Christopher Nolan Confirmed To Direct 'Batman 3'

'It's becoming inevitable,' the 'Inception' filmmaker says.
By Josh Wigler

Christopher Nolan
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/ Getty

Riddle me this, riddle me that ... who's afraid of a big, black bat? While Jim Carrey is no closer to finding an answer to the puzzle he put forth in "Batman Forever," we do know one person who isn't afraid of the Caped Crusader: critically acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan.

The "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" director has finally confirmed that he'll be back in the director's chair for a currently untitled "Batman" film, tentatively scheduled for a July 20, 2012 release date. In an interview with Empire Online, Nolan revealed that he's currently working on the screenplay to "Batman 3" alongside his brother and frequent collaborator Jonathan Nolan.

"It's becoming inevitable, I'll put it that way," the "Inception" helmer said of crafting a third "Batman" tale. "I feel myself falling into it, I guess. And getting it all figured out and I'm pretty excited about what we're doing so. ... If I haven't announced it, I think that people probably all know at this point that I'm doing it."

Pressed on whether or not it's safe to assume that Nolan will direct the feature himself, he replied: "I think you can at this point, yes."

Nolan's continued involvement with the series, at least from a producer standpoint, was all but guaranteed, with his return as director considerably less certain. Now, not only is Nolan making a Gotham City comeback, fans can also count on a production start date as Michael Caine, who plays Alfred in the series, told Coming Soon that shooting will "probably start in May next year."

Once again, it's a good time to be a fan of the Batman.

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

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'Social Network' Director David Fincher Is 'Unapologetic,' Stars Say

'Anyone who loves movies loves David Fincher,' Justin Timberlake tells MTV News.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Josh Horowitz

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Photo: MTV News

It seems the excitement around "The Social Network" is at a fever pitch. And at the New York premiere of the David Fincher-directed flick about the founding of Facebook, stars Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Timberlake couldn't help but sing the director's praises.

"I think that anyone who loves movies loves David Fincher," Timberlake raved. "He forces you to watch the movie smartly. He's unapologetic. The thing I got out of it was what an actor's director he is. ... He's sort of helping us develop this story."

Eisenberg weighed in on Fincher's incredible eye and the look that he gave the flick. "He brought an incredible aesthetic to this movie that you might not expect from movie about Facebook or a movie written by Aaron Sorkin, who's known for these incredibly clever characters and really amazing dialogue. There's a really strong aesthetic. "You'll see the characters are very complicated ... and he lets the actors really find that in a luxurious way."

The same way Eisenberg and Timberlake are raving about Fincher, critics have been falling in love with the flick, which Timberlake has said will "split" viewers. "I can tell you, you don't make a movie hoping that people don't like it," Timberlake joked, with Eisenberg adding, "Although that seems to always happen. I don't know why!"

So why has the flick been garnering so much buzz? "I think that something as big as social networking ... it becomes a phenomenon," Timberlake mused. "And I think this movie having that as a catalyst [allows] our characters to create some great drama."

Check out everything we've got on "The Social Network."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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Usher Comes Back For His Crown: A VMA Cheat Sheet

The 'OMG' singer overcame personal drama and proved his staying power on the charts over the past year.
By Mawuse Ziegbe

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Photo: Brad Barket/ Getty Images

Usher has reigned as Pop & B royalty since he hit the scene as a teen crooner in the '90s. Back when his 16-year-old protégé, Justin Bieber, was still a toddler, the ATL singer was making the ladies faint with hits like "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice & Slow." But his early success was just a prelude to the music-world domination he's achieved with club bangers and deeply personal slow jams in the years since.

Usher's divorce from Tameka Foster was the latest personal development to fueled his 2010 chart-topping album Raymond v. Raymond. Now the singer is set to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards, and his smash "OMG" will battle it out for a Moonman in three categories: Best Male Video, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography. Here's a look at how the singer's recent success has steered him toward VMA accolades:

Following the release of the divorce-themed "Papers," his more upbeat video "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" premiered in January 2010. The clip followed the romantic superstar as he tried to juggle the demands of his professional and personal life.

