Well, the sequel is coming...

Batman vs. The Joker.

And the Joker is:

Heath Ledger.

Heath Ledger???

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) -- Batman is heading into a sequel, titled "The Dark Knight," and he will face off against the Joker, this time played by Heath Ledger.

Christian Bale, the star of last year's "Batman Begins," will reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Christopher Nolan is returning to the directing chair.

Ledger, Oscar-nominated this year for his role in "Brokeback Mountain," resurrects a murderous role memorably played in 1989 by Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's "Batman."

"Batman Begins" was a critical and commercial hit, and relaunched the Warner Bros. franchise.

An early 2007 start date is being eyed for the sequel. Before then, Bale and Nolan will be in theaters this fall with the Disney release "The Prestige."

"Christian Bale".... I think he did a GREAT job at playing batman... certainly better than Val Kilmer + George Clooney iirc... I've liked his acting in other movies though, such as The Newsies. Heath Ledger was pretty good in The Patriot and 10 Things I Hate About You... NO ONE can replace Michael Keaton + Jack Nicholson though.

Late last year there were reports that Oswald Cobblepot and Harvey Dent may make appearances in the sequel as well.

from filmforce.ign.com

December 7, 2005 - Batman-on-Film is reporting a few casting rumors about the next Batman movie. Citing a trusted source, BoF claims that Philip Seymour Hoffman, currently winning raves and poised to receive an Oscar nom for his title role in Capote, is in the running to play Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. The Penguin, in the sequel.

October 12, 2005 -

Meanwhile, a scooper informs Dark Horizons that "Harvey Dent will be in the film. He won't be Two-Face until the sequel after, but he will be a main part of the next sequel. At the moment, it looks like Liev Schrieber, has got the gig.

i doubt if it will beat Tim Burton's version