Might "Inception" Hold the Key to Batman 3 Casting?

Based on the cast list of Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie Inception, it looks like Nolan might be turning into one of those directors who has a family of actors he repeatedly turns to for his movies. Others on this list include Tim Burton, who reliably casts Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, and Wes Anderson who tends to cast some mixture of Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman and the Wilson brothers.

Nolan's Pre-Batman films (Following, Memento and Insomnia) all used completely different casts, without any major actors appearing in his other movies. However, The Prestige, his first film to follow Batman Begins had the notable casting choices of Christian Bale and Michael Caine in the lead roles.

Okay so two actors from the movie that took Nolan's career to the next level appeared in his follow up movie. Nothing big about that, but look at the cast list for Inception. Caine is back for a fourth movie with Nolan, as are Batman Begins stars Cillian Murphy and Ken Wantanabe.

Maybe Nolan is starting to turn into a director who likes reusing the same actors in his movies. If that's the case, maybe some of the cast of Inception might turn up as villains in the recently announced third Batman film. I'd rule out Leonardo DiCaprio as being in it just because in his last few movies he's been the lead role.

That leaves three other stand out candidates: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, and Marion Cotillard. I'd rule out Marion Cotillard as a villain simply because she hasn't really been in any action movies that I'm aware of, though she might make a good love interest for Bruce Wayne.

So who might Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Ellen Page play? The most likely choices would be the Riddler and Catwoman. I sense that they're the two villains fans are most expecting to see in the next movie, (them and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the Penguin). Also, considering that Nolan has been going for more realistic villains in his movies, their lack of powers also makes them likely choices. (Though, he did do a good realistic interpretation of the immortal Ra's Al Ghul for Batman Begins.)

We probably won't have to wait too long for the villains to be announced. The third Batman movie is scheduled for release in 2012, so casting announcements can't be too far off.