Cillian Murphy, the soft-spoken Irish actor known for his roles in Inception and The Wind That Shakes The Barley, tore up the screen when he emerged as Gotham City’s first urban terrorist in 2005’s Batman Begins. Adding to that with a small but memorable cameo in 2008’s The Dark Knight, Murphy managed to craft a surprisingly scary villain. But the big question on everyone’s lips: Will he return as the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Rises
?New evidence suggests… YES!
First of all, a bit of history. In the long run up to The Dark Knight Rises there have been many plot details that we’ve been anxious to uncover. What’s under Bane’s mask? Who’s side is Catwoman on? And, is Joseph Gordon-Levitt the new Batman? For me, the smaller questions are always the most interesting to ask: Did the Tumbler survive the crash? What about Dave Engel the TV anchor and will we see the Scarecrow again? Because of my inquisitiveness I’ve compiled a list of evidence over the past year and then some that points towards a return from Cillian Murphy.
The first thing that caught my eye was this article from September of last year. It talks about Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Miranda Tate (Marion Cottilard) visiting a mysterious ‘judge’ out by a frozen river. A judge who decided who of Gotham’s wealthy should be allowed to stay or face ‘exile’. This is where it gets really interesting:
It appears that exile means walking a dangerous frozen river on the outskirts of Gotham. Which would coincide with the LA River scene filmed with Gordon and his men tip toeing awkwardly in the leaked video. Oh P.S. Judge’s identity: JONATHAN F#CKIN CRANE! Cillian Murphy is back with a bang!
It would seem that Murphy has a plot-driving role this time around, then? Or perhaps not; this case potentially stinks of small fry. Perhaps Gordon and his men put a stop to The Scarecrow’s insane antics as a way of showing the audience that Batman is no longer needed?
Next comes an interview Murphy did with a Brit radio show on BBC 5, Kermode and Mayo. In it, the hosts are desperate to get some information out of the coy actor who isn’t budging. He drops a couple of hints that he may be involved but nothing conclusive. Still the most important thing is that at no point does he say ‘I’m not in it’. Check the video out for yourself:
Hmmm. Much to think about. Next up is an interview with Digital Spy which I unfortunately can’t embed here. So click HERE to watch Cillian not only TOTALLY failing to deny being in the movie but also telling us to wait for July to find out! That to me is the biggest piece of evidence yet!
Finally we have our freshest morsel, the one that to me is quite the clue. Tell me if I’m crazy but… who does this silhouette look like?
This was spotted on the back of movie merch. That’s right folks. That, to me, looks like a robe-wearing Scarecrow. Robes like a judge would wear? Now do you see where I’m going?
I could be totally wrong and way, way off but I don’t think so. After his surprise cameo in The Dark Knight I’m feeling the time is ripe for a return of Jonathan Crane and his fear gas. Not long to wait now!
