News > Chris Nolan on The Dark Knight

Content taken from Coming Soon:

Nolan said he was very surprised by Batman Begins’ success, “for the simple reason that I felt we had really poured our hearts out in making a good film and that on our own terms we had succeeded. I never really expected to satisfy critics and Batman fans and regular audiences equally. I mean I thought maybe we’d get two points on the drawing board if you like, but the fact that all three seemed to respond well, that was a big surprise to me. I mean it felt like you were going to lose one aspect or someone… I think we were very fortunate in that regard, it’s very gratifying.”

Talking about the follow-up, in which Heath Ledger will play The Joker opposite Christian Bale, he mentioned that they’re changing things up. “I think what people responded to well about ‘Batman Begins’ is how different it was from their expectations so I think we would be foolish to not recognize that and to [try to replicate that now predictable blueprint]. I think we’ll be doing something very different for the sequel. I certainly wouldn’t have any interest in trying to repeat experience or the formula we’ve made, because particularly being the origin story, it’s a very unique thing, a very singular experience. My interest would sort of be to move on from that and to do something quite different.”

Content taken from IESB:

Q: Looking at Batman Begins now, were you surprised or was that the reaction you were expecting to get?
CN: I was very surprised for the simple reason that I felt that we really put our hearts into making a great film and I felt that on our own terms we had succeeded but I never never really expected to satisfy critics and fans, you know Batman fans, and regular audiences equally. I mean I thought maybe we’d get two points of the triangle but the fact that all three groups seem to respond well, that was a big surprise. It felt like you were going to lose one aspect of that somewhere along the line. But, I don’t know, we were very fortunate in that regard.

Q: Because the formula works so well is that something that you were looking to do for The Dark Knight?

CN: I think, what people responded to most about Batman Begins is how different it was from their expectations. So I think we would be foolish to not recognize that and attempt to do something very different in the sequel. I certainly wouldn’t have, you know, any interest in somewhat trying to repeat the experience that the film already made because I think, particularly being an origin story, it’s a very unique thing very singular. My interest in the sequel is to move on from there and do something quite different.

Q: Since you did the origin story, it frees you up from doing the whole introduction, so are you expecting to do a whole lot more action the second time around?

CN: Um, I mean we certainly put a lot of action into Batman Begins through the film even though it didn’t involve Batman until 50 minutes in or whatever. So certainly we are free to put Batman into action earlier on. But if you look at the, I mean the rhythm of action movies is very complicated because there is a limit actually to how much action is in the film, how you have to have a particular ebb and flow to what actually works and Batman Begins is pretty stuffed to be honest. But, it didn’t all get to involve that character, Bruce Wayne was Batman because of the origin and that we don’t have to do.

Q: Any truth to the rumors of Ryan Phillippe or Phillip Seymore Hoffman?

CN: (Laughing) As the penguin, no, not true.

Q: Sean Penn?

CN: No truth, no truth to any of those rumors. All interesting ideas though.