10 Batman Villains Who Could Work In Nolan’s Dark Knight 4

A hypothetical fourth installment in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy has long been dreamed about by fans, with some interesting potential for introducing a new antagonist into the grittier universe. Spanning from 2005 to 2012, The Dark Knight trilogy is widely hailed as some of the greatest storytelling in comic book movie history, especially the trilogy’s eponymous second film, The Dark Knight. The more realistic tone, however, always limited the Nolanverse’s look into Batman’s rogues gallery.

With faces like Michael Keaton and George Clooney having reprized their roles as Batman in recent years, it’s not out of the question to imagine what a fourth Nolanverse Batman film might look like. Of the available villains the trilogy hadn’t used, it’s best to steer clear of mutated foes like Mr. Freeze and Killer Croc whose origins and appearances may be too fantastic to gel with the grounded Nolanverse. The best villains for Nolan’s vision are those with subtle, yet terrifying gimmicks not too far removed from our own reality.

10 The Penguin

Oswald Cobblepot could suit the Nolanverse surprisingly well

The classic incarnation of The Penguin, complete with weaponized umbrellas, themed submarines, and literal penguin henchmen, may be a far cry from the gritty reality of the Dark Knight trilogy. However, the concept of one of Gotham’s wealthy elite turned crimeboss is a narrative perfect for Nolan’s Gotham, always eager to explore how corruption breeds a nasty criminal element. The Penguin could be reprsented by the likes of a sharply-dressed Alan Ford, directing a mob takeover of Gotham with shocking ruthlessness.

9 The Riddler

Batman’s quizzical villain is perfect for Nolan

As far as prospective villains for a hypothetical fourth Nolanverse movie go, few options are as much of a layup as The Riddler. The Batman conclusively proved that the character can work in a more realistic setting, with Paul Dano’s twisted take on Edward Nygma providing a paralyzing foil to Robert Pattinson’s Batman. The Dark Knight series in particular would be an excellent home for The Riddler, considering Christopher Nolan’s films’ penchant for head-scratching narratives like Inception, Memento and Tenet. There’s no question that Nolan could excel with the utilization of a mystery-based villain.

8 Professor Pyg

A horror villain in a superhero movie

Unfortunately, the Dark Knight trilogy somewhat wasted Victor Zsasz, a well-known serial killer from the comics who has a habit of recording each of his crimes with a grisly scar on his own body. Thankfully, the opportunity to have Batman face off against a slasher antagonist is still available with Professor Pyg, a deranged scientist who sees his fellow humans as little more than blank canvases for his blades to shape. Admittedly, the presence of his Dollotrons, human-animal hybrid minions, would need to be scrapped, but Pyg would be an unquestionably terrifying villain befitting of the series’ dark tone.

7 Firefly

The high-flying arsonist could be a great side villain

While the more mystical elements of Batman’s collection of foes, such as Ra’s al Ghul’s Lazarus pits or the extent to which Bane’s venom transforms his strength, might be off the table for the Nolanverse, the director has had no problem letting technology run wild. Firefly could be the most well-equipped villain Bale’s Batman has ever faced, using the same hover technology as The Bat in The Dark Knight Rises. Admittedly, Firefly’s low-level criminal antics wouldn’t make for a compelling core antagonist, but his destructive arsonist impulses could serve a fourth Dark Knight movie well as a side villain.

6 Black Mask

Nolan could present the crime boss better than the DCEU did

The world of organized crime in Nolan’s Gotham takes center stage compared to most Batman stories, with the seething corruption of the city being foul enough to inspire Ra’s al Ghul to destroy it in the first film. Officially representing the criminal underworld with a villain would be a good direction for a fourth film, and Black Mask would be the perfect choice. Nolan could make the disfigured crime boss truly terrifying again after Ewan McGregor’s version of the character was the butt of jokes in Birds of Prey.

5 Great White Shark

An underutilized villain that could be the Nolanverse’s ultimate mastermind

Considering how well Nolan was able to represent other Batman villains with prominent facial scarring, like Two-Face and The Joker, lesser-known antagonist Great White Shark could be a prime opportunity for a 4th Batman film. A former inmate of Arkham Asylum brutally disfigured by his cellmates after pleading insanity to avoid punishment for his crimes, Great White Shark resurfaces as a financier of villains. He would do well as the master pulling the strings in a new Nolanverse film, using Batman and his other rivals for his own gain.

4 Lady Shiva

DC’s deadliest woman in the world could tie off R’as al Ghul’s story nicely

Not strictly a Batman villain, Lady Shiva serves as DC’s single most powerful female martial artist. A deadly assassin with skills honed over a lifetime, Lady Shiva could redeem Nolan as a better version of Talia al Ghul, coming back to haunt Bruce through some connection to the League of Shadows. Sometimes an ally in the comics, Lady Shiva could play with allegiances throughout a fourth Dark Knight film, keeping audiences and Batman himself on their toes.

3 Dr. Hugo Strange

Arkham Asylum’s lead physician could give the famous locale some much-needed development

Despite featuring heavily in Batman Begins, Arkham Asylum isn’t given much development in the Nolanverse, with few named inmates and little lasting consequences for the Dark Knight Trilogy’s Gotham as a whole. Dr. Hugo Strange could remedy this, haunting Batman with his old actions by manipulating the many famous inmates of Arkham. Strange’s own twisted psychology and fascination with Batman would be well-placed in the Nolanverse, tying neatly into the series’ themes of crime, corruption, and vigilante justice.

2 Hush

Could give Christian Bale’s Batman a proper rival

Borne from the famous 2003 storyline Batman: Hush, a fourth Christopher Nolan film would be the perfect place to introduce Batman’s dark reflection. Rather than watching his parents die, Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend Tommy Elliot murdered his own for his own gain, deciding to become the murderous vigilante Hush after deducing Batman’s true identity. Hush is a very personal villain that Nolan could’ve adapted even better than the animated film, Batman: Hush.

1 The Ventriloquist

A dual personality that could’ve been adapted scarily well by Nolan

At first, The Ventriloquist may seem like a strange choice for a Nolanverse villain — There’s an inherent degree of silliness to a character that relies on a talking dummy as a mouthpiece. But considering the amazing performances Nolan has managed to get out of different actors as Batman’s villains over the years, The Ventriloquist’s split personality could make for a fascinating character for Nolan to dissect. A fourth Dark Knight Trilogy movie could explore the character’s abusive relationship with his alter ego, while still maintaining the sought-after crime angle the franchise is familiar with.