman in a precarious position, trying to figure out where he stands among Gotham's citizens, and falling in love with a criminal would truly push his character in amazing ways.

But while Nolan's movies have focused on Bruce/Batman as a character, they are very heavily focused on the grand plot, and this change of focus would be very different from the previous two films. Then again, The Dark Knight had a different purpose than Batman Begins, so Batman 3 could conceivably go in yet another new direction. Still, I feel that Catwoman might be a more difficult character to pull off than Ra's, and that's why she's in second place-- although I'd consider her less of a number 2 and more of a 1a.

(Note: if Nolan is interested in a she-rogue with unstable morals, but doesn't feel Catwoman is a compelling enough villain, he may consider putting Huntress in the movie. She'd be an antagonist to Batman despite not being an actual villain, and she would undergo some sort of transformation in Batman's eyes over the course of the story.)

Possible actresses: If you want to go commercial, Angelina Jolie seems to gobble up every action-heroine role. Jessica Alba once did Birds of Prey on TV, and Megan Fox could probably pull it off if they go young. But I think Charlize Theron would be a far better fit, especially since she actually has legit acting skills. Milla Jovovich and Sarah Michelle Gellar are also possibilities.

3. Bane


Bane is a great, great character, and was horribly misused in Batman and Robin. Then again, that entire movie was a horrible misuse of the franchise in general.

Bane has personality, he could potentially have grand schemes, and he could be a serious challenge for Batman. He has personal ties to him, but they come later in the comic series, and may not manifest in the movie.

The problem is that his character's main strength is... well, strength. Yes, he's smart and conniving, but he's chiefly a brute. He just doesn't look like a criminal mastermind, and for some reason, I have trouble seeing him as the main villain. There is so much that can be done with him, but I just don't see it working out so well in film. He just doesn't have that high-profile criminal aura.
Batman and Robin may have screwed him up in its portrayal, but the truth is, he's tough to use as a feature villain. He's not some lackey, the way Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy used him, but it's hard to see him do what the Joker managed to pull off. He would be amazing on a team with someone else-- not necessarily taking second-billing to another villain, but perhaps as a co-feature.

Bane also lacks name power. Despite being recognizable to fans, casual moviegoers don't know much about him, outside of his idiotic representation in Batman and Robin. People may be reluctant to see him star in a movie, and perhaps that's exactly what's gnawing at me as well.

I think a team-up with Ra's Al Ghul would be ideal, especially since they've teamed up in the comics before. Deep characters, great Bat-villains, an excellent challenge, and just enough name value. I'd love to see them together in Batman 3, and I think they could both be fit neatly enough into Nolan's universe.

Possible actors: Sylvester Stalone, perhaps? I think Arnold Schwartzenegger, also in Batman and Robin, would be a better fit for Bane than the Mr. Freeze role he did take in that movie. It must be someone big, but to truly pull off the character, it must be a very good actor. Both actors mentioned are a little too old for Bane, though. How about Hellboy's Ron Perlman, or the one and only Mark Wahlberg?

4. The Riddler

Oh hey, check it out: it's me!

I'd say the Riddler is the last "ideal" villain for Batman 3. He's got plenty of name value, and he can carry a film as the feature villain. He's a character that can be developed, he can concoct a global scheme, and he'd be a new challenge for Batman, someone unique from the likes of Ra's, Scarecrow, Joker, and Two-Face.

The thing is, the Riddler isn't all that compelling. I mean, he's recognizable, entertaining, and a lot of people will be drawn to him, but he doesn't have the personal connection prevalent in the likes of Catwoman, Bane, and the others. All he's got going is his big name and big personality. He deftly fits Nolan's realistic world: I envision him as a smooth-talking, intelligent man in a sharp suit, complete with a green shirt or tie, although not utterly smothered in question marks. He wouldn't be out-of-place in realistic Gotham City, despite being pretty eccentric. But he'd be nothing like Jim Carrey's flamboyant, red-haired, cartoony rendition.

The Riddler has already been rumored to appear alongside the Penguin in Batman 3, although I doubt this rumor has any truth. If there is any substance to it, Johnny Depp would take the role, although he's denied it.

Possible actors: Depp, obviously. I could also see David Hyde Pearce, Paul Bettany, or Adrien Brody in this role. John Malkovich could be awesome here. Truth is, there are many good actors for the Riddler, so they need to find someone who can bring a unique take on the character.

5. The Penguin


Christopher Nolan has already said he doesn't plan on incorporating the Penguin into his Bat-trilogy. He doesn't like the character, and to some extent, I agree with him. Danny DeVito's portrayal of the Penguin is incredibly creepy and strange, fitting more for Tim Burton's vision than Nolan's. But then why is he on my list altogether, especially in the top five?

