http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sh ... 048300.ece
By GORDON SMART
and JESS ROGERS
Published: Today
FUNNYMAN EDDIE MURPHY will play The Riddler in the next Batman movie, The Sun can reveal.
The Beverly Hills Cop star, 47, has been signed up by British director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN to reprise the role played by JIM CARREY in 1995’s Batman Forever.
Gotham villain ... Eddie Murphy
The surprise move follows speculation linking Pirates of the Caribbean star JOHNNY DEPP to the part.
The film, set for a 2010 release, is being developed under the working title Gotham.
Execs have also signed up rising Transformers star SHIA LABEOUF, 22, to play Robin.
CHRISTIAN BALE will return as Bruce Wayne, while MICHAEL CAINE will again play Bruce’s assistant Alfred.
Meanwhile, Brit RACHEL WEISZ is said to be up for the Catwoman role.
Insiders also revealed to The Sun the flick will end on a cliffhanger over whether Batman survives a blast at Wayne Towers.
Nolan had been tight-lipped about the future of the Batman films after being rocked by the January death of HEATH LEDGER  tipped to receive a posthumous Oscar for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight.
A film insider said: “Chris wasn’t sure if he wanted to do another movie but as soon as he decided to, he got the wheels in motion.
“Eddie’s a fantastic addition. Everyone’s excited to see what he does as the Riddler.â€Â
Would any of you simply keel over if Eddie Murphy were cast as The RIDDLER in TDK sequel or this other chick Rachel Weisz as CATWOMAN??? Well that appears to be the latest and greatest in the world of Bullshit casting for TDK sequel as though WB is so damn ancy to get a 3rd film off that has more potential of disappointing and not living up to TDK than anything.. Let's HOPE for the fans sake that WB under no circumstances goes through withy casting like this which would go right back to the Schumacher Era.............Or maybe that's what there secretly aiming for??
