Christopher Nolan’s Brother Says It Would Be A “Dream” To Return For The Dark Knight 4 (2025)

Jonathan Nolan would be happy to return for The Dark Knight 4 in the future. Jonathan is Christopher Nolan's brother, having worked as a writer on all three movies of The Dark Knight trilogy. While 2012's The Dark Knight Rises seemed to give a definitive ending to Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne, Jonathan Nolan would still be up to develop new stories in that Batman universe.

Speaking to SHOWSHA, Jonathan Nolan has commented on how it would be a dream to return to the world of The Dark Knight trilogy.

Speaking to Screen Rant, Bale revealed that he would return for a new Batman movie if Nolan was directing; however, the director is showing no signs of a return to superhero films. Still, there is a lot of potential for more stories in the world of The Dark Knight trilogy, and the fact that the franchise stands as some of the best Batman movies keeps any opportunities on DC's radar. Check out the full quote below:

“Wouldn’t that be a dream… So, if I had the chance to go back and work on that again, absolutely.”

What The Dark Knight 4 Could Be About

The Dark Knight Rises Set Up A Story

While Nolan never revealed any formal plans for a fourth film in his Batman franchise, 2012's The Dark Knight Rises could reveal the plan such a film would follow. The Dark Knight 4 could let go of Bale's Bruce Wayne and focus on a new character becoming Batman. That person would be Joseph Gordon-Levitt's John Blake. The Dark Knight Rises' ending included a silly decision, but an impactful one for the character and a possible fourth movie.

The film revealed that Gordon-Levitt's character was actually named Robin John Blake, a clear nod to Batman's famous sidekick, Robin. Because of that connection and the years that have passed since 2012's The Dark Knight Rises, a possible The Dark Knight 4 could explore Gordon-Levitt as an experienced superhero. The character would likely be too old to be going by Robin in-universe at this point, so having John Blake become the new Batman of Nolan's The Dark Knight universe could be a better option instead.

While Gordon-Levitt's John Blake could become the new Batman, it is also hard to believe that if The Dark Knight 4 ever got made, DC would not have Bale return for the movie. With Jonathan Nolan onboard for a return to the franchise and Bale revealing that he would as well if Christopher Nolan were to make another Batman film, that possibility exists. Despite Bruce Wayne retiring at the end of The Dark Knight Rises, the character would never be able to be away from Batman for so long, and that is what another movie could focus on.

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  Batman Begins

  PG-13

  Christopher Nolan's take on Batman's origin story sees Christian Bale take up the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins follows young Bruce Wayne who, reeling from the murder of his wealthy parents, decides to become a vigilante in order to save Gotham City. This pits him against the mysterious League of Shadows, an organization intent on destroying Gotham with the help of the villainous Scarecrow and his powerful fear toxin.

  Director

  Christopher Nolan

  Release Date

  June 15, 2005

  Cast

  Ken Watanabe , Liam Neeson , Gary Oldman , Tom Wilkinson , Linus Roache , Christian Bale , Katie Holmes , Mark Boone Junior , Michael Caine , Rutger Hauer , Cillian Murphy , Morgan Freeman

  Runtime

  140 Minutes

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  The Dark Knight

  PG-13

  Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight, reuniting Bale with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace—Batman's most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront his beliefs if he hopes to stand a chance against the Clown Prince of Crime.

  Director

  Christopher Nolan

  Release Date

  July 18, 2008

  Cast

  Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Michael Caine , Morgan Freeman , Nestor Carbonell , Ritchie Coster , Cillian Murphy , Chin Han , Gary Oldman , Eric Roberts , William Fichtner , Aaron Eckhart , Maggie Gyllenhaal , David Dastmalchian , Anthony Michael Hall

  Runtime

  152 Minutes

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  The Dark Knight Rises

  PG-13

  The Dark Knight Rises is the final chapter in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, with Christian Bale donning the cape and cowl once more to save Gotham City from certain destruction. Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Batman has left the public eye after taking the fall for the crimes committed by a twisted Harvey Dent. However, he is called back into action when a mysterious villain named Bane arrives to bring disorder to Gotham, forcing him to confront deeper, darker recesses of his past to be able to face a challenge he may not be ready for.

  Director

  Christopher Nolan

  Release Date

  July 16, 2012

  Cast

  Christian Bale , Tom Hardy , Anne Hathaway , Gary Oldman , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Marion Cotillard , Morgan Freeman , Michael Caine

  Runtime

  164 Minutes

Source: SHOWSHA