Overview

• Jonathan Nolan revealed on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast that he initially wanted the Riddler as the main villain in 'The Dark Knight Rises,' but ultimately agreed on Bane.
• Christopher Nolan and co-writer David S. Goyer preferred Bane to differentiate from the Joker's role in the previous film.
• Warner Bros. executives had suggested Leonardo DiCaprio for the Riddler, which was rejected by the team.
• The decision to choose Bane was part of a broader strategy to shift the film's genre from urban crime to a post-apocalyptic scenario.
• Jonathan Nolan's push for a different villain was influenced by the iconic performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker.