Summer time can typically be responsible for one big flaw in movie news: the heat makes people rumor-happy-wacky-insane. Some of them may end up holding some truth; most of them — like the recent reports of what we could expect from Indiana Jones 5 — will end up being denied to the end as completely false.

These rumors are usually an aggravation to all, but when one has any kind of reasonable source or backing to it, it has the ability to catch some eyes. With that said, here’s one to feast your eyes and thoughts on.

Hollywood Life has word from a source close to the action that Joseph Gordon-Levitt could just be a favorite for director Christopher Nolan to cast as The Riddler in the untitled follow-up to 2008′s The Dark Knight, currently known as Batman 3.

This is the rumor everyone is running with anyway; from my perspective, it doesn’t seem to be quite that clean cut. The inside reports seem to state that since Gordon-Levitt joined the cast of Nolan’s upcoming Inception, the two have indeed talked about the young star joining the third Batman film, but there is absolutely no indication of who he would be playing in the movie, if even in it at all.

There’s no denying that Gordon-Levitt is a very talented actor, and probably not a terrible choice — though many would dub him far too young (or young-looking) for the part, as well. We also can’t forget that the actor is almost as popular as Johnny Depp (also previously rumored for The Riddler) when it comes to the rumor game. He was a top name to replace Tobey MacGuire when it looked like he would be vacating the role of Peter Parker in Spider-Man; he’s been rumored already to be taking on the role of The Joker in Batman 3 after the late Heath Ledger played the part to perfection The Dark Knight. It only makes sense to bring him up here, as well.

So let’s say for the sake of entertaining discussion that yeah, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a top choice to play The Riddler in Batman 3. What would you think?

Personally, if I could get in a room with Nolan, I would beg and plead for him to cast Paul Bettany as Riddler. That’s always been my top choice for the role. It will always remain my top choice for the role.

[Source: via /Film]