Yesterday morning MTV.com’s Casey Seijas reported from the Toronto Film Festival that he’d spoken with Michael Caine — here to talk about Is There Anybody There? — and that Caine is persuaded that Johnny Depp and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are the top candidates to play the Riddler and the Penguin in Christopher Nolan‘s next and final Batman film, which will be shot…what, two or three years from now?
“They’ve already got them in mind,” Caine reportedly said. “I read it in the paper.” That admission right away would seem to throw out the authority and/or legitimacy of Caine’s observation, except that he also allegedly said that “he confirmed the news through the studio itself.”
Assistant: Mr. Robinov? Michael Caine on the line!
Jeff Robinov: What’s he want?
Assistant: He’s calling to confirm whether or not we’re absolutely and finally inclined to hire Johnny Depp and Philp Seymour Hoffman for the next Batman movie.
Robinov: Sure, whatever…tell him we like those guys. Wait a minute, let me pick up. Put him through. [Click] Michael? Howza boy?