Here's another one for the ol' "What If?" files — and this time around, the almost-happened project is a big one, and close to comics fans' hearts. While chatting with "The Book Of Eli" directors The Hughes Brothers, the pair revealed to MTV News that years ago they almost found themselves behind the camera for a big-screen adaptation of "The Dark Knight Returns," Frank Miller's much-beloved tale of a retired Batman well past his prime who is called back into service.

"Three different Batman projects were presented to us over the years," revealed Albert Hughes. "The first time, it was 'The Dark Knight [Returns].' I remember how dark the comic book was. Batman was old. He had to rely more on his tools and other sh--, and he was a decrepit, 60- or 70-year-old man in this comic book."

But that's not the most mind-blowing part of their tale. Possibly the most interesting aspect of their story is who they had in mind to play the role of an aged Bruce Wayne. Read more...

Earlier this week it was Superman romancing Spider-Woman in Bollywood, and now it's Batman rapping about plot holes in "The Dark Knight." Give me a break, folks — it's a slow week.

However, rather than explain why "The Dark Knight Is Confused" video posted on CollegeHumor is causing me physical pain right now, here's a sample of the lyrics:

As I ride on my bike at the end of 'Dark Knight,' there's a few plot points that don't feel right.

His henchman are psycho and expendable — yet somehow completely dependable

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It seems like we're treated to a new, almost-happened casting or filmmaker decision every week that makes us wonder how a movie would've turned out if a few early discussions had gone another way. Last week it was Quentin Tarantino revealing how close he came to directing "Green Lantern," and this week it's "Invictus" actor Matt Damon confirming that he was once up for the role of Harvey Dent (a.k.a. Two-Face) in Christopher Nolan's record-breaking blockbuster "The Dark Knight."

"I couldn't — there was a scheduling thing," Damon told MTV News of why he didn't play the Gotham District Attorney. "I never spoke to Chris Nolan. I'm a big Chris Nolan fan, but I never spoke to him." Read more...

Okay, so you've seen The Joker Blogs and "The Dark Knight Kills Christmas"—but now it's time to make room for yet another Batman parody.

The folks at College Humor have combined the sheer comedy of "The Dark Knight Kills Christmas" with the spot-on accuracy of The Joker Blogs in "Batman Vanishing," a short film that shines the Bat-Signal on one of the Caped Crusader's trickiest elements—namely, his ability to vanish from sight at a moment's notice.

"Batman Vanishing" recreates a scene from "The Dark Knight" between Batman and Commissioner Gordon as they determine whether Harvey Dent is trustworthy enough to bring into their fold—except this time, the scene takes place on the Gotham Police Department's rooftop, and Batman's "vanishing trick" doesn't go quite as planned. Read more...

"The Dark Knight" is one of the most beloved comic book movies of all time, thanks in large part to the Oscar-winning performance of Heath Ledger as Joker—a performance that's inspired plenty of parodies lately.

Recently, we highlighted The Joker Blogs, a series of videos that feature one of the greatest impressions of Ledger's Joker to hit the online circuit. But what's the point of such an accurate Clown Prince of Crime without an equally capable Caped Crusader?

Of all the impressions of Christian Bale's gravely-voiced Batman I've seen, only one strikes me as worthy of standing cowl-to-purple jumper with The Joker Blogs. If you're a fan of that video series, then you're gonna love Max, the star of "The Dark Knight Kills Christmas."

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Admit it, people—you want to be Batman. Heck, we all want to be Batman, because we can be... if we had billions of dollars, ninja training and a major traumatic incident that gave us a single-minded obsession with fighting crime, that is.

As a consolation prize to us normal folks who can't quite become the super-normal Caped Crusader, Universal Designs Replicas is offering the next best thing: a Batman motorcycle suit based on the costume design from "The Dark Knight."

According to UD Replicas, the motorcycle outfit "comprises a full-leather jacket that includes lightweight interior lining, as well as molded-leather and Kevlar armor sections; pants that include heavy-duty, four-way stretch Spandex inserts and CE-approved armor; authentic gloves and boots that replicate the amazing on-screen design." Read more...

It's been 20 years since Tim Burton's "Batman" introduced a moody Michael Keaton to movie audiences, effectively re-establishing the caped crusader as an obsessive loner after extended periods of live-action and animated campiness. While the more whimsical elements of 1992's "Batman Returns" sometimes overshadow Burton's legacy of gothic motifs, his two films' darker take on Batman and the Joker are echoed in Christopher Nolan's Bat-blockbusters.

MTV spoke with the "9" producer ahead of his appearance at this year's Comic-Con in San Diego about his time with the franchise and his take on cinematic superheroes -- namely, Nolan's acclaimed "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight."

"These [movies] are great. When I got involved with [the Batman franchise] many years ago things were ripe for a different interpretation," Burton told MTV News. "When you look at character novels and [regenerated characters], they're such strong things that they can take reinvention." Read more...

The same role that won Heath Ledger an Oscar and an MTV Movie Award, in addition to cementing his place in cinema history, may also have been one that he didn't want, according to a new report citing sources close to the deceased actor. Ledger's mysterious health afflictions leading up to his death still raise numerous unanswered questions, and his role as The Joker opposite Batman in "The Dark Knight" is testament enough to Ledger's intense emotional capacity during his final days. But his haunting performance may also have evidenced his desire to get out of the film altogether.

"He was ready to bust out of the gate," Ledger's friend and agent, Steven Alexander told Vanity Fair, "but he didn’t want to step on the gas and become something that he didn’t want to become: a matinee idol." Read more...

It would probably be the understatement of the year to say that both comic book fans and general movie audiences were somewhat disappointed when "The Dark Knight," the second highest-grossing film of all time, failed to garner a "Best Picture" nomination during last year's Academy Awards. While there was no shortage of complaints and head-shaking at the time, the conspicuous absence of one of the most-watched films of the year (and in Hollywood history) sparked quite a bit of discussion regarding the relevance of the Oscars for the modern audience.

Apparently, that debate didn't fall on deaf ears. As reported on MTV.com earlier today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided to expand the pool of "Best Picture" nominees from 5 to 10 films. In their announcement regarding the change, the group specifically cited "The Dark Knight" debacle as one of the factors in the decision. Read more...

Not even a full year has passed since the worldwide release of "The Dark Knight," but that doesn't stop the rumor mill from churning like mad. Some of these reports are fun to read -- if only because of how surprising they are -- but others? Not so much.

Case in point is the latest rumor on the "Batman 3" front, which says that Christopher Nolan might not return for another installment. Batman-On-Film has heard from a trusted source that Nolan's attachment to a third outing is far from a sealed deal, and may in fact be a long shot. Read more...