In all likelihood, we're still quite a ways off from any real news regarding a third "Batman" movie from director Christopher Nolan—if he's even returning to the franchise, that is—but that's not stopping us from wondering which Dark Knight villain we should see in the inevitable sequel.

There's no shortage of rogues to choose from, but the one I think is an absolute necessity is Catwoman. Given the state of Bruce Wayne's life after the events of "The Dark Knight," this feels like the perfect time to introduce Selina Kyle—the woman who could either help mend Bruce's fences, or bring all of the walls tumbling down.

If Nolan, David Goyer and the other folks at DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. decide to go the Catwoman route, I think that these five actresses would be great for the role. Read more...

Okay, so we haven't even received official word that there will be a third movie in Christopher Nolan's "Batman" franchise, but that doesn't mean we can't speculate about the characters we'd like to see in the film if it ever gets made.

When it comes to the Batman movies, there's a long—and some might say sordid—history of jam-packing greater numbers of villains into each installment. However, with the passing of Heath Ledger last year, the most prominent prospect for the next installment's villain suddenly (and tragically) became an impossibility. The question now becomes: will Nolan go for a returning character or someone entirely new if/when he tackles the Dark Knight next? Read more...

Cillian Murphy returned for "The Dark Knight" after helping relaunch the Batman movie franchise as The Scarecrow in "Batman Begins." Murphy re-teams with director Christopher Nolan for his new film "Inception," so there is little doubt that Nolan would want him back if there's a Jonathan Crane role to be filled in "Batman 3"—and Murphy remains hopeful that a third installment is in the works.

"I hope they make a third one," he told MTV News. "I think 'The Dark Knight' was one of the greatest films."

Just because he's hopeful, however, doesn't mean that Nolan has shared his intentions on the "Inception" set. Read more...

Ever since Michael Caine infamously name-checked Johnny Depp and Philip Seymour Hoffman as potential cast members for the next "Batman" movie, he's been on notice. According to Caine, who's currently making the rounds promoting his upcoming film "Harry Brown," he hasn't been on the receiving end of any details regarding Christopher Nolan's next foray in the Bat-universe... but that doesn't mean he isn't interested in where the franchise goes next.

MTV Movies Editor Joshua Horowitz caught up with Caine during the Toronto International Film Festival (where the "news" first got started last year) to pick his brain about the next "Batman" movie and joke about the scoop that rocked the 'Net.

"There is nobody, there's no script, there's nothing," Caine told MTV News of the status of the next "Batman" movie. "It can't possibly be made before 2011 because 'Inception' is such a big picture." Read more...

Over the last year or so, "The Dark Knight" actor Aaron Eckhart has regularly flirted with the idea of his character, Harvey Dent, returning for a potential third film despite his seemingly chapter-ending exit from last year's blockbuster. Almost a year ago, Eckhart said Dent and his scarred alter ego, Two Face, were indeed dead—only to hint at a potential return for "Batman 3" during this year's Golden Globes award ceremony.

So, what's the real story for "Batman 3"? When we caught up with Eckhart during a press event for "Love Happens, " his upcoming romantic drama, we not only asked him about his character's fate, but also how someone in his position (given his character's status) might go about campaigning for a role in the sequel.

"Well, if I was a smarter person, I would do those things," laughed Eckhart when asked if he planned to send "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan any gifts. "I'd send him flowers. I'd buy him a car. But I'm not that smart." Read more...

Earlier today we asked you where the "Batman 3" casting rumor that put Megan Fox in the role of Catwoman ranked with all of the other rumors surrounding the third installment of Christopher Nolan's Bat-film franchise.

While the casting is extremely unlikely at this point (seeing as how there are still questions about whether we'll even see a third "Batman" film from Nolan), we thought it would be fun to play the "What If?" game and find out what it would look like if Fox did indeed play Batman's feline-fixated nemesis.

Click on the image below for a small gallery of photos we've altered to depict Megan Fox as Catwoman, then decide for yourself if this is the sort of outrageous rumor you wish was true.

Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter!

What is it about the "Batman" film franchise that breeds ridiculous rumors? The latest in a long line of unlikely casting gossip has "Jennifer's Body" star Megan Fox suiting up as Catwoman for the third installment of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" films. But is it any more ridiculous than some of the previous rumors that have made the rounds?

[UPDATE: Check out our gallery of altered images featuring Megan Fox as Catwoman!]

The report surfaced earlier today in notoriously unreliable British tabloid The Sun, which simply stated—without any attributed sources, anonymous or otherwise—that "Megan Fox has signed up to play Catwoman in the next Batman movie." And while there doesn't appear to be even the slightest glimmer of truth to the report, it still isn't the most ridiculous casting rumor we've heard thus far.

Or is it? Read more...

Whether Christopher Nolan's follow-up to "The Dark Knight" begins filming next year as Gary Oldman anticipates it will (or not), the next big-screen Batman chapter might be bigger than anyone expected—literally.

Nolan gave moviegoers a taste of what specially shot IMAX footage could do for superhero films when he used the format for a few key scenes of "The Dark Knight." The format even inspired Jon Favreau to ponder IMAX for "Iron Man 2." Now, a breaking rumor indicates that Nolan may be considering a total IMAX approach as he head into his third Batman installment.

According to the usually reliable crew at Ain't It Cool News, the next film in Nolan's "Batman" franchise, which has yet to receive an official title, could be completely shot in IMAX. If the report turns out to be true, every scene would be getting formatted from the first day of shooting to be spread across super-wide screens everywhere. Read more...

So far in Christopher Nolan's new "Batman" film franchise, we've seen Joker and Two-Face reinterpreted as darker, more sinister re-imaginings of their previous big-screen incarnations. But which villain will be next?

While there's been significant chatter about characters like Catwoman, Riddler and The Penguin finding their way into the next Batman movie, we thought it would be interesting to get some thoughts on the situation from Danny DeVito, the actor who brought Oswald "The Penguin" Cobblepot to life in Tim Burton's 1992 film "Batman Returns."

"I think they should do what they do best: take other people's ideas and make movies out of them," DeVito told MTV News when asked how he feels the studio should proceed with the next installment. "I wouldn't want to stand in the way of regress of progress." Read more...

While "The Dark Knight" actor Gary Oldman seems convinced filming will begin on the next Batman movie next year, writer David Goyer sounded a bit less sure of the schedule when he dropped by Splash Page HQ this Comic-Con weekend.

"Right now, Chris is involved in filming 'Inception,' and when he finishes that, he will turn his studious gaze back to the Bat universe and we'll see," Goyer told MTV News.

So, while Goyer isn't dropping any hints -- or might not have any to offer -- it looks like there's still a ways to go before we have any official word on the follow-up to the "The Dark Knight." That's okay, though, it just leaves us more time to guess which villain we'll see in the next Batman movie -- and who will play the role.

Keep it locked to Splash Page for more Comic-Con news as it develops!