1269 replies to this topic

[Captain Tightpants]

We can look forward to a slight change of setting for RISES: Pittsburgh will be taking Chicago's place as Gotham City, with four to six weeks' shooting to take place there. There's no word on whether any filming will take place in Chicago. I suppose Nolan felt he used Chicago as much as he possibly could in BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT. Though I wouldn't object if some parts of Chicago were used just to keep some familiarty going.

[Captain Tightpants]

More news: Josh Pence, who played Tyler Winklevoss in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, has reportedly been cast in RISES. If it's true, then this is possibly the biggest piece of news that we have in terms of the direction the story will take, so I'll put it as a spoiler:

Spoiler

Pence will apparently play a young Ra's al Ghul, with his scenes taking place thirty years prior to the events of the Nolan trilogy. This fits in with what Gary Oldman has said about the film, and lends credence to reports that Marion Cotillard will play Talia al Ghul.

And it's good to see Nolan going back to his split timeline approach.

I've also heard that Nolan is keeping such a tight lid on the film that he hasn't actually written the ending down. Instead, he's only telling the people involved in the final scenes about it in person and in private. Sounds like NCIS and their infamous "pink pages", where only the actors involved in the final scenes get a copy of those scenes in the script, printed on pink paper.

[coco1997]

Interesting casting news:

Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt Officially Join The Dark Knight Rises

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.

So much for the fear that the film will contain too many big name villains...

[killkenny kid]

I just don't know. That smells like a cover story. Why these actor for such generic sounding characters.

[Captain Tightpants]

I don't think this is deliberate misinformation. Nolan has no reason to lie, and most of the talk about this being misdirection seems to be born out of people wanting Alberto Falcone and Talia al Ghul to appear rather than out of any solid evidence that they actually will feature. Blake and Tate fit in with what we know about the story so far: Blake is likely to be a part of (or possibly pointman for) a special unit put together to actively hunt down Batman (since Wuertz and Ramirez were paid to do nothing); and since Bruce Wayne has obviously retreated from the Batman persona, Tate's role in finding something philanthropic for him to do seems like a natural extension of his character arc.

[coco1997]

Lazarus Pit, anyone?

First 'Dark Knight Rises' set photos!

[Matt_13]

What's the Lazarus Pit?

I'm excited for this, but to be totally honest I'm looking forward to Batman Arkham City way more at the moment. I'm sure once I see a trailer my mind will change.

[coco1997]

What's the Lazarus Pit?

I'm excited for this, but to be totally honest I'm looking forward to Batman Arkham City way more at the moment. I'm sure once I see a trailer my mind will change.

The Lazarus Pit is what Ras al Ghul uses to rejuvenate himself and keep on living for centuries.

[Messervy]

What's the Lazarus Pit?

I'm excited for this, but to be totally honest I'm looking forward to Batman Arkham City way more at the moment. I'm sure once I see a trailer my mind will change.

The Lazarus Pit is what Ras al Ghul uses to rejuvenate himself and keep on living for centuries.

More or less. There are numerous Lazarus Pits around the world, not only in Al Ghul's hands.
But, anyway, I don't quite see the connection you are suggesting.

Besides, as for picking the villain, I think Nolan has so far used a not-too-extravagant road, with not-too-extraordinary villains. I mean that, so far, the villains have been chosen among the relatively "normal" ones (so to speak!): Scarecrow, Joker and Two-Face are not Man-Bat or Killer Croc. I might be wrong, but I think Nolan prefers to have "ordinary" people turned into villains than actual monsters; it's his way of giving us a more down-to-earth Batman so that we are even more hooked to its reality. I trust we wouldn't see Superman or Green Lantern in any of Nolan's Batman, for instance. Same goes with the villains.

(I'm not sure I'm entirely clear, here! ).

[Captain Tightpants]

Nolan has said that Ra's al Ghul is dead. He won't be coming back.

[coco1997]

Nolan has said that Ra's al Ghul is dead. He won't be coming back.

Yes, it's most likely something else entirely. Either way I'm curious to see how Nolan plans on bringing Ghul back into the fold.

[mttvolcano]

I wonder why lazarus pits? I mean I though Nolan grounded batman in some form of reality, for the exception of the bat-cape and sonar cell phones.... It would be interesting to see how it plays out

[coco1997]

It's most likely that the green you see in those photos is for greenscreen purposes. But seeing it in that context immediately conjured images of the Lazarus Pit.

[Captain Tightpants]

Yes, it's most likely something else entirely. Either way I'm curious to see how Nolan plans on bringing Ghul back into the fold.

Ghul isn't coming back. Nolan says he's dead. Although Josh Pence will play Ra's, he will play a younger version of the character and he will only appear in flashbacks set thirty years before the events of BEGINS.

I wonder why lazarus pits? I mean I though Nolan grounded batman in some form of reality, for the exception of the bat-cape and sonar cell phones.... It would be interesting to see how it plays out

If Lazarus Pits do appear, then it's likely they'll be grounded in reality of some kind. I don't know how they'd do that, but they certainly won't be bringing people back from the dead. But for all we know, the site in the pictures won't be a Lazarus Pit at all. It could easily be something else entirely, like a pool of water that shows a perfect mirror of the sky.

And even while the Bat-cape and sonar cell phones were a little out there, they were at least presented in a way that seemed possible.

[coco1997]

Ghul isn't coming back. Nolan says he's dead. Although Josh Pence will play Ra's, he will play a younger version of the character and he will only appear in flashbacks set thirty years before the events of BEGINS.

I know he's not coming back. But there must be a reason for his character's presence in the story. Hence my theory that Cotillard is actually playing Talia al Ghul.

