Before the term “cinematic universe” was born,Christopher Nolandelivered theBatmanmovie fans had been waiting years for with 2005’sBatman Begins. When the sequelThe Dark Knightbroke box office records in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was just getting started, and the finaleThe Dark Knight Riseshit theaters just a few months afterThe Avengersshattered box office records left and right.The Dark Knight Riseswas still a hit, taking in $448.1 million domestically and $636.8 million internationally for a worldwide tally of $1.08 billion, but many fans were disappointed with the ending. According to one of the film’s stars,Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this franchise finale had the “perfect ending.”
WhenJoseph Gordon-Levittfirst signed on as John Blake, many fans thought he would eventually be revealed as The Dark Knight’s sidekick, Robin, which was proven to be true, since his full name was revealed to be Robin John Blake. The movie ended withChristian Bale’s Batman presumed to be dead, with John Blake coming into possession of the Batcave and all of Batman’s belongings.CinemaBlendcaught up withJoseph Gordon-Levittwhile promotingSnowden, who was asked if he had hoped to take up the Batman mantle and continue this story in a new movie, or set of movies. Here’s what the actor had to say, callingChristopher Nolan’s ending “perfect.”
“I know we’re all used to the sort of Marvel movies, which are just kind of endless series. They don’t really have a beginning, middle, and end. But I think Nolan very much thought of that movie as a conclusion, and there’s a theme that runs through all three of those movies that begins in the first movie, runs through the second movie and it concludes in that moment where he says that Batman is more than a man, Batman is a symbol. And so to have another man other thanBruce Waynekind of becoming Batman at the end of that trilogy, I think that’s the perfect ending to that story.”
A few years ago, Batman himself,Christian Bale, revealed that he doesn’t think the ending, where Bruce Wayne is seen in a Parisian cafe with Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) is a dream, as many other fans had interpreted. Regardless of how it ended, fans have a new Batman to watch on the big screen, withBen Affleckmaking his DCEU debut in this spring’sBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and in this month’sSuicide Squad. The actor is currently filmingJustice League, which will hit theaters on August 20, 2025.
AfterThe Dark Knight Rises,Christopher Nolanserved as a producer onMan of Steeland an executive producer onBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but he is currently working on his new World War II filmDunkirk, which hits theaters next summer. The filmmaker has said on multiple occasions that he isn’t directly involved in the DCEU, although many fans may be clamoring for his return, after the lackluster responses to bothBatman v Superman: Dawn of JusticeandSuicide Squad.Ben Affleckwill be starring in and directing his own soloBatmanreboot, which will hopefully get this superhero franchise back on the right track, but it’s also possible that too much damage has already been done, even ifChristopher Nolanis somehow lured back into the fold, which seems incredibly unlikely.
