'Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice' News: Director Sought Christopher Nolan's Blessing Before Making It
For many Batman fans, Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012), in which the Caped Crusader (played by Christian Bale) hung up his cape and mask and retired, leaving his secret and his Batcave to Robin (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), provided the perfect ending for the DC superhero. The film, and the two others in the Nolan-helmed trilogy, are considered to this day to be some of the best superhero films in recent history.
As such, "Batman v Superman" director Zack Snyder felt the need to ask Nolan's permission before bringing the Dark Knight back to the big screen. In an interview with Empire magazine, Snyder revealed that he told the "Interstellar" and "Inception" director, "You tell me if you don't want me to do it."
According to Snyder, after a beat, Nolan replied: "Well, we don't own these characters. When you're done making Batman movies, someone else will [make them]."
"I think he found it a little bit hard," Snyder said. "I would feel the same way."
Nolan, who served as an executive producer in "Man of Steel" (2013), the first installment in Warner Bros.' current DC cinematic universe film series, has previously said that he is only participating in an "advisory capacity as an executive producer" in the forthcoming superhero clash film. Of Ben Affleck's casting as Batman in "Dawn of Justice," Nolan said, "This is the guy who just won Best Picture as a director and as an actor, and I thought it would be a great thing that he'd be willing to do this."
"I think the guy is incredibly talented and I'm very excited to see what Zack and Ben do together," he added.
"Batman v Superman" will pit the Dark Knight against the Man of Steel (Henry Cavill) and will introduce the rest of the Justice League: Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and The Flash (Ezra Miller). The team will face off against Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), Doomsday, and, as recent rumors have it, Darkseid.
"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" premieres on March 25.