Rumors are funny things. Sometimes they’re innocuous and harmless, and sometimes THEY SCARE THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU. If these rumors that Eddie Murphy is playing the Riddler and Shia LaBeouf is Robin are true, prepare to have all hell unleashed by the fanboys of the world.

Several UK papers including the Telegraph and the Sun are reporting this is true. Although to be fair the Sun did report something about a six headed baby a few weeks ago. Here’s the entire Sun blurb:

The Beverly Hills Cop star, 47, has been signed up by British director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN to reprise the role played by JIM CARREY in 1995’s Batman Forever.

The surprise move follows speculation linking Pirates of the Caribbean star JOHNNY DEPP to the part.

The film, set for a 2010 release, is being developed under the working title Gotham.
Execs have also signed up rising Transformers starSHIA LABEOUF, 22, to play Robin.
CHRISTIAN BALE will return as Bruce Wayne, while MICHAEL CAINE will again play Bruce’s assistant Alfred.

Meanwhile, Brit RACHEL WEISZ is said to be up for the Catwoman role.
Insiders also revealed to The Sun the flick will end on a cliffhanger over whether Batman survives a blast at Wayne Towers.

Nolan had been tight-lipped about the future of the Batman films after being rocked by the January death of HEATH LEDGER — tipped to receive a posthumous Oscar for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight.

A film insider said: “Chris wasn’t sure if he wanted to do another movie but as soon as he decided to, he got the wheels in motion.

“Eddie’s a fantastic addition. Everyone’s excited to see what he does as the Riddler.”

So, who wants to call bullshit on this? For some reason it’s become the most dominating rumor on the internet today, but maybe that’s just the self-fulfilling rumor cycle of the web right? I mean, I’m writing about it now.

So yes, I will say that all of this is going to be proven completely false within a day or so. Nolan hasn’t even decided whether he’s doing a third film yet, and if he has, I’m guessing he hasn’t figured out all the characters, much less make actual cast decisions while pretending he's Brett Ratner. Or write a damn cliffhanger ending.

Unfortunately, there’s a little niggling part of me that is petrified this could be true. And if it is? Well, I’m scared. But remember how we felt about the news that Heath Ledger was playing the Joker. Although Heath Ledger wasn’t in “Meet Dave.”