Production is already underway on Christopher Nolan’s (Inception) final Batman movie; The Dark Knight Rises; we’ve had the first official image of Tom Hardy (Bronson) as Bat-villain Bane released only a matter of days ago, and yet the cast list just keeps on growing; with Matthew Modine and Tom Conti being the latest names thrown into the mix.
Modine is ironically best known for playing Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, and hasn’t actually done all that much of note since (even counting his appearance in Transporter 2), but has joined The Dark Knight Rises as a character known only as Nixon (no other details about his role have been made public as yet).
The role awarded to The Tempest star Tom Conti is shrouded even further in mystery; as not a single piece of information, or character name has been leaked regarding his casting; as is the case with fellow newcomer Joey King (Ramona and Beezus), who has also recently been cast.
Other newcomers to the franchise include not only Hardy, but his fellow Inception stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Marion Cotillard, as well as Alice in Wonderland’s Anne Hathaway; as Catwoman; and Josh Pence (The Social Network), who will be joining the series’ regulars Christian Bale (The Fighter); as Batman; Michael Caine (The Italian Job); as Alfred; Gary Oldman (Leon); as Commissioner Gordon; and Morgan Freeman (Bruce Almighty); as Lucius Fox.
Filming will take place in England, Scotland, India, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and New York, for the film which promises to be an epic conclusion to Nolan’s Bat tale, is easily one of the most eagerly anticipated movies due for release in the next few years, and is scheduled for release on July 20th 2012; a date every Bat-fan should know by now.
Matt Wheeldon.
Source: Variety.
