Inception stars vying for role in Batman 3?

This is one of those rumors that I think is probably part true, part bullpucky.  Then again that's almost always what Batman rumors are. Comicbookmovie is reporting that it's possible Warner Brothers is looking to capitalize on the success of Christopher Nolan's Inception by bringing in one of three of the film's actors to play the villain in Batman 3. It's largely suspected that The Riddler will be the bad guy this go 'round.

The three actors said to be up for the role? Leondardo Dicaprio. Tom Hardy. Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Gordon-Levitt has been rumored to be the top guy for the spot for months, with the buzz heating up just recently after his name was spotted on a casting grid.

The speculation is that Warners hopes that pairing up Nolan with a hot actor he's previously worked with will draw attention to the film, similar to the way Christian Bale's presence aided The Prestige a couple of years ago. At this point they'll probably do anything Nolan asks them to do, since he's proven to be such a reliable cash cow.

I don't buy the Dicaprio stuff for a second. It's wishful thinking that he'll stoop to playing what will essentially be a second fiddle role. There's no real upside for him.  Hardy and JGL are a different story. Hardy was probably the most memorable, scene stealing actor in Inception. He's been on fire lately, thanks to his turn in Bronson and his upcoming role in Mad Max: Fury Road. Both he and JGL could use the push. I still expect that JGL will get it, but would be just as happy either way.