Ouch. I'm REALLY hoping that Christopher Nolan steers VERY clear of the Penguin. I doubt that character would work with his more realistic, grittier approach to the Batman franchise. What I'm hoping for (In order of preference) are:

(1) Bane. Qualifications? He is even more tortured and angst-ridden than Batman. The guy is massive and crazy strong, the result of forced, illegal drug experiments since his childhood (which he spent imprisioned). Also, in the comics he is a suitably complex character for the likes of Nolan. He's a junkie and hates that fact, so he has often eked out his own revenge against drug cartels. Having him in the next film could present some really interesting scenarios: Perhaps Batman goes after him, only to find out that part of him approves of what Bane is up to. What then? Do they work together? Does he try to lock Bane up? Or does Bane get the best of Bats and break his back as he did in "Knightfall"? I'd shell out my uber-picky movie dollars for that one. Another bonus, is that Bane is often written has having a posse of other, minor characters that could be developed for future films.

(2) A return of Two-Face. Not totally out of the question, because in the first film it is never EXPLICITLY stated that Harvey Dent dies in that fall. Gotham honors him as though he died heroically, but I suspect that was just an attempt to salvage his legacy and to hide the truth of his coming unhinged. Me? I think he's in Arkham Asylum.

(3) Poison Ivy. I LOVE this character. Somebody PLEASE do her justice on film. She needs to be a brainy, timelessly beautiful, womanly, irresistable femme fatale that gives Bond girls a run for their money. She needs to have the same allure for Batman that the dark side holds for Luke Skywalker. She should put Bruce Wayne in a tailspin like no other woman (Rachel WHO?) and almost succeed in seducing him away from his altar ego. Blondes (not mysterious enough) and stick-women who can't act (Uma?) need not apply.

(4) Cavalier. I like the idea of rich-dude with high-tech toys in bat costume vs. rich dude with high-tech toys dressed like a musketeer. I just think this match-up would be fun. Especially if you played Batman's seriousness against the devil-may-care, Errol-Flynn-as-Robin-Hood bravura of Cavalier.

Other things I'd like to see:

If a Robin ever joins the franchise. I'd like it to be a kick-but little redheaded GIRL with moxie, like in the Frank Miller "Batman Returns" comic book. Turn the whole robin thing on its head. I also really like the Batman vs. Superman concept from the same book.

My two cents.

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