More on the Fab New Bat Suit!

The next in the series of Batman movies is called "The Dark Knight" and is set to be released July 18, 2008. Visionary filmmaker Christopher Nolan's sequel to the highly successful "Batman Begins," sees Batman (Christian Bale) as he raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as 'The Joker'(Heath Ledger).

Hmmm . . .Heath Ledger as The Joker. I have to admit, that has me a bit worried, but I am a Heath Ledger fan, so I am optimistic that he can do the character justice and make it interesting. I wonder what they will make The Joker costume like, though.

Ok, evidently a quick search on the internet just ended my wait and my worry! Check this out:

Yes, that is Heath Ledger as the Joker! Bravo! This pic came from a message board called HolyCow.com and I say, Holy Cow is right - very cool looking, very cool indeed. The next Batman film is reported to be a little darker and this image goes right along with that theme.

Now, I have to explain the reason for my initial trepidation is because the new Joker in the cartoon series looks like this:

and I just couldn't picture Heath Ledger as that! But now that I see what he will look like, I am quite pleased! Counting the days til July 18, 2008 . . . Plus, that's my husband's birthday!
Yeah Birthday Movie!!! : )

Ok, now onto this new Batman costume.

EW.com has some first insight at the new Batsuit that Christian Bale will don in this next installment of the caped crusader flicks. Costume designer Lindy Hemming shared the lowdown on the new and improved costume with Jeff Jenson of EW. Here are some excerpts from his online article:

ABOUT THE COSTUME:

HEAD GAMES Ever wonder why movie Batmans rarely turn their horned heads? It's because the cowls of past suits were firmly attached to the neck and shoulders of the costume — necessary to maintain that iconic silhouette and to prevent the actor from moving around inside the mask. The new headpiece — modeled after a motorcycle helmet — is separate from the neck, so star Christian Bale can now swivel his noggin side to side, or nod up and down. ''It was the hardest part of the suit to make,'' says Hemming.

CAPE FEAR Don't bother asking. ''It's top secret,'' says Hemming. Meaning...? ''Let's just say things happen to the cloak.''

BLADES OF GLORY The razors on Batman's forearms are actually part of the suit. (His gloves tuck into the sleeves of the suit.) They're retractable, and yep, they're weapons. ''They shoot at people!'' says Hemming with a Jokersesque laugh.

RAW MATERIAL The new suit is made of 200 individual pieces of rubber, fiberglass, and nylon and metallic mesh. Bruce Wayne's work duds now have a stylish texture, suggesting they're made with sophisticated new technology. ''I thought it would make it more interesting to look at and wonder about,'' says Hemming, adding that the stretchy rubber lines also help bind the costume to Bale's body.

I agree with Adam Rogers, who posted info on the new Batman Costume on his blog: Underwired. The black suit is slick and looks really great. The new changes and upgrades are clever and much more realistic than past versions of the costume. A genius vigilante like Bruce Wayne just wouldn't run around Gotham in tights, its not safe and its not practical either. Now, a suit of armor with all the latest tricks and gadgets, that's Batman!

So, as for being able to dress in a replica of this new costume, hopefully we will be able to get the costumes in stock in time for the movie release next year. I know that the manufacturer with the license, Rubies Costume Co. will make an innovative replica of this new awesome suit. I just hope they can do it in time for the release. Either way, the new Batman costume will definitely be available for Halloween 2008. I am sure they will design a new deluxe replica close to the costume worn in the movie - that will be exciting, and I will keep you posted. In the mean time, if you need your own Batman costume fix, visit AnniesCostumes.com for your Batman costumes and costume accessories.

See you next time . . . Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel! : )