MTV sat down with Michael Caine and asked him what happened to the Philip Seymour Hoffman and Johnny Depp rumors that he'd helped start a while back. Sadly, Caine filled us all in that not only did he get in trouble but there's "nobody, there's no script there's nothing." And we most likely have a long wait ahead of us with Inception being Nolan's number one priority right now. But most importantly,

"Johnny Depp is great in anything, but there is no Johnny Depp in this Batman," he smiled. "They tell me in no uncertain terms."

Here's the full video interview...

[ MTV and Picture via Joy Hog}

Faced with a media gauntlet, Eckhart did what would any good actor's PR reps would tell him to do, spin it! Play coy, smile, and wave in your bazillion dollar tux and they'll be writing you into the next Batman movie tomorrow. Here's what Eckhart told MTV, winking as if to signify that he'd already read the (nonexistent) Batman 3 script:

“I think Harvey — if he’s not dead — is in a serious coma,” stated Eckhart, “and I’m not sure he’s coming out. They might pull the plug on him.”

So there you have it — at least he's hinting that Harvey may not actually be dead, which is a major change from the last time he addressed that subject. But before you run wild with the speculations, bear in mind it's probably way too early for Eckhart to know anything one way or another. It's all just wild and crazy speculation at this point.

Check out MTV for the interview clip, to see just how charmingly ambiguous Eckhart can be.

Even though there have been many denials about Philip Seymour Hoffman's involvement on the project, not to mention it's too soon to even get the casting ball rolling. that won't stop people from photo shopping his noggin into a penguin-esque figure. Or is it actually a real studio image?

Cinema Blend claims a source contacted them saying this picture was in fact an authentic studio make up test (just to see if the look fits). They — and we — highly doubt its authenticity, but still he fits the look that has been done before.

But let's talk about this "look." Is it too penguiny? It certainly looks a hell of a lot like Tim Burton and Danny Devito's Penguin creation. But how can you revamp such a comic book looking character? I'm all aboard the PSH penguin train, much more so than the Cher for Catwoman or Eddie Murphy Riddler nonsense that's been going around.

But if we could get Rachel Weisz as Catwoman and Hoffman as Penguin going, this could be a killer movie.

In other interesting Bat-news Zach Snyder (director of Watchmen hopefully releasing in March) is also down with the masked bat. In an interview with IF Magazine, Snyder opened up about his dream to remake Frank Miller's 80s graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns. And you know what, I wouldn't mind seeing a few Robin's die to make this flick.

Snyder revealed that while The Dark Knight Returns is his favorite comic book, he's aware that he has to wait in the long franchise line before he can get a crack at a middle-aged Batman

"The studio has this massive franchise, and I don't think they'll let me make a Batman movie where he's 50 years old and Ronald Reagan is president.

The fandom world is calling for Smart's head for putting Eddie Murphy and Batman in the same sentence, let alone the same movie. But Smart, who claims people laughed at him when he touted Daniel Craig as the next Bond, insists that both Murphy and Shia LaBeouf will be in the next Dark Knight, or Gotham as he's calling it.

LaBeouf will play Robin — or as you may remember him, the one character whose presence would be enough to make Christian Bale walk out on the next movie.

Forget WB's on the record denials and common sense, Smart stands by his tip. You know, it's okay to admit you were drinking at work. Acceptance is the first step. [The Guardian]

According to E!'s Ted Casablanca's column (so take it with a pillar of salt) the gorgeous, classic Hollywood brunette Rachel Weisz is being considered for the role of Catwoman in the next Batman movie. Warners would not comment either way. But if you're out there Warners, please make this happen.

Weisz could pull off the crazy and the subtlety that is Catwoman, plus she would look amazing in catlike garb (see above).

I know it's too good to be true, there's no way in hell. But honestly this is one million times better than Cher, so at least they're stepped up in the rumor mill.

[The Awful Truth]

According to BOF, Chicago may begin pre-production work as early as February 2009 with the intent to shoot this spring.

What I'm hearing from crew members out of Chicago] is that Batman 3 goes into pre-production in February to shoot next summer. I didn't include the February 2009 bit previously, but with two totally unrelated and trustworthy individuals making specific mention of that date, I thought it was worth passing it on to you all.

This is on the heels of an earlier report from the site that filming would begin in spring, so they now have two sources confirming the rumor. I'm still inclined to think that this is not a possibility unless WB is just going around securing the lots and what-not "just in case."

[Batman On Film]

According to the Telegraph:

A studio executive said: "Cher is Nolan's first choice to play Catwoman. He wants to her to portray her like a vamp in her twilight years.

The article also claims Johnny Depp is definitely playing the Riddler.

It sounds delightful, why not? Cher's a good actress. I can see Cher as a "slightly" older, more "Memory" from Cats-ish version of Catwoman, but it would still be hot just to hear her crazy vibrato meow. But let's not stop there — while we're at it, why not Kylie Minogue as an (older) Batgirl, and Liza Minelli for the Penguin?

At least she still has the right wardrobe for the part:

[Telegraph]