So Who Will Joseph Gordon Levitt Play in Batman 3?

It's been pretty much confirmed that Joseph Gordon Levitt will be joining Christian Bale and Inception co-star Tom Hardy in the latest Batman movie.  But was hasn't been confirmed is who exactly the actor will be playing.  We've been hearing he might play Alberto Falcone or the Black Mask, with wildly conflicting rumors about which one is true.  So what could his role be?

It's probably a safe bet that whoever Levitt plays will be a supporting player.  Bane is "the" villain, and Catwoman will be another leading role .  The last two movies have both had two villainois characters (one main villain and one secondary) and then assorted underworld types.  I would expect a something similar in The Dark Knight Rises.  And if it is a villainous role, I would expect something very simple and down to earth.  Alberto Falcone coming in as Gotham's latest crime lord is a believable story.  It's not like the mob just disappeared after the Dark Knight.  The character's only real appearance was in the Long Halloween, where he was revealed as the mysterious Holiday Killer (sort of).  I would expect that whole serial killer element to be significantly played down, if present at all, and his appearance would also reassert the presence of the Falcone family.  This choice seems very likely since it fits within Nolan's world very well, and Joseph Gordon Levitt actually looks a bit like the character.

But what about the Black Mask?  Certainly possible.  The villain himself is pretty boring, and he's little more than a crime boss who wears a skull mask.  There isn't too much of a need for another costumed villain, especially one who wears a black spray painted Red Skull mask.  I don't see what the Black Mask could add to the story other than adding another insane costumed villain for the sake of adding an insane costumed villain.  If the Black Mask is present, I would expect a highly modified version somehow involved in whatever Bane has planned for Gotham city.  And even then, he probably wouldn't wear a mask even remotely resembling what he has in comics.

So the running theme of these two rumors is the mob.  Since the mob will certainly have a presence in TDKR, this seems to make the most sense.  Fans are also throwing out rumors that Levitt will be playing Robin/Nightwing, which is a fairly ridiculous idea if you ask me.  Including him as the top assassin Deadshot isn't as ludicrous, but falls into the same trap of adding costumed villains for the sake of adding them.  But no matter who he plays, I'm happy the actor is involved.  He's done nothing but impress me in everything from (500) Days of Summer to Inception, and if we can see more bromance between him Tom Hardy, all the better.