Depp is the Riddler, Hoffman the Penguin, Redux

by Eric Melin on September 12, 2008

in Blogs

philip seymour hoffman the penguinMichael Caine has got loose lips apparently, becuase no one else at Warner Brothers (certainly not “The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan, who’s on vacation) is talking about a recent Caine interview that supposedly reveals the studio’s plans for the next installment in the now red-hot “Batman” franchise. They may not even have a script yet, but supposedly, they have two stars in mind.

Here’s the quote from Caine, over at MTV:

“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!’”

johnny depp riddlerBut then the next day after Caine’s quote, Hoffman was approached at the Toronto Film Festival and denied that he’s been approached by anyone at the studio to play the Penguin:

“No one has talked to me about it ever — never,” he said. He added that he’s a huge fan of comic book movies and he would rather watch them as a fan than be in one.

Here’s the deal: If WB is serious about this, and Nolan comes up with another terrific script, Hoffman will do it. You know he will. It’s all about the script, which hasn’t even been written!

One thing is for sure. The DVD is coming out in time for Christmas, but Warners is doing a big Oscar push anyway, rereleasing the “The Dark Knight” into IMAX theaters in January. Presumably, this is also to push theatrical ticket sales, which look as if they will fall just short of the big $600 million mark achieved by James cameron’s “Titanic” all those years ago.

Here is a big thread with lots of fans sounding off about possible “Dark Knight” sequel villains.

Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:

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{ 16 comments }

1 Hai September 12, 2008 at 11:51 am

Wow… this rumor has been ongoing for the past 3 years. Im glad you guys revived it.

2 Hai September 12, 2008 at 11:51 am

Wow… this rumor has been ongoing for the past 3 years. Im glad you guys revived it.

3 ChrisKnudsen September 12, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Yeah, I think Michael Caine just said that to stir up the pot. Michael Caine is also old and is starting to play with action figures again I assume. I think it is sad when you see someone you love get like that.

4 ChrisKnudsen September 12, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Yeah, I think Michael Caine just said that to stir up the pot. Michael Caine is also old and is starting to play with action figures again I assume. I think it is sad when you see someone you love get like that.

5 Eric Melin September 12, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Hey, I added some new info there at the end! Bet you didn’t know about the holiday IMAX re-issue, smarty pants!

6 Eric Melin September 12, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Hey, I added some new info there at the end! Bet you didn’t know about the holiday IMAX re-issue, smarty pants!

7 Phil September 12, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Nothing will top Heath, so it doesn’t matter, anyway. I know that’s really hackneyed at this point, but Heath’s performance was transformative and tragic and terrifying and all those other adjectives us admirers have been using that must seem superfluous by now. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s one of my absolute favorite contemporary actors, but the Penguin…? Come on! They were pushing their luck with the Joker. And as for Depp… well, people like him. I do, too, I guess. Not really.

8 Phil September 12, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Nothing will top Heath, so it doesn’t matter, anyway. I know that’s really hackneyed at this point, but Heath’s performance was transformative and tragic and terrifying and all those other adjectives us admirers have been using that must seem superfluous by now. Philip Seymour Hoffman’s one of my absolute favorite contemporary actors, but the Penguin…? Come on! They were pushing their luck with the Joker. And as for Depp… well, people like him. I do, too, I guess. Not really.

9 Eric Melin September 12, 2008 at 5:29 pm

what do you think about the inevitable Heath Ledger Oscar push? I’m not saying its not deserved, i just wish he were still alive so people couldn’t discount it as simply a tribute offering. It was an amzing performance, and maybe now they’ll open up the hallowed acting Oscar categories to more sci-fi/fantasy films…

10 Eric Melin September 12, 2008 at 5:29 pm

what do you think about the inevitable Heath Ledger Oscar push? I’m not saying its not deserved, i just wish he were still alive so people couldn’t discount it as simply a tribute offering. It was an amzing performance, and maybe now they’ll open up the hallowed acting Oscar categories to more sci-fi/fantasy films…

11 Phil September 12, 2008 at 6:02 pm

I think he’s more-than-deserving of the nomination, if not the win. And not just in terms of my appreciation for the performance; we’ve all stood by and watched Ellen Page pick up a nomination for the vastly overrated “Juno” (a movie that isn’t half as profound or successful or interesting or impactful as “The Dark Knight”) and seen “Shakespeare in Love” win Best Picture and “Titanic” and Judi Dench and on and on and on… So, since I’m one of the few cinephiles that do take pride in movies I love having won Oscars, I have to give the Academy the benefit of the doubt on some level and admit that those deserving have been nominated, have won, will be nominated, and will win. I feel like the encomium Heath’s received, across the board, based on TDK will warrant a win and silence naysayers that insists it’s a sympathy victory.

12 Phil September 12, 2008 at 6:02 pm

I think he’s more-than-deserving of the nomination, if not the win. And not just in terms of my appreciation for the performance; we’ve all stood by and watched Ellen Page pick up a nomination for the vastly overrated “Juno” (a movie that isn’t half as profound or successful or interesting or impactful as “The Dark Knight”) and seen “Shakespeare in Love” win Best Picture and “Titanic” and Judi Dench and on and on and on… So, since I’m one of the few cinephiles that do take pride in movies I love having won Oscars, I have to give the Academy the benefit of the doubt on some level and admit that those deserving have been nominated, have won, will be nominated, and will win. I feel like the encomium Heath’s received, across the board, based on TDK will warrant a win and silence naysayers that insists it’s a sympathy victory.

13 Phil September 12, 2008 at 6:03 pm

And I’d like to apologize for writing so much; I tend to get carried away.

14 Phil September 12, 2008 at 6:03 pm

And I’d like to apologize for writing so much; I tend to get carried away.

15 Rozanne Thornsbury March 8, 2010 at 8:49 pm

OMG, I drool over Johnny ever since 21 JumpStreet!( Great am I showing how old I am ). I can’t wait to see Alice In Wonderland.

16 Rozanne Thornsbury March 8, 2010 at 8:49 pm

OMG, I drool over Johnny ever since 21 JumpStreet!( Great am I showing how old I am ). I can’t wait to see Alice In Wonderland.

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