[caption id=“attachment_6854” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“Riddler Fan Art”][/caption]

Coming out of The Dark Knight, fans sure loved to debate what would come next from Christopher Nolan’s version of the Batman saga.

Some wanted a third film with a new villain. Some, like myself, even wondered if a third film was necessary.  Never the less, we loved the discussion, loved to fantasy cast.  Apparently, so too did Warner Bros.

According to an article in the new issue of the UK’s Empire Magazine, the studio funding the films already knew what they wanted from a third Batman adventure, and were telling people as early as the premiere of The Dark Knight what they wanted out of the latest film.

Sayeth Batman co-writer David S. Goyer, WB wanted the villain to be The Ridder, and to be portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Of course, that’s not how it worked, but I do wonder if this bug in the ear inspired Christopher Nolan to place DiCaprio in the lead of Inception.

Never the less, we now have the brilliant Tom Hardy in as Bane and Anne Hathaway in as Catwoman.  Just 47 days until we find out if The Dark Knight Rises turned out as good as Nolan wanted.