Nolan taps Tom Hardy for role in Batman 3

“The Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan is pushing for “Inception” supporting player and rising star Tom Hardy to star in the next Batman film.

Hardy played “The Forger” for Nolan in this summer’s hit blockbuster and his impressive Christian Bale-like method acting was no doubt appealing to the renowned director. Deadline reports that Hardy is “in the mix” for a lead role that is being kept under wraps by Warner Bros.

While the presumption is that Hardy would play a villain (long-rumored to be The Riddler), I would not put it past any of the Nolans behind the script to include other leading parts much like Harvey Dent was in “The Dark Knight.” Although “lead role” is the major phrase here, I simply think in working with Hardy, Nolan realized Hardy would be perfect for this one part. If Hardy is confirmed sometime soon for this “mystery role,” my guess is it would not be the villain as Warner Bros. would likely want a bit more say in that decision, possibly pushing for a bigger name. At the same time, this is Chris Nolan — he has the keys to the castle.

The news comes not long after it was announced that “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the apocalyptic series reboot from George Miller that Hardy is signed on for, has hit major delays and will not even begin filming until 2012. Considering “Batman 3” films this coming year (beginning in New Orleans), Hardy will most certainly be free.

Hardy’s most acclaimed work outside of “Inception” was the prison drama “Bronson” for Nicolas Winding Refn about a man imprisoned for seven years for a petty crime who ends up spending 30 years in solitary and develops an alter ego. Hardy bulked up and shaved down for the role and was virtually unrecognizable. He won the British Independent Film Award for Best Actor.

Other projects Hardy is currently filming are “Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy” based on the John Le Carre thriller novel and romantic comedy “This Means War” with Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon.