Dark Knight sequel to be directed by Uwe Boll, star Patrick Dempsey

"The Dark Knight" may be racking up rave reviews and breaking ticket sales record, but fans are already salivating to know: when will we get a sequel?

Dateine Hollywood has the surprising answer: Warner Bros. has lined up stylish German director Uwe Boll ("Postal," "Bloodrayne") to direct a sequel coming out in 2009 that will be called "The Dark Knight Forever." And now that Christian Bale is moving onto other projects, the studio has picked another star to take his place as Batman: every lady's favorite TV pretty boy, Patrick Dempsey (pictured left, with Boll).

"We established a very successful pattern for our 'Batman' movies in the '90s of first producing two dark, moody, well respected films and then following them up with big budget debacles helmed by a hack director and starring good looking, dull actors," said Warner Bros. production CEO Alan Horn. "We're very excited to have the opportunity to drive a new 21st century 'Batman' franchise into the ground in the same way."

According to sources, a team of 13 screenwriters is already working on "The Dark Knight Forever," which will feature Bat-villains Mad Hatter, Mr. Freeze, Man-Bat, Killer Croc, and King Tut teaming up against Dempsey's Batman and new allies Robin, Batgirl, Batwoman and Ace, the Bat-hound.