There's word floating around that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is being considered to play the role of The Penguin in the next Batman film. Moviehole.net reports that "Hoffman has confirmed that. He is indeed up for the role of the villainous umbrella-donner."

Well, that's perhaps a bit of a stretch. The site Movie Hole sources, Batman On Film, has the original "scoop" which doesn't quote confirmation from Hoffman at all, but an unknown "source" who said, "I live in the Rochester, NY area, which is where Philip Seymour Hoffman grew up. The media has been covering his Golden Globe nomination for CAPOTE, and in a recent interview with his old high school drama teacher (who remains close to him) on a local news program, she confirmed that Hoffman has been in talks to take on The Penguin in the upcoming BATMAN sequel and is very interested in the role." OK, so we have it on good authority that some unknown person who lives near where Hoffman grew up heard on the news that his old highschool drama teacher believes he's in talks to maybe play the role. That's solid, baby.

Batman On Film sources an article from R News, a local Rochester news affiliate who indeed did do an interview with Hoffman's old teacher but nowhere do the words 'penguin' or 'Batman' come up.

For the time being this remains a giant rumor with all the credibility of those e-mails you've been getting from Gen. Mouhssad Rambladehenhauer of the Nigerian Consulate promising you $95,000,000 in return for your ATM pin number.

On a similar note, Batman On Film has also gone on the record suggesting that Sam Rockwell is interested in the role of Joker in the next film. That's slightly more plausible since Batman Begins at least hints that the Joker may show up for the next movie. Batman on Film's official stance? ""I'm not saying that Rockwell is "officially" being considered, and I'm certainly not saying he isn't either. This info came in from a reliable individual who got it from someone close to Mr. Rockwell." Well, how can you go wrong with that?