Scarecrow, Joker, and Bane
Essential to all the Bond films are the Bond villains, and who has proven to be more capable of directing villains than Nolan? Heath Ledger’s Joker is already carved in stone as one of the most iconic villains of all time, and although much of the performance can be attributed to Ledger’s total immersion into his role, he was still directed by Nolan and it was Nolan’s vision that led to the mysterious and violent character we saw.
Barely less impressive was Bane. Again, Tom Hardy is a phenomenal actor, and surely could have thrived under any director, but it was Nolan who made Bane more than a costumed wrestler. He turned Bane into a visionary, trained by the best, who had as fervent a following as any villain we’ve ever seen. The devotion Bane’s henchmen showed could translate so well to the devotion of those working for the next Bond villain.
But more fitting for Bond than either of the major villains Nolan has done would be his portrayal of Scarecrow. Cillian Murphy is someone I think is sinister enough to play a Bond villain. Bane and Joker were terrifying, Scarecrow was creepy, and that was what made him so fun to watch.
He is slightly psychotic, his excitement that is mixed with his fear when Batman is first in Arkham really chills me, yet he still has the intelligence of a doctor. He is a smart villain, and although nothing of a physical match for Batman, he is a worthy mental foe with a plan. When not wearing the mask he is completely composed.
One of my favorite scenes is the one where Rachel comes to see Falcone in the asylum, and Crane hisses, “As you can see, there’s nothing convenient about his symptoms.” The delivery of that line combined with when he takes her down to the basement, reveals where they are dumping the medicine into the water before gassing her just oozes the sinister slime we expect from a Bond villain.
I don’t think it would be any stretch of the imagination to picture Nolan translating Cillian Murphy’s performance into that of a phenomenal Bond villain, and that would make for an exceptional 24th Bond film.
Although it may still be a bit until any decisions regarding Bond 24 are finalized, the success of Skyfall has fans eager for 007’s next appearance, so it’s likely rumors will be circulating more and more rapidly as time goes on.
A decision about the director will surely be one of the first made, and it would be in both the fans’ and the franchise’s best interest if Christopher Nolan was selected.
Am I right in saying Nolan is the best choice, or is there someone you’d rather see? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.