We already know "Brokeback" star Heath Ledger is working on his maniacal grin for Christopher Nolan’s "Batman Begins" sequel, but is Bob Hoskins practicing his waddle to play Gotham City’s tuxedoed baddie?
The sharp folks over at IGN FilmForce posed the question to Hoskins at the L.A. premiere of "Hollywoodland" last week:
"When asked if the rumors were true, a sincerely surprised Hoskins replied, "Where did you hear that?" Hoskins was told it was in magazines and online.
Bob Hoskins as MGM Studio chief Eddie Mannix in "Hollywoodland."
IGN then asked the "Long Good Friday" and "Mrs. Henderson Presents" actor if he would accept the Penguin role if offered to which he responded, "Yeah, of course!"
When asked if he’d like to work with director Christopher Nolan, Hoskins replied simply, "Yeah, love to," before being escorted away from reporters.
Anyone who hasn’t already thought about Hoskins in the role (made legendary by Burgess Meredith, made revolting by Danny DeVito) might now realize that Hoskins would make a fantastic Penguin — debonair, intelligent, sinister. He could provide a very interesting villainous counterpoint to The Joker, which surprise pick Heath Ledger (who is beginning to settle in as the painted psychopath) says will be a far different Joker than what we’ve seen in Batmans past:
The face of the new Joker.
"It’s going to be more nuanced and dark and more along the lines of "A Clockwork Orange" kind of feel. Which is, I think, what the comic book was after: less about his laugh and more about his eyes."
