Dec 18 2008Fact: Eddie Murphy, Shia LaBeouf in Next Batman
Tabloid magazine The Sun broke this huge story about Batman that, strangely, no one more respectable has heard about:
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.
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.
I used to think these British tabloids were making these things up, but lately I'm wondering if it's possible they're just real fools. They get a phone call:
"Hello? Yes, speaking. You're an insider!? Go on. Eddie Murphy? Wow, that seems like it would completely go against everything Christopher Nolan has been doing with the series, but continue. Shia LaBeouf, you say? Spell that. OK, and just to confirm, you said you're definitely a film insider, right? You are? Wait, you sound a lot like the guy who told me last month that Angelina Jolie was going to be Catwoman. Oh, that was a different guy? OK then, sounds good. Thanks!"
I find that idea more believable than the notion that someone would legitimately think anyone would believe Eddie Murphy is playing The Riddler with Shia LaBeouf as Robin. Maybe Chris Tucker and the kid who played Anakin in The Phantom Menace, but not those two.
UPDATE: I didn't think I had to say it, but just to be clear, this is definitely not true.
Reader Comments
1. sully - December 18, 2008 12:26 PM
I'm an insider, and what actually is going on is Nolan signed on John Goodman to play Clayface and Christian Bale is doing a duel role as Mr. Freeze. Shia Labouf is in it too, but he's not Robin, he's actually playing Batman's long lost son, who Rachel gave birth to nine months after he ran away from Gotham. Yeah, and Alfred actually becomes Bane, and is still played by Michael Caine. True story.
2. Erost - December 18, 2008 12:30 PM
I live in the UK and i was unpleasantly surprised when reading this story in todays paper. The Sun is not particularly the most trustworthy when it comes to global news, nor is it that great a newspaper, and i find it hilarious they could believe such a stupid rumour.
I mean despite liking the Rachel Weisz idea (i find her incredibly sexy), the mere thought of Sia Lebouf entering the batman series is ridiculous, and imagine how laughable Eddie Murphy would be as the joker! lol
I say, William H Macy for the joker.....think about it people.
3. reek s - December 18, 2008 12:33 PM
i heard the next Batman villain is Joel Schumacher wearing the nipple bat suit
4. Anonymous - December 18, 2008 12:35 PM
Yeah, this is a fake story. Christian Bale said that he would not return if Nolan wrote Robin in to the next film, and Nolan agreed with him. He wants this to remain a Robin free series. So.... bullshit.
5. Erost - December 18, 2008 12:37 PM
YEA
Chris O' Donnell should bow his head in shame and keep it there.
6. omg no - December 18, 2008 12:49 PM
NO NO NO NO NO
Please be a fake story, don't ruin this so far awesome batman series. Eddie Murphy maybe, but Shia LaBeou.......as Robin...........dear god no.
7. Adrian - December 18, 2008 1:02 PM
That's an awesome photoshop job! You managed to capture the vivid horror of the idea in one brutally distasteful image!
8. K lee - December 18, 2008 1:11 PM
Over at the sun they just have words and celebrities' names on dartboards, and tossin' darts is how they write stories.
9. Tracyn - December 18, 2008 1:35 PM
AICN is bringing reason into this mess: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39487
10. proteon - December 18, 2008 1:53 PM
Man when you guys were still in 5th grade shrieking over Pokemon a little flick called Pulp Fiction came out and rocketed then and now has-been John Travolta back to relevance. Eddie Murphy as the riddler? WHo knows. Could be awesome - who sucked in The Dark Knight? Nobody.
BUUUUUTTTTT
Shia Lebouf?
Well you guys did love Transformers.
11. Mr. Stratford - December 18, 2008 2:00 PM
Wow. I can't believe people would be alright with Eddie Murphy as the Riddler.
12. OH PLEASE GOD NO - December 18, 2008 2:16 PM
If Nolan cast anyone as Robin, I wont go see it. Robin sucks balls.
13. nikirtehsuxlol - December 18, 2008 2:16 PM
Ugh, the last good thing I saw Eddie Murphy in was the SNL Buckwheat skit.
