We keep getting tons of emails about the latest casting on the sequel to Batman Begins (Batman Resumes?), and I continually have to be Snuffy the Fire Dog and put out the flames of fun. You see, people, it’s extremely difficult (probably not impossible, but difficult, like putting a marshmallow in a piggy bank) to cast a movie that doesn’t exist.

The film’s producer Charles Roven is himself dismissing all those rumors, including the most recent one that The 40 Year Old Virgin star Steve Carell would laugh it up as the Joker in the sequel (after previous reports that Crispin Glover, Paul Bettany and some other guy were up for the role). We don’t have any direction yet on what the next Batman would be because we’re still waiting on Chris [Nolan, Batman Begins director] to really make a firm commitment that he’s going to do it, and we think he’s going to, but he hasn’t done it yet,” Roven says, stowing all the rumors back in the Batcave for the time being. He’s ultimately gonna guide the direction of that material and make the decision about what the next thing’s gonna be. The fact of the matter is, notwithstanding all the chatter, there has been no decision made on anything.” There you have it, straight from the source: absolutely nothing.

Roven (who also mentions that David Goyer’s Flash movie is trudging along slowly) does state that an option exists for the majority of the actors to return, including Katie Holmes, which implies/threatens she’ll be back again as the love interest. There was some gossipy bullshit that the studio wouldn’t be bringing Holmes back for a sequel as they were upset with her off-screen antics with superstar/loon Tom Cruise, whereas I personally would be more concerned with her rubbish acting ability.

Put that bat to bed on our message boards!