You Won’t Believe What Batman Fans Thought Was a Huge Twist in The Dark Knight 17 Years Later

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Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is widely recognized as one of the best comic book adaptations ever made, and many believe it could have been even more exceptional if a fan theory concerning “The Dark Knight” had become reality. Unlike Marvel’s intricate universe-building strategy, Nolan handled his Batman films differently; however, he subtly planted Easter eggs or hints for potential future installments. For instance, the first film, “Batman Begins,” concludes with the Joker card being revealed, hinting at a possible confrontation between Batman and his arch-nemesis in the next movie. Some viewers speculated that Nolan may have used a similar technique in “The Dark Knight” by laying the groundwork for another significant DC villain to emerge.

Although it never happened, many fans believed that Coleman Reese from “The Dark Knight” might have played a more significant part in the series, even being secretly the character known as The Riddler. This assumption stemmed from the intriguing speculations among fans.

Batman Fans Thought Coleman Reese Could Be The Riddler

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In “The Dark Knight,” Coleman Reese is an employee at Wayne Enterprises who collaborates frequently with Lucius Fox. His primary role in the movie involves scrutinizing the company’s upcoming deal with LSI Holdings, and he’s asked to verify the numbers by Fox. Upon examining the figures more thoroughly, Reese notices discrepancies within Wayne Enterprises, specifically that the Applied Sciences division seems to have vanished mysteriously overnight. After further investigation, Reese uncovers the blueprints for the Tumbler and presents his findings to Fox. Suspecting Bruce Wayne to be Batman, Reese proposes receiving $10 million annually to keep the secret; however, he reconsiders this idea when Fox points out its shortcomings.

In the movie, Fox frequently referred to Coleman Reese as “Mr. Reese,” which some viewers interpreted as a hint towards “mysteries.” Some fans speculated that this was Christopher Nolan’s plan to establish Reese as the main antagonist in the next Dark Knight film, much like how Edward Nygma (E. Nygma) is known as the Riddler in the comics. This twist would have added an intriguing element to the trilogy since Batman’s villains often discover his secret identity, but Reese has the unique aspect of aiming to publicly reveal the truth. Unlike Bane in The Dark Knight Rises who knew Batman’s identity but didn’t announce it to the world, Reese poses a different set of stakes as he threatens to expose Bruce Wayne if his puzzles remain unsolved, creating an interesting dynamic.

As a devoted moviegoer, I can’t help but reflect on Reese, merely an employee at Wayne Enterprises. His tale in the film concludes when Bruce Wayne bravely rescues him from the Joker’s ominous threat. In gratitude for this selfless act, Reese chooses to spend the remainder of his days safeguarding his boss’ secret. Regrettably, Reese is not mentioned in The Dark Knight Rises, though there was a brief period of intrigue surrounding the possibility of the Riddler making an appearance.

The Dark Knight Rises’ Riddler Rumors Explained

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Initially, during the early stages of Christopher Nolan’s third Batman film, there were rumors suggesting The Riddler as one of the potential villains. As per writer David S. Goyer, Warner Bros. was keen on casting Leonardo DiCaprio (fresh from collaborating with Nolan on Inception) for this role. However, the studio attempted to persuade Goyer to get Nolan to agree to this idea, which he rejected, stating, “That’s not how we operate.” Despite the studio’s persistent efforts, the filmmakers opted for a completely different approach when constructing the storyline.

Ultimately, another actor from the movie “Inception” stepped into the role of a Batman nemesis for director Christopher Nolan: Tom Hardy portrayed Bane. Nolan sought an adversary capable of physically testing Batman, and Bane seemed ideal for this task. Hardy proved to be a formidable presence, breaking the Bat and pushing Bruce Wayne to his utmost limits as he tormented Gotham. The film “The Dark Knight Rises” carries a war-like atmosphere, and it could have been challenging to achieve that ambiance with the Riddler orchestrating events.

Following “The Dark Knight Rises”, a decade passed before the Riddler resurfaced in live-action movies again. In “The Batman”, the character serves as the main adversary, with Matt Reeves giving the antagonist a new twist, portraying him as a serial killer akin to the Zodiac Killer. Paul Dano delivered an appropriately chilling performance as Edward Nashton, the Riddler in this film, but it remains unclear if he will play a role in any future installments of the franchise.

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2025-03-30 15:10