Begins Sequel Named.

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Sorry, I'm falling behind. Apparently the name of the sequel to Batmin Begins as been announced.

BURBANK, CA, 31 July 2006 – As a follow up to last year’s blockbuster Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan is set to direct Warner Bros. Pictures’ The Dark Knight, written by Jonathan Nolan, based on a story by Christopher Nolan and David Goyer. The film will be produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, Christian Bale will resume his role as Bruce Wayne and Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger has been cast as The Joker. The announcements were made today by Jeff Robinov, President of Production, Warner Bros. Pictures."

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source superherohype.com
Heather Newgen August 12, 2006

You may not know him by name, but you definitely know his work. Charles "Chuck" Roven served as producer on Batman Begins and he's back on board for the sequel The Dark Knight, which is tentatively due in June 2008.

Superhero Hype! caught up with the industrious producer at the junket for Universal's Idlewild, which he is also a part of, however Roven was pretty tight-lipped about what cast members would be returning, as well as whether Philip Seymour Hoffman would play a role in the upcoming film.

"One of the things that we have always done--we did it with the first 'Batman' movie in which we were involved, 'Batman Begins'" he explained, "[is] we don't comment on any rumors because it takes all the fun away."

Still, he did talk a little about Heath Ledger joining the cast. "We're really thrilled about Heath Ledger playing The Joker. As Chris Nolan said, the great thing about Heath is he commits himself fully and totally to everything he does. He's just a brilliant, brilliant actor and you know this Joker is a very interesting dark fellow."

How so we asked? "You're going to have to wait on that," Roven laughed.

As far as confirming who will be back for the sequel, he did confirm Christian Bale as we already know, but was very vague when it came to anyone else. "We are hoping, depending upon everyone's schedule and other aspects of what it is they want to do with their careers, that we're going to get most if not all of them who are alive back. Meaning "alive in the movie", not really alive… sorry. We're supposed to get them back if we can. The script is in the process of being written. There isn't a screenplay that exists right now, so I can't really tell you much more than that. Certainly Christian Bale is going to play Batman and Bruce Wayne."

"We are supposed to start shooting what we call a preshoot, which we know what that is, in January and then the main body of the movie is going to start in March," he added.

While you may have to wait until 2008 for The Dark Knight, you can check out Roven's latest project Idlewild, which stars Outkast's Big Boi and Andre 3000, on August 25.

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