Over the last year or so, "The Dark Knight" actor Aaron Eckhart has regularly flirted with the idea of his character, Harvey Dent, returning for a potential third film despite his seemingly chapter-ending exit from last year's blockbuster. Almost a year ago, Eckhart said Dent and his scarred alter ego, Two Face, were indeed dead—only to hint at a potential return for "Batman 3" during this year's Golden Globes award ceremony.
So, what's the real story for "Batman 3"? When we caught up with Eckhart during a press event for "Love Happens, " his upcoming romantic drama, we not only asked him about his character's fate, but also how someone in his position (given his character's status) might go about campaigning for a role in the sequel.
"Well, if I was a smarter person, I would do those things," laughed Eckhart when asked if he planned to send "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan any gifts. "I'd send him flowers. I'd buy him a car. But I'm not that smart."
"I've sort of just gone on with my life. I don't have any expectations of being in the next Dark Knight," he said.
However, Eckhart said that if the call came, he—and Two Face—would be back for another go at Gotham's favorite vigilante.
"If Chris called me, I would certainly do it," said Eckhart. "I would do anything for Chris. ... [But] as far as I'm concerned, my character's dead."
Eckhart also seemed to confirm the longstanding rumor that Heath Ledger was expected to return for "Batman 3" in the role of The Joker.
"I think ['Dark Knight'] was always Heath's movie, and Heath was definitely the motor and the vehicle that was to continue on with the movie," he said. "I'm not sure that it's not better just to start all over and find different characters for the [next] movie."
Would you like to see Eckhart return? Think it's possible to cast another Joker? Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter!