The Dark Knight Rises

[RoninFox]

He may not be the same Ra's Al Ghul Liam Neeson played in Batman Begins,remember the one Neeson played was at least the second person to use that name after another person had died.

Actually he was Ras the whole time, but used decoys in order to remain somewhat anonymous.

I took that to be the Nolanverse version of the "lazarus pit" (i.e., the title of Ra's al Ghul rotates, thus making it seem like he's being reborn constantly) which is entirely too mystical a thing for his Batman.

Which would make sense, except that when the League of Shadows arrived in Gotham after the first Ras died, Liam's character didn't  step forward with a new title, Bruce was introduced to a second decoy, and then figured out that it was a misdirection, leading to a line about duel identity.

[Kete]

I guess they're going to reboot it again:

[Scribblesense]

The FUHHHHH......... 

[Johnny Unusual]

I guess they're going to reboot it again:

I'm very much looking forward to this.  My suggestions for cast?

Sam Rockwell as Spider-Man
Clint Eastwood as Ra/'s Al-Ghul
Jack Nicholson as Tougon
and Bill Pullman and Bill Paxton as Dr. JackStraw

A Merchant/Ivory Film

[Scribblesense]

Welp, we can all stop speculating on Joseph Gordon Levitt and Marion Cotillard's roles now:

http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/chris-nolan-signs-bat-cast-members-joseph-gordon-levitt-and-marion-cotillard/

Chris Nolan Signs Bat Cast Members Joseph Gordon-Levitt And Marion Cotillard

Neither of these castings in The Dark Knight Rises has been a surprise since February, but it demonstrates Chris Nolan's preference for working with the same actors. Both Gordon-Levitt and Cotillard starred in Inception, as did Tom Hardy, who was set earlier. Cotillard, who'll play Wayne Enterprises board member Miranda Tate, was rumored for her role in February, and Deadline was first to reveal that Gordon-Levitt was in talks. He will play John Blake, Gotham beat cop. Here's the official word from Warner Bros:

BURBANK, CA, April 19, 2011 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard ("La Vie en Rose") and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have joined the cast of "The Dark Knight Rises," the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend.

    Cotillard will appear as Miranda Tate, a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father's philanthropic endeavors for Gotham. Gordon-Levitt will play John Blake, a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon. The film reunites the actors with Christopher Nolan, who recently directed them in the award-winning blockbuster "Inception."

    The director stated, "When you collaborate with people as talented as Marion and Joe, it comes as no surprise that you would want to repeat the experience. I immediately thought of them for the roles of Miranda and Blake, and I am looking forward to working with both of them again."

    Heading the cast of "The Dark Knight Rises," Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman. The main cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy as Bane. Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Christopher Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.

    "The Dark Knight Rises" is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

...and that's that. JGL is a cop and Cotillard is a sexy business lady.

I have no doubt there's more to their roles than this article lets on. Perhaps Miranda Tate is a new love interest for Bruce?

[Scribblesense]

The Dark Knight Rises will be filming a key scene in India:

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JakeLester/news/?a=36120

Christian Bale The Only Cast Member To Shoot In India for TDKR

Recent reports have put The Dark Knight Rises shooting in India, as it turns out Christian Bale will be the only cast member making the trip. Also a fort in India seems to be the primary shooting location.
It seems that when The Dark Knight Rises comes to India to shoot it will only be for a couple of days and only include Christian Bale in the scenes they are shooting. According to The Times of India crew for the porduction will start arriving around May first with Bale showing up on May 4th or May 5th to shoot for around two days starting on May 6th and ending on May 7th. Also they will be shooting at Mehrangarh Fort, located in Jodhpur city in Rajasthan.

Here is the report from The Times of India:

    Nolan had come down to India in December to scout for locations in Jodhpur. That was when he chose to shoot in Jodhpur's Mehrangar Fort. The main crew will start arriving from May 1. Christian Bale is expected to arrive in India on May 4 or May 5. Though permissions have been sought for shooting the film for the whole of May, the unit will shoot in India for only two days – May 6 and May 7. hotels in Jaipur and Jodhpur have been booked for the crew. Says a source, "Nolan had scouted locations in both Jodhpur and Jaipur. But, he fell in love with Jodhpur and decided to return to film here. They are coming with a very small unit of around 15 people and will be shooting here for two days. There are no Bollywood actors being cast in the movie. But, local actors and crew members might be roped in. The unit wants to use the beautiful fort as the background for the movie. However, nothing is known yet whether Jodhpur will feature as an Indian city in the movie or not."

The Dark Knight Rises will be released on July 20, 2012

Check the article link for a picture of the location in question.

Now, this is certainly interesting. In The Dark Knight, Batman went to Hong Kong to retrieve Lao so he could testify against the mob. What could be sending him to this location?

This fort could be where a resurrected League of Shadows is operating from, or it could be Bane's hideout, or it could be both. It could represent some neutral threat (terrorists  ? I hope not) or it could just be Alfred's secret swinger's pad.

My money's on a League of Shadows base.

[Scribblesense]

Nolan digs hole in the ground, geeks every have to change their pants

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/CoastToCoastStation/news/?a=36732

Here are the first two shots of the "The Dark Knight Rises" shoot in Jodhpur, India. The photo looks like it was taken from the window of a moving train and shows the crew setting up a green screen for the shoot, which took place today. If you take a close look, it seems like there is a possibility of the Lazarus pit appearing in Chris Nolan's upcoming final Batman film. Does that mean, that we will see more, than just a flashback of Ra's al Ghul?

Spoiler

Click the link for more (but less interesting images).

So, people everywhere are reading into this a bit too much (myself included) but it is very, very interesting. Could this be confirmation that a Lazarus Pit will be appearing in The Dark Knight Rises? Or did Nolan just grab a shovel and some green tarp to rile up the comic book community?

My guess is the former. This pit could be serving as an entrance to a cave, a mass grave, that place in the desert where they hid all those copies of the E.T. Atari game, or anything like it. Nolan has not come outright and said there would be no Lazarus pit, but he is steering clear of any and all magical elements in his movies (and green goo that brings people back to life is really a stretch even for the most liberal of sci-fi).

[Johnny Unusual]

I don't think he will, but it could be a pretty ballsy maneuver to do that.  And maybe in this movie, Bane's Venom could have it's origins in the Lazarus Pit.  If not, then good mislead.

[TTYT]

Bane is apparently related to Scorpius:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=77792

[Scribblesense]

Too bad it's not a luchador mask.

What's that in the background?

[Kete]

He looks like Psycho Mantis.

[Scribblesense]

He looks like Psycho Mantis.

I see you like to play Batman: Arkham Asylum!

[ScottotD]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[pezdrake]

Man, I have a hard time mustering enthusiasm for a movie with Bane and Anne Hathaway, but I also thought his Joker looked like crap when I saw the teasers, so I'm still keeping an open mind.

As long as she has as many nude scenes as she did in 'Love and Other Drugs'.  Woof!!

[Watchman]

Anyone think this film will suffer "the curse of the 3quels?" Meaning: most trilogies end on a 3rd film that ranges from simple letdown to totally craptastic.
So, do you think The Dark Knight Rises will be closer to Spider-Man 3 or The Return of the King? (or Karate Kid III, har har)