In March, Usher talked to MTV News about incorporating that balance into Raymond Vs. Raymond. "I think this is the one time where I'm able to put it all in, emotionally and the good times — super-freaky and then also super-emotional."

So, it wasn't a big surprise that when Raymond Vs. Raymond finally landed on shelves after several delays, it landed at #1 on the Billboard 200 with over 300,000 scans during its first week.

He went from romantic to racy, busting out his signature, fluid, hip-swiveling moves in the video for "Lil Freak," featuring Nicki Minaj. The star didn't hold back in the visuals or the lyrics, which both detail a freaky rendezvous with some very game ladies. Usher revealed that this track, like many of his other hits, was inspired by real-life experiences.

The club anthem "OMG" featured Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am and revealed the R&B kingpin's more club-friendly side. The accompanying video showcased Usher's easy swagger and ever-sharp dance skills.

Raymond was such a hit that in August the singer released Versus, an extension of the smash album featuring songs like the Jay-Z collabo "Hot Tottie."

Usher, who has a history of tearing up the VMA stage, will return to the main event this year. He recently reminded his fans that live television paired with his onstage wizardry can result in some seriously unforgettable moments. "You never know what's gonna happen on an MTV VMA stage," he said. "I look forward to making it a night to remember."

The star has also made one of the most savvy moves in recent pop music history by signing teen phenom Bieber, who has gone on to induce global tween hysteria and set YouTube records.

The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on September 12. The party starts with MTV News' VMA Pre-Show at 8 p.m., followed by the main event at 9 p.m. ET. Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote for Best New Artist from now through September 12.

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Could Laws Have Prevented Tyler Clementi's Suicide? Students Weigh In

'It's not the just the law; it's people's mentality,' one student at DNC's Gen44 Summit tells MTV News.
By Mawuse Ziegbe, with reporting by Steven Roberts

Tyler Clementi
Photo: AFP/Getty Images

A rash of suicides related to anti-gay bullying, such as the death of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, has thrust LGBT rights and digital harassment into the national spotlight. A wide-ranging group of celebrities, including Nicki Minaj, Lance Bass, Ellen DeGeneres, Perez Hilton and Alicia Keys, have spoken out against the circumstances surrounding the suicides.

MTV News caught up with several students to talk about how they think the government can curb intolerance via legislation. The young people we spoke with believe enacting laws alone won't eradicate prejudice toward LGBT Americans. Many suggested that change needs to occur on a micro level first and individuals need to commit to social acceptance for all.

"I think it's a double-edged sword. By not addressing it, you're not doing anything about the issue and you're allowing it to get worse," Abby Goldstein said at President Barack Obama's and the Democratic National Committee's first Gen44 Summit on Thursday. Goldstein added that even broaching the subject of gay rights, which has historically been a sensitive issue in America, may spark a hostile dialogue. "But, unfortunately, when you do speak about these issues and people begin to think about them and they're in the front page and they're on the headlines, I think that unfortunately this conversation can lead in a negative direction."

Ana Vargas said the United States is fairly progressive when it comes to preserving gay rights but added that the issue is complicated by Americans' varied views on sexuality.

"The U.S. is pretty good about this. We are the best ones around the world," Vargas said. "But I think the gay situation, it's about generations. It's not the just the law; it's people's mentality."

Kahn Branch maintained that change needs to begin at the grassroots level before the entire nation can evolve.

"Once we fully understand each other ... and then we begin to respect our differences, then the United States can move forward when it comes to the social matters," he said.

Nicole Zuralow agreed that citizens shouldn't wait for change to come from the government and possibly look into alternative forms of political support to cultivate resources in their communities.

"I think it's really important in the community to support outreach programs that may not necessarily be funded by the government but may be backed by certain political parties," Zuralow said. "I think it's important to remember that that is a big part of the community as a whole and amazing things can come from smaller programs. It doesn't necessarily have to be at the state level."

What are some ways you think we can combat bullying and digital abuse? Sound off in the comments.

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