'08
I don’t think I’m the only one to hope this is just a baseless rumor. The next “Batman” sequel in the new franchise has been languishing since the unexpected death of Heath Ledger. Clearly, the filmmakers couldn’t simply recast the role, so they decided to go in a different direction and explore other Batman villains. And entirely – and quite possibly crappy – direction. Names are being tossed around for the roles of The Riddler (previously played by Jim Carrey is the craptastic “Batman Forever”) and Catwoman (played so brilliantly by Michele Pfeiffer in “Batman Returns”), and some of these names are just mind boggling. Top of the list: washed-up comedian Eddie Murphy as The Riddler. I know!
FUNNYMAN EDDIE MURPHY will play The Riddler in the next Batman movie, The Sun can reveal.
The Beverly Hills Cop star, 47, has been signed up by British director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN to reprise the role played by JIM CARREY in 1995’s Batman Forever.
The surprise move follows speculation linking Pirates of the Caribbean star JOHNNY DEPP to the part.
The film, set for a 2010 release, is being developed under the working title Gotham.
Execs have also signed up rising Transformers star SHIA LABEOUF, 22, to play Robin.
CHRISTIAN BALE will return as Bruce Wayne, while MICHAEL CAINE will again play Bruce’s assistant Alfred.
Meanwhile, Brit RACHEL WEISZ is said to be up for the Catwoman role.
Insiders also revealed to The Sun the flick will end on a cliffhanger over whether Batman survives a blast at Wayne Towers.
Nolan had been tight-lipped about the future of the Batman films after being rocked by the January death of HEATH LEDGER — tipped to receive a posthumous Oscar for his role as The Joker in Batman Returns.
A film insider said: “Chris wasn’t sure if he wanted to do another movie but as soon as he decided to, he got the wheels in motion.
“Eddie’s a fantastic addition. Everyone’s excited to see what he does as the Riddler.”
Please tell me this is all a joke. Aside from being occasionally funny as the voice of Donkey in the “Shrek” movies, I can’t think of a single decent movie Eddie Murphy’s been in since “Beverly Hills Cop.” He got some recognition for his role in “Dreamgirls,” but if you know his career, then you know that entire performance was just an extended version of his James Brown impersonation he used to do on SNL. And Shia LaBeouf as Robin? First of all, why does Robin even need to be brought into this new franchise? Robin is the lamest superhero character in the stratosphere. And LaBeouf is one of the most overhyped, overrated young actors in Hollywood. It sounds to me like Christopher Nolan went temporarily insane. Then again, what do I know – I was skeptical of Heath Ledger as The Joker when I first heard about him being cast. Maybe Christopher Nolan is some kind of directorial mad scientist. I guess we’ll have to wait until 2010 to know for sure.
Above: Eddie Murphy on the red carpet at the premiere of Good Luck Chuck last year. He looks about as confused as I was when I read that he was playing the Riddler. Photo credit: Bauergriffin. Below: the new face of Robin? Shia LaBeouf at the premiere of his film “Eagle Eye” earlier this year. Photo credit: WENN.
Written by MSat
Posted in Eddie Murphy, Shia LaBeouf
- TV Shows that outstayed their welcome [Pajiba]
- Goopy and Cameron Diaz went to a Coldplay concert [Lainey Gossip]
- The bacon milkshake! [D-Listed]
- Ashanti looks... good? [Go Fug Yourself]
- 20 great songs under 2 minutes [Fark]
- Snooki and J-Woww on notice [IDLYITW]
- Jennifer Aniston through the years [Popsugar]
- Kirsten Dunst looks so pretty here [Evil Beet]
- Mila Kunis without makeup [Celebslam]
- The awful cover letter all of Wall St. is mocking [Gawker]
24 Responses to “New Batman movie to feature Eddie Murphy as The Riddler?”
Leave a Reply
By commenting you agree to our comment policy
Use the "Report this comment as spam or abuse" link to ask the moderators to delete a comment if it's offensive. If your comment disappears, it may have been eaten by the spam filter. Please e-mail cbcomments at gmail.com to get it retrieved.
Get an icon next to your name by signing up for a free Gravatar
Ouch on the Shia Labeouf comment. He’s actually one of the only young men in Hollywood that doesn’t drive me mad and the fact that he’s famous at all without being an androgynous greasebucket makes me so happy it can’t be described.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Bale and Nolan have already said Robin is never going to happen. Yes, this is indeed bullshit all the way around.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
No Eddie, no Shia LaFruitt. Period. It will kill the franchise. AGAIN.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Oh CB we have to pray hard that this rumour is untrue. Eddie douche Murphy? I don’t mind Shia Leboef but not in Batman.