Well, for one, he's got name power. That alone isn't enough to land on my list-- Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze, two very recognizable villains, are quite absent-- but it's worth noting. More important, however, is that he's a crime boss, and both of Nolan's movies have featured crime bosses (Carmine Falcone in Begins and Salvatore Maroni in TDK). Who better to be the next boss than the Penguin? He's very recognizable to all moviegoers, and he could fit in the Nolan-verse if done right.

He can't be the feature villain. He's just not usable that way. He's more active than a regular boss, but he's still not exciting to see on the screen. But of Nolan wants to include more mafia involvement in his next film, the Penguin is the way to go. He slides in nicely behind feature-capable villains, and ahead of other secondary villains.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was mentioned in the same rumor that had Depp as the Riddler, except his name had also been rumored beforehand. Hoffman and Nolan have both denied the rumors, and Nolan has said he's more likely to work with Hoffman than with the Penguin. But I could see Nolan changing his mind, and using the Penguin as the brainpower behind another villain's scheme.

Possible actors: Hoffman, obviously. I could also see James Gandolfini and Alec Baldwin. Yes, Alec Baldwin. The only way the Penguin makes it is as a chunky boss-type, and Baldwin fits that mold.

6. The Joker


The Joker should stand atop this list. For one, he's the frikkin' Joker. Second, he was not killed off at the end of TDK, just arrested, so there's no reason to leave him out. And third, he was the original villain planned for the third installment. Heath Ledger signed on for two movies, not just one.

But then Ledger, like his character, decided to throw a little chaos into the works, and overdosed on sleeping pills. The plan was thwarted, and Ledger eliminated himself from use in future films.

Does this mean the Joker can't return? No, but it definitely hurts its likelihood, hence his low placement on the list. The problem is that Ledger left a tough act to follow, and only a superb actor could even consider garnering the part.

I would have loved to see the Joker in a Hannibal Lecter-type role, mysteriously chiding the Batman from a prison cell, seemingly helping him, but in a very confusing and shady way. It'd only deepen the sense of strangeness and unpredictability in his character.

But I doubt the Joker will find his way back. I don't think anyone will even try to fill Ledger's clown shoes, and I don't think Nolan will try to convince anyone to do it. Even if they find a worthy actor, he'd probably take the Joker in a different direction, thus mucking up the continuity of the series. They'll move on, and find someone else. It's not like there's a dearth of villain choices. But the possibility exists that he can come back, and honestly, who doesn't love the Joker?

Possible actors: The aforementioned Johnny Depp, for one. Someone as crazy as he would suit the Joker fairly well. I could also see Daniel Day-Lewis filling the role. But neither will match Ledger's performance, and even if they did, no one will admit it.

7. Black Mask


If Nolan sticks to his guns and omits the Penguin, Black Mask should be Nolan's next choice as mob boss. He's ruthless, he's cool, he's a legit Batman villain (albeit not recognizable to every moviegoer), he's an active character, and they can have tons of fun with his makeup.

Roman Sionis might even be a more compelling character than Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot. Honestly, the only reason he's lower on this list is due to his weaker name value. While he's a great figure for Batman fans, he's not exactly going to attract the casual movie fan. Then again, I don't think they'll have any trouble bringing in fans after the success of The Dark Knight.

Obviously, Sionis would have to be joined by somebody else. Despite being more active as a villain than your average boss, his role is still as a pusher, the brains behind an outfit. Plus, he's not popular enough to carry his own film. It would be interesting to see him with Catwoman, especially since Nolan could (spoiler alert!) have her kill him at the end. After the Ra's Al Ghul/Bane team-up, this would be the next best duo, in my opinion.

Potential actors: There are many directions to go with this one. How about Guy Pearce, who has worked with Nolan in the past (Memento), and has expressed a desire to work with him again. Or how about Pearce's Traitor co-star, Don Cheadle? Either way, it should be someone who can play both conniving and aggressive, but not in a brute-strength way. Someone who doesn't look awkward behind a gun, but who can also start a riot with his words.

8. Harley Quinn


Hey, a psychotic clown worked in the last movie, so why not do it again?

I see Harley working a lot better if the Joker returns. The two are really a team, even if Harley's recently branched off on her own. She begins with the Joker, and it's really hard to establish her without him. I guess she could have been "inspired" by the Joker's actions, and has begun her own reign of havoc, but that's a bit of a stretch.

Harley has some name value, even if only as "She-Joker." But she's also realistic, which is the key here. Unlike Ivy or Freeze-- two more popular villains-- Nolan wouldn't have to give some sort of weird explanation as to why her powers make sense. She's just a psycho killer, not someone with magic control over plants.

I don't think Harley is too likely to appear, though. She's too big to be a throw-in villain (see #10), but she can't carry a movie on her own, and can't even be considered a co-feature. She's second fiddle, probably because from her initial introduction, she was Joker's sidekick.

