‘The Dark Knight’ Strives for $1 Billion

Warner Bros. has announced that The Dark Knight will return to both regular theaters and IMAX screens on January 23 as it reminds Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences voters the movie is worthy of Oscar consideration. The studio is also hoping it will earn the $70 million it needs to break the $600 domestic mark, second only to Titanic’s $600,788,188. Adjusted for inflation, The Dark Knight would rank 26th in domestic revenues.

As of December 3, Box Office Mojo reports the film has earned $530,327,889 in America and an additional  $465,929,447 globally, totaling $996,257,336, just shy of the $1 billion mark. 

Warner has already begun its Oscar campaign, hoping to nab a Best Picture slot in addition to a posthumous supporting actor nomination for Heath Ledger’s memorable Joker.

Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. Pictures President of Domestic Distribution said in a release, “The Dark Knight is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

Originally released on July 18, 2008, The Dark Knight broke virtually every possible box office record to become the top-grossing film of 2008 and the second-highest grossing movie (domestically) of all time.

Meantime, as director Christopher Nolan ponders what a third film would be about, Blockbuster polled its members and they have decided that  Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie should appear in the film respectively as the Riddler and Harley Quinn.

"Both Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie are actors who can bring a Batman villain to life in the complex, realistic style that have made Nolan’s films so popular," said Keith Leopard, director of film product for Blockbuster Inc. "It would be exciting to see what they could do with The Riddler’s compulsive clue-giving and Harley Quinn’s transformation from brilliant therapist to psychotic criminal."

There is little likelihood either actor would be available whenever a third installment is ready.  Depp is already committed to Dark Shadows, The Lone Ranger, and a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean while Jolie is now shooting The Mercenary: Love and Honor and is reportedly committed to a version of Atlas Shrugged.

The 7500 voters in November spoke out with complete results below.

The Next Batman: Most Requested Villains

1.      The Riddler (Compulsive clue-giving criminal.  Real name: Edward Nigma.)
2.      Harley Quinn (The Joker’s jester-like therapist turned girlfriend. Real name: Dr. Harleen Quinzel.)
3.      Catwoman (A whip-wielding burglar and sometimes Bat-lover.  Real name: Selina Kyle.)
4.      The Penguin (Umbrella-toting mob boss.  Real name: Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot.)
5.      Bane (Steroid-pumping strong man.  Real name: Unknown.)

The Next Batman: Most Requested Casting Choices

1.      Johnny Depp
2.      Angelina Jolie
3.      Natalie Portman
4.      Edward Norton
5.      Keira Knightley
6.      Daniel Day-Lewis
7.      Philip Seymour Hoffman
8.      Viggo Mortensen
9.      Kevin Spacey
10.     Clive Owen