There’s been no shortage of casting rumors flying around when it comes to potential villains for the next Batman film, whether it’s Rachel Weisz playing Catwoman or Eddie Murphy playing The Riddler. And while we’ve had some fun with them from time to time, there are a few rumors that seem plausible enough to bring to the stars themselves for comment — for example, the recent buzz that “Sideways” star Paul Giamatti could play The Penguin in the follow-up to “The Dark Knight.”

“That would be fantastic,” Giamatti told MTV News. “I’d love to do that.”

Giamatti claimed he hadn’t heard about the rumors casting him as the Batman villain last played by Danny DeVito (and before that, by Burgess Meredith), but said he’d be honored to play the classic Batman villain.

“You know, I’m still stuck back in the ‘Batman’ TV show days,” confessed Giamatti. “That’s what I grew up watching, so I never followed the more current stuff. But The Penguin would be great to do.”

There's not firm date start date, let alone script, for "Batman 3" - and considering Chris Nolan has signed up to do another film before then, it could be a while before we hear, let alone see, anything.

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/02/11/exclusive-paul-giamatti-says-it-would-be-fantastic-to-play-the-penguin-in-batman-3/

If Nolan directs, it won't be called Batman III. He didn't even use Batman in the title of the last movie.

I would rather see them do a villain that hasn't been done before -- Talia Al Ghul, for example. Hugo Strange would be another good one.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman would have made a good Penguin too.

If Nolan directs, it won't be called Batman III. He didn't even use Batman in the title of the last movie.

I would rather see them do a villain that hasn't been done before -- Talia Al Ghul, for example. Hugo Strange would be another good one.
I agree - it would be a nice change of pace.

I like Paul but I'm having a hard time imagining him as the Penguin. But I will give him a chance.

I could see Bob Hoskins as Penquin.