So why is she here altogether? If she probably won't fit, why not place her lower, if on the list at all? Well, for one thing, if Nolan does bring back the Joker as originally planned, Harley would be a great complement. If Joker begins in Arkham, Harleen Quinzell would start off as his psychiatrist, and turn into Harley Quinn later in the film, adding a new twist to the story. It's kinda commercial and not very Nolan-esque, but it could be done. Nolan did successfully pull it off with Two-Face in TDK.

But more important, I think she'd be a very enjoyable villain to see. She's extremely quirky and bonkers, and after being treated to the Joker, audiences may want to see more crazy clowns. If a more robust villain is cast as the lead, wouldn't it be so entertaining to have Harley alongside him, taking the edge off the somber scenes? It would be a strange new thread sewn into the Nolan-verse, and I think it would be very cool to see.

I think there's what to be said about casting Harley in Batman 3, but on the whole, she's not especially compelling, and that's why she's all the way down at number 8.

Potential actors: Lisa Kudrow can do quirky and weird, but not evil. An actress named Mia Sara played Harley on Birds of Prey, although I've admittedly never watched the series, so I don't know if she was any good. I'd love to see a blonde Helena Bonham Carter, although that does seem more Burton, doesn't it?

9. Two-Face


Wait one minute. Isn't he dead?

There was some confusion after seeing TDK for the first time, but a little research has proven that, within Nolan's series, Two-Face is dead. Nolan said it himself, Aaron Eckhart admitted it, and it's explicit in both the script and the novelization.

The problem, though, is the confusion: no one ever used the word "dead" on-screen. While it's written in the script and book, it's used as a description, and no one in the movie actually says that Harvey Dent died-- just his reputation. Yes, there's a body and a funeral, but they did fake Jim Gordon's death earlier in the movie, so Harvey's could have been faked, too. They didn't want Gotham to see their White Knight scarred. So they hid Harvey and concocted a fake funeral.

It's possible. While Nolan had planned on killing off the character, he's still human, and can change his mind. Since his initial plan for Joker to return didn't work out, he may utilize the loophole and bring back Two-Face. After all, if you can't bring back the Joker, who's the next best thing?

It's not especially likely, and that's why Two-Face falls all the way to number 9. Unlike the Joker, the character was killed off, not the actor. New actors can take over roles (like Maggie Gyllenhaal's Rachel), and while I doubt they'd replace Ledger, that does remain more likely than a return of Two-Face. But then again, Eckhart was awesome, and Nolan could be tempted to use this backup plan.

Two-Face is so awesome, he defies death to make this list. If they do bring him back, I'd love to see them introduce Renee Montoya as a love interest. But this is all a pipe dream, because I doubt Dent rears his split head again.

Possible actors: Aaron Eckhart. The end.

10. Mr. Zsasz


Talk about a stretch at number 10! Zsasz over Ivy? Seriously? You bet-- Zsasz is more realistic, and more notably, already appeared in a Nolan movie!

Not everyone caught this (although I'm certain true Bat-fans did), but Zsasz had a couple of cameos in Batman Begins. When Dr. Crane is introduced, he is recommending a patient be sent to Arkham-- that man is Mr. Zsasz. Watch the movie again to see for yourself. I'll wait.

Zsasz is later seen escaping from Arkham, and then threatening Rachel and her young friend with a knife. Zsasz is a "throw-in" villain, something that was tried with Bane in Batman and Robin, but failed miserably. But if you use a minor villain, like Mr. Zsasz, the idea is much better, as shown in Begins.

Zsasz is on this list as a representative for his type of villain. He's not compelling, he's not popular, and he won't affect the movie too much. But after all the big names, it's very likely to see a minor character thrown in as well. He can be muscle for a Penguin or Black Mask, or even Ra's Al Ghul. Or he could just be an above-average thug, like Scarecrow was in TDK. Point is, this kind of character has a greater chance of appearing than a more popular, yet unrealistic villain. And why not a repeat of Zsasz? He's a crazy knife guy. Fits the mold perfectly, and he was fine in Begins.

Potential actors: A guy by the name of Tim Booth, who is the lead singer for a British band called "James." Where'd I dig this guy up? Well, he played Mr. Zsasz in Batman Begins. That was easy.

Honorable mentions:

Hugo Strange. If Nolan chooses a Catwoman adventure, and focuses on Batman's character more than a grand scheme, he may choose to invade Batman's psyche with Dr. Strange. Thing is, Strange would take up a lot of screen time, and not provide much action. His storyline would be too drawn-out, and wouldn't work in a movie. But it's a nice idea, if it could work.

Scarecrow. He showed his face scary mask in the first two films. Maybe he's got another cameo coming in the third.