http://io9.com/5035704/joss-whedons-batman-movie-that-never-was

Bret: Guy Pearce would be awesome in anything. He played such a smug villain in The Count of Monte Cristo and he's definitely got good rapport with Nolan (as evidenced in Memento). I'd love to see him in one of these movies. And yes, Phillip Seymour Awesome as a dapper, dastardly Oswald Cobblepot would rock. Did you see him in M:I III? Talk about a bad guy … yeesh.

Kerstin: You just blew my mind. Thandie Newton was on my Selina short-list, along with Rosario Dawson. And I'd love to see Robin Williams as Dr. Arkham, the nut in charge of the asylum. Scary. And yes, he'd also make a great Penguin. Excellent suggestion.

Tim: Thanks for dropping by! I loved the Pfeiffer Catwoman, too, and I liked how that movie played up the theme of duality. But I didn't care for Burton's version of her origin. I love the movie, but I love it as a Tim Burton movie with Batman characters rather than as a Batman movie.

Boggs: You just messed up everything. Now I can't see anyone but Carla Gugino as Selina, and I can't believe I didn't think of her. Probably because I've always wanted her to be Lois Lane (with Jim Caviezel as Superman). But wow, she'd be an amazing Loeb/Sale Selina. And Rachel Weisz would make one hell of a Talia, I think.

Kareem: Excellent suggestion about Goyer/Nolans creating a new villain. I'd like to see what they could come up with. It would definitely keep the film more about Batman. I wonder what they could do with Hugo Strange, or another round of Ra's Al Ghul. Matt Damon as The Joker is an inspired choice because, just like you said so well, he's fearless and brings that total physical and emotional dedication to his work. He's a lot like Ledger and Bale in that way. Your summary of the Joker situation couldn't have been better stated. And yes, poor Routh … dude got screwed.

I think the right direction to go would probably be to create a totally new villain for the films. I'd love for the Nolans and Goyer to have the freedom to do what they feel is a real challenge to Batman.

I don't really have casting choices in mind for the rogues gallery, simply because Two-Face, Ra's Al Ghul, and the Joker are ultimately Batman's greatest nemesis, and I can't seem to think past them. I think Nolan and Goyer knew that, which is why the Joker is left hanging.

Although Heath Ledger is now a God, I think he'd want the character to go on. I know that's just my opinion, but consider the facts: When an actor like Ledger gives his all the way in which he does to this film, you feel that he would've encouraged other actors to take up the purple suit and give it their best too. They are big shoes to fill obviously, but someone has to do it sooner or later. And it doesn't always work out well. Poor Brandon Routh is still stuck in the shadow of Christopher Reeve, and we all hope he'll someday get the chance to show he's worthy of wearing the S. We are in a similar predicament now with Ledger. But, sooner or later, someone will have to step forward and perform the Joker in a Batman film. And I'd rather have Nolan and Goyer say they had the integrity to keep with their original trilogy/story/vision than have them make excuses for the next few decades as to why the third movie sucked.

I don't really have anyone in mind for a recast, though. Matt Damon would probably be an awesome Joker, because he seems, like Heath, fearless in his work.

And, just because the dude is awesome, Crispin Glover. :-)

I think a role like Talia or Catwoman could be interchangable in helping Batman, but more people would know who Catwoman is, making her a better box office draw. I agree that if they use her, the Loeb/Sale version should be used.

I think Carla Gugino would make a good Catwoman.

I also agree Philip Seymore Hoffman would be awesome as a creepy penguin, but another choice pops into my head and may not be conventional. Robin Williams. He's surely made a great leap into the more suspensful, weird characters, and I'd love to see what he could with something like this and NOT be the silly joke making character we all see him as. Just a thought.

Selina. Rachel Weisz would be good. She's sexy and could really make it work. For some reason though, I keep getting a picture of Thandie Newton in my head for that role. I think she would be awesome as well.