Atleast Angelina Jolie is not cat woman. There was a PR campaigh akin to Hillary Clinton’s campaign for VP and SOS. What they do is get their people to passa rumour and get their sycompants to back it up strongly. It is cheap but worked for Hillary in the end.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
FALSE!
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Ugh .. lets not ruin the batman franchise … I hate this man, he’s sooo not funny; and really do we need to hear the f**k through out the movie, that seems to be his whole vocabulary!! Please let this be a rumor!!
Report this comment as spam or abuse
At the risk of saying the unpopular, Murphy was quite good in a supporting role in “Dreamgirls.”
And I’d like to point out that there were petitions to have Michael Keaton removed as the lead in the first Tim Burton Batman movie. He went on to give a very good performance in the role.
And, there were people saying that maybe Heath Ledger wouldn’t be great as the Joker. Yeah, how did that work out again?
In other words, we have no idea if this rumor is true, nor any idea of how Murphy might perform were he to be given the role.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
PLEASE not Eddie Murphy…
but even MORESO – PLEASE not ANGELINA JOLIE as CATWOMAN.
SO PREDICTABLE. Get a no-name. My vote is for Megan Fox, but she’s already in a superhero movie, I think.
Weisz could be really awesome as catwoman, as far as looks go (dye her hair really dark, green contacts and her bone structure is good). But could she play the role? Maybe…
I really like Shia LaBeouf, though. He could probably make Robin seem less lame.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
eddie murphy as riddler? the man hasn’t made a good movie since…oh, wait. the man’s never made a good movie.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
OMG!!!! wat is the world cumming to, i was exciting about the rumors of Jonny Deep playing the role and now im so dissapointed. I would n ot go see it if Eddy’s in it. He does “B” movies and will bring down the batman “status”
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I was hoping he’d never work again, after the way he dissed his little girl.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Oh please no!
That said, I also don’t think they’re going to do the Riddler yet…he’s too close to the Joker. They’re different in some ways, but a lot the same.
It’s possible they’ll do Catwoman, but she’ll probably be a minor villian/character/subplot, like Harvey Dent was, rather than the main villain.
Scarecrow is still puttering around too.
Christian Bale said he’d chain himself to a pole and not come in to work if they put Robin back.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I actually like Shia. Reminds me of a young Russell Crowe. and yes, prob just abt as mature off-screen as Crowe.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
also i can accept weisz as catwoman.
i didnt know how much i liked her until i had to watch a mummy movie without her.
tho i still would rather have a hot anorexic christina ricci as catwoman.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
And booya:
http://www.pajiba.com/five-dark-knight-casting-rumors.htm
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I wish we could vote on this things. Eddie Murphy is a good actor (Dream girls) but he is such a sleaze bag.
Megan Fox would not make a good catwoman either. Too wannabe Jolie. Rachel Weiz is not bad now that I think about it.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
PLEASE NO!!! Let’s just hope he doesn’t break out the fat black woman suit again.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I pray that they are fuckin kidding about casting shia labeouf… everything that tard touches turns to shit, transformers, indiana jones, disturbia…he will ruin the franchise because he is a little pussy who cannot play in anything but family movies. I wont see this movies if hes in it, and mostly everyone i have talked to agree’s with me.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
shia la bouf looks like a robin i think he’ll do a fine job in a robin rolee.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Shia Saide LaBeouf would suck as robin he is an ok actor but not for this and how can the riddler be black. eddie murphy couldn’t play a crazy role like that anyhow.
and keep using the joker, and make Johnny depp play him.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Okay! if I have to deal with Eddie being the Riddler, I guess I can give it a chance, hopefully they make the character a little darker. But Please, “Robin in the Movie.” NO NO say it ain’t so.” Let’s leave the Dark Night Franchise as it is. It’s just more realistic and it will take us back to Batman Forever, which was so kiddish and unreal.” PLEASE TELL ME THAT THEY DON’T PLAN TO BRING ROBIN!
Report this comment as spam or abuse
I think the addition of the Riddler is an excellent choice. The beauty of Batman is not his money or toys or fighting skills . It’s his ability to out think and out maneuver his opponents. The riddler will give us a chance to see how smart batman is. The addition of Robin will be a good fit as long as they show exactly why batman needs a robin. Robins purpose is to give batman balance. With out Robin its real easy for batman to fall over that edge of darkness. Batman needs robin to remember that no matter how evil someone is, that someone is still a human being.
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Daniel Day Lewis should play the riddler and Angelina Jolie should play catwomen.Your welcome
Report this comment as spam or abuse
Amazing Post! Finally a blog that isnt just junk.
Report this comment as spam or abuse