14. Dr. - December 18, 2008 2:23 PM
Fuck me. If that's true this movie is going to SUCK! Whatever retard thought Eddie Murphy and LeDouche would be good additions to the series might as well think of an Undercover Brotha, Eddie Griffin for that matter.
Transformers was only good because of Megan Fox's hotness and cool transforming robots. LeDouche's character was as annoyingly bad as all the other similar characters that ass-clown is known for.
The scene where he is looking for his glasses and the retardformers are messing about in the yard was FUCKING HILARIOUS-ly brutal. Piece of shit comedy bit. Figured Jar-jar was going to run out in a panic about the lawn.
15. Elmo - December 18, 2008 2:32 PM
NO!
I'd rather have LaBeouf in it then that guy
oh wait... neither of them. Is that an option?
16. Drunkman - December 18, 2008 2:46 PM
However unlikely, it IS possible to pull off the Riddler without coming across as an ass clown. It would take a very talented actor.
Robin on the other hand...well...lets be honest. It just isn't possible.
17. Questionable - December 18, 2008 3:02 PM
I could have sworn I read an interview with Chris Nolan before Dark Knight came out stating that he would never include Robin, in any of his Batman Films if he did a third one. Because and a quote "Robin is a bit of a fag" ok he didn't really say that... But he did say he wouldnt have him in it.
18. The Reverend - December 18, 2008 3:12 PM
Dunno how to say this but, historically we are 100% wrong here about what will suck and what will be awesome.
BELIEVE IT!
19. Drunkman - December 18, 2008 3:14 PM
@14 LOL
20. Batman - December 18, 2008 3:21 PM
@1 Clayface! I forgot all about him! I know you're bullshitting but he'd still be a cool bad guy to see on screen.
21. WJ - December 18, 2008 4:24 PM
The ONLY thing that mildly got my attention is who was suspected to play catwoman, should Nolan go that route,(i hope not) that is Rachel Weisz.
As for Eddie Murphy as the Riddler or even Johnny Depp would compleatly destroy the amazing series he has going on. To me it would be like Keanu Reaves being casted to be Bane and just have him grunt all the time and scream BAINE!!!... It would be like the first two movies were done in vain... Honestly from what I heard Nolan hasn't even said he would do a third Batman movie and currently I am ok with that....
22. WJ - December 18, 2008 4:26 PM
PS... Shia LaBeouf ?? Are you serious...? Are we still trying to polish this turd?
23. Brian - December 18, 2008 7:18 PM
I heard this is the new Joker: http://tinyurl.com/2xhagf
Seems like a good choice to me...
24. Jesse - December 18, 2008 7:46 PM
i think they should get jim carrey to play the riddler again since he did such a reat job playing him!
25. Aero - December 18, 2008 7:49 PM
I've been waiting to hate these movies. Maybe I can get my turds out of the toilet from this moring and they can have a part.
26. rob - December 18, 2008 10:44 PM
if they want to put EDDIE MURPHY in this picture they must have a death wish
27. Ramon M. - December 19, 2008 1:56 AM
No one in their right mind would ever put Eddie Murphy on a film like this. He is box office poison.
28. Sir Goat - December 19, 2008 10:24 AM
I'd like to see LeDouche play Robin but be THE VILLIAN. That way, Batman can kick his arsse.
Robin is gay.
29. Nick - December 19, 2008 3:38 PM
The funniest thing in this that everyone seems to have glossed over was the line "Shia LaBeouf, you say? Spell that."
Comedic gold.
30. TommyP - December 20, 2008 5:58 AM
I just figured they wanted to kill it off at three films again - the last being mind numbingly bad. That way we can stop worrying and start looking forward to the next "Batman movie" resurrection in 15 years or so (like we'd forget the 3rd by that time).
31. darcie - December 22, 2008 5:07 PM
not eddie murphy. and not the chick from the mummy. how bout flava flav?
32. Juan David - September 18, 2009 9:20 PM
The next riddler is Johnny Depp, who is the jerk that do this montage with Eddie Murphy?