[Stainless Steel Teeth INC]

Ok, I'm just throwing this thought out there so bear with me.

If the Lazarus Pit is going to play a part in the story and the flashbacks help establish what it's capabilities are, perhaps the intended use is to maybe rejuvenate Bruce if indeed Nolan does follow the comics history and has Bane breaking Batman's back.

Either way, I trust Nolan will wrap up his trilogy in style.

[hcmv007]

Ok, I'm just throwing this thought out there so bear with me.

If the Lazarus Pit is going to play a part in the story and the flashbacks help establish what it's capabilities are, perhaps the intended use is to maybe rejuvenate Bruce if indeed Nolan does follow the comics history and has Bane breaking Batman's back.

Either way, I trust Nolan will wrap up his trilogy in style.

Not a bad thought there.

[TheREAL008]

The Superman reboot will (happily) blow TDKR away.

[coco1997]

The Superman reboot will (happily) blow TDKR away.

I highly doubt that.

Having said that, the film is automatically guaranteed to be miles above "Superman Returns" simply due to Nolan's involvement.

[Captain Tightpants]

If the Lazarus Pit is going to play a part in the story and the flashbacks help establish what it's capabilities are, perhaps the intended use is to maybe rejuvenate Bruce if indeed Nolan does follow the comics history and has Bane breaking Batman's back.

If Lazarus Pits appear, they probably won't be designed to rejuvenate someone. It's more likely they'll simply allow someone more time to seek medical attention.

The Superman reboot will (happily) blow TDKR away.

How, exactly? Zack Snyder is directing. It's much more likely that the Superman film will shoot itself in the head.

[Vauxhall]

Filming on THE DARK KNIGHT RISES taking place at the Farmiloe Building in Farringdon, central London this week.

NolanFans.com

[Matt_13]

How, exactly? Zack Snyder is directing. It's much more likely that the Superman film will shoot itself in the head.

And when it does, we can rest assured it'll look just terrific...

[Captain Tightpants]

And when it does, we can rest assured it'll look just terrific...

Look terrific, sure. But Snyder is one of those directors who prefers style over substance. Didn't you see SUCKER PUNCH?

[Vauxhall]

Wandered down to the Farmiloe Building today. Tight security and difficult to see anything meaningful at all. Rumours that they were shooting a fair bit of action earlier the day though. Think shooting will continue there for the rest of the week.

Also read a piece of news today claiming that a controlled demolition of a building in Croydon will be shot for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.

[Vauxhall]

Apologies for double post. Official press release to mark the start of filming released today:

BURBANK, CA, May 19, 2011 – Principal photography has begun on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

In helming “The Dark Knight Rises,” Christopher Nolan is utilizing IMAX® cameras even more extensively than he did on “The Dark Knight,” which had marked the first time ever that a major feature film was partially shot with IMAX® cameras. The results were so spectacular that the director wanted to expand the use of the large-format cameras for this film.

The screenplay for “The Dark Knight Rises” is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is being produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. “The Dark Knight” is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.

Behind the scenes, “The Dark Knight Rises” reunites the director with several of his longtime collaborators, all of whom worked together on the “The Dark Knight.” The creative team includes director of photography Wally Pfister, who recently won an Oscar® for his work on Nolan’s “Inception”; production designer Nathan Crowley; editor Lee Smith; and Oscar®-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). In addition, Paul Franklin and Chris Corbould, who both won Oscars® for the effects in “Inception,” will supervise the visual and special effects, respectively. The music will be composed by Oscar® winner Hans Zimmer (“The Lion King”).

The locations for “The Dark Knight Rises” span three continents and include the American cities of Pittsburgh, New York and Los Angeles, as well as sites in India, England and Scotland.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures. Slated for release on July 20, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

[Matt_13]

And when it does, we can rest assured it'll look just terrific...

Look terrific, sure. But Snyder is one of those directors who prefers style over substance. Didn't you see SUCKER PUNCH?

Thankfully I didn't. Not terribly impressed by Snyder, he just has a knack for making things look...."stylized."

[Captain Tightpants]

Snyder reminds me of one of my year eight students. I set them a task today where they had to write a report on online scams. He sent me a PowerPoint presentation that was full of bright, flashing colours, rapidly-spinning text, images that shook about the screen as if we were in the mother of all earthquakes, and generally more excitement than Vladimir Putin wearing a live bear. I thought it was just a one time thing since it actually lookeed really good in context, like one of those jarring adverts claiming you are the 999,999,999th visitor to a page and you've won a prize, which is what his presentation was about, but my hopes of a savvy student were dashed when I saw him two periods later, doing a geography presentation ... full of bright, flashing colours, rapidly-spinning text, images that shook about the screen as if we were in the mother of all earthquakes, and generally more excitement than Vladimir Putin wearing a live bear. It was somehow even worse than his commerce presentation and very nearly knocked me over the first time I saw it.

Conclusion: Zack Snyder is a year eight student on ritalin.

[Quantumofsolace007]

http://www.comingsoo...agunaltered.jpg

first image of Bane


He looks really creepy to me Can't wait

[dinovelvet]

http://www.comingsoon.net/nextraimages/forhashtagunaltered.jpg

Ah, splendid. I'm slow on the uptake, so I didn't realize this whole 'Dark Knight Rises' business was just a smokescreen for a reboot of Mortal Kombat. Sub-Zero...FIGHT!

[Single-O-Seven]

I like it. Bane looks cool, and sinister - like he might break Batman's back. But I want Anne Hathaway in catsuit, please.