Dabs
~Unpredictable~
So, anyone going to be interested in watching?? Has it even come out yet??
Fraze on the Dark Knight Rising Casting News
Warner Bros.
Pictures announced today that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight Rises. She will be starring alongside Christian Bale, who returns in the title role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Christopher Nolan stated, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story.
In addition, Tom Hardy has been set to play Bane. Nolan said, I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batmans most formidable enemies.
I couldnt be more delighted with this news, folks. Ever since Rachel Dawes met her fate in The Dark Knight, Ive been saying that Catwoman would be a necessity going into Nolans third and final Batman film. For one thing, Rachel was the only female character in Nolans Batman universe without her youre missing not only a female lead, but a love interest.
Selina Kyle fulfills three roles as a female lead, a love interest and confidant, and an opposing force to Batmans rule system. Catwomans own brand of vigilante justice often aligns with Bruces, while other times they collide head-on. Its a very interesting dynamic, and I cant wait to see it play out on screen.
Theres been some unfair comparison to Michelle Pfeiffer take on the character in Tim Burtons Batman Returns. While Pfeiffer was certainly entertaining as Selina Kyle, she really didnt embody the character rather she basically created her own.
Much like Caesar Romeros take on the Joker in the 60s, audiences have come to identify with Pfeiffers Catwoman as the definitive version of the character, but thats not really the case at all. Pfeiffers Catwoman was about as authentic as DeVitos Penguin or Carreys Riddler that is to say, not very authentic at all.
Hathaway is perfect for the role. I remember seeing her portrayed in Tim Sale and Jeph Loebs Catwoman: When In Rome and thinking how perfect should would be. Speaking of comics, as you know, Nolan and writer David S. Goyer pull from multiple sources when crafting their scripts everyone knows about influences from Batman: Year One or The Killing Joke or The Long Halloween, but this script presents yet more influences, namely Catwoman: When In Rome, Batman: Dark Victory, Hush and Knightfall.
Of course Dark Victory and Hush have influenced previous films, however, being as Catwoman plays a big part of those stories, one would believe her character will be shaped by these stories.
Knightfall begins with Bane freeing all of the maximum-security inmates of Arkham Asylum, a notorious psychiatric facility in Gotham City. Aware that he would lose in a direct assault against Batman, Banes plan consists of weakening Batman by forcing him to deal with the deadly villains simultaneously.
Among the freed inmates, there are numerous high-profile villains, such as the Joker and the Scarecrow, as well as many less known villains, such as Victor Zsasz all three of which have been featured in Nolans films.
Batman is taken to his mental and physical limits: a dose of Scarecrows fear gas makes him relive the murder of Jason Todd, which he considers to be his greatest failure. I would imagine this could be refitted to make him relive the deaths of Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent, his greatest failure as of yet in Nolans films.
After this encounter, Bane makes his move and attacks Batman at Wayne Manor, as Bane had deduced the secret identity of Batman. This could be where the initial rumors of Hardy playing Hugo Strange came from, being as Bane is one of Batmans villains who learn of his secret identity.
There is of course an epic battle between Bruce Wayne and Bane that ends with Waynes back being broken over Banes knee breaking Batman and leaving Wayne a paraplegic.
Bane takes the grievously wounded Wayne (still costumed in the Batman outfit) down to Gotham Square and throws him from a rooftop to demonstrate his superiority to the populace. With Batman incapacitated, Bane assumes control of Gotham Citys underworld and takes over several illegal operations within it.
It should be noted that Catwoman is a part of the Knightfall storyline and is approached by Banes henchman to join their criminal organization, but she refuses, unwilling to be in league with the villain that broke Batman.
In Batman: Dark Victory, the sequel to the Long Halloween series that has influenced the film trilogy, Selina Kyle suspects she is the illegitimate daughter of Carmine Falcone, which could keep the story firmly planted in corrupt, mob-filled territory.
So, what does this mean for Nolans final Batman film? I think Bane will actually break Batman, or Bruce Wayne rather. Think back to this line of dialogue from Batman Begins:
People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I cant do that as Bruce Wayne, as a man Im flesh and blood I can be ignored I can be destroyed but as a symbol, as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting.
Batman will live on as a symbol, and this is the perfect end-point for Nolans trilogy. Warner Bros will obviously want to continue the series, and this way they can by perhaps going down a road that involves Jean Paul Valley as Azrael or even a Batman Beyond scenario. In any case, Bruce Wayne will be unable to continue as Batman.
Catwoman will no doubt toe the line between Batman and Bane for most of the film until she ultimately sides with Bruce, after being broken as shell feel partly responsible, Im sure.
Theres one scene I would absolutely love to see: the Arkham Asylum break. Imagine a sequence similar to the end of Batman Begins, where Batman meets Commissioner Gordon not far from Arkham Asylum, where the prison break just took place. Theyre going through a list of inmates that have escaped.
It would be a great moment to even drop some obscure names from Batmans rogues gallery: Mad Hatter (Jervis Tetch), Deadshot (Floyd Lawton), Oswald Cobblepot, Victor Zsasz. Batman would suddenly realize his worst fears have come to fruition:
Batman: Scarecrow? Joker?
Commissioner Gordon hangs his head and looks out at the Gotham City skyline his eyes pointed in the direction of the Narrows.
Gordon: Theyre all gone.
This would continue the wonderful legacy Heath Ledger created in The Dark Knight, just knowing the Joker is out there thats a very unsettling thought and further motivation for Batman to push himself to the limits, the themes of escalation carrying him to his fate a broken, bloody mass of flesh and bone lying in Gotham Square.
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