It's very clear that the Batman franchise is going to move on even after Christopher Nolan wraps up his own Bat story with The Dark Knight Rises. And It's also been very clear all along that Nolan was done with Batman forever after that-- no producing credits or consulting jobs on future Batman franchises, thank you very much. But what's been a little less clear was if Nolan would have a hand in a potential Justice League film, which Warner Bros. is very much moving forward with, and which would presumably want to launch from the same universe that Nolan created in his Batman films, given what huge hits they've been.
But alas, Nolan doesn't want any part of that, either. Asked directly by The Associated Press if he would have any hand in a Justice League movie, Nolan reiterated that he was completely done with Batman-- even as a producer:
We’re finished with all we’re doing with Batman. This is the end of our take on this character…I’ve got no plans to do anything more, and certainly, no involvement with any Justice League project.”
Now, before you start saying this is a ridiculous thing to ask a man who's said over and over he's done with Batman, remember that he is producing Zack Snyder's upcoming Man of Steel, so he'll have one foot left in the DC Universe at least until Man of Steel opens next year. It didn't seem unreasonable to think his role as consultant might continue into a Justice League movie-- and even now, it seems entirely likely someone at Warner Bros. will at least have him in on a meeting with whoever decides to direct the film, just to give some pointers and then run off to work on whatever it is he wants to make next.
So even as Nolan is planning his exit from the Batman universe, we still have his last offering to look forward to. The Dark Knight Rises finally comes to theaters next Friday, and you'll be hearing much, much more from us about it in the days to come, so stay tuned!
