Casting for The Dark Knight Rises announced

[sherkahn]

AintItCool has the scoop. And I am surprised how many characters may be involved in this thing.

At this point I don't know WHO to believe is in this movie until it is released.
(Mind you, I do understand that the possibly misleading last post about this film came from me.).



From the article:

Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolan’s “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 Batman’s most formidable enemies.” Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. 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.


Ok, so we may not be seeing contemporary Selina, but more the 90's version.

And if they play it smart, Hardy's Bane will be more "super soldier/tactical genius" than muscle bound freak.

For legality, 90's Catwoman, en Espanol.

Comments

[ex_cherrybomb869]

So wait, is Talia out of the picture now? Or are they gonna have Selina and Talia?

I'm so confused...please don't fall victim to the classic 'Third Superhero Movie Sucks Ass' trend. The Nolanverse has already fallen victim to the 'Second Superhero Movie Is Really Really Awesome' trend, I'm afraid that it'll continue the pattern.

[lucky_gamble]

At first I was going to ask u what "third superhero movie sucks ass" trend? But then I remembered Spiderman 3. And elements of X Men 3.

[ravenous_raven]

Aw, no, I was holding out for Eva Green. Hathaway is smart, funny, and lovely, but she's more of the-girl-next-door type than a catty femme fatale like Selina.

[shadowpsykie]

have you seen Rachel getting married and Brokeback Mountain. trust me, she can pull off Feme Fatale

[kenn_el]

If you've seen Tom Hardy in "Bronson", he can totally pull this off! Hathaway? Just no. She hasn't the physicality for the role, and, while I'm told she's attractive, I cannot see her becoming Bruce's lifelong obsession. Was Lindsey Lohan busy?

[ian_karkull]

Tom Hardy in "Bronson"

First thing I thought of too. Hardy practically played a Batman villain already in that an he was awesome.

[lucky_gamble]

Cat-FREAKING-woman is going to be in the picture!? x) I thought she was going to be one of the longshot characters, like poison ivy or mr.freeze. Casting Anne Hathaway does seem...awkward...I was expecting to have someone with some skin color but she can be an interesting actress to watch.

I'm still apprehensive since Bane is going to be in the film but it's Nolan so I have faith.

[shadowpsykie]

For the record i submit refer to these images:

http://dcwomenkickingass.tumblr.com/post/2829015741/casting

http://blog.newsarama.com/2011/01/19/cats-out-of-the-bag-anne-hathaway-to-play-catwoman-in-new-batman-film/

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=30413

this combined with her acting ability... i think she can pull it off

[schmevil]

I think so too.

[screamsheet.wordpress.com]

It's worth noting that she's only mentioned as Selina Kyle, not Catwoman. I could see her being introduced as a love interest first and then becoming Catwoman in a later film.

As for Bane...I hadn't expected him to be in the film, but I really hoped for it. With Batman being chased by the cops and the Joker having cut through most of Gotham's underworld, it's a great time to introduce Bane as a guy hoping to take charge of the big prison that is Gotham City. With Nolan on board, I think Bane can go back to being the guy who can out-fight and out-think Batman rather than the brainless thug from Schumacher's film.

The only potential downside I see to Bane being in the movie is that DC might decide to return him to his villainous roots in the comics, which would be a real waste given what Gail Simone has done with him in Sinister Six.

[colonel_green]

I could see her being introduced as a love interest first and then becoming Catwoman in a later film.

I think Christian Bale has said he thinks this will be his last Batman movie, so I don't know about that.

[oddpuppets]

I think it's interesting choices overall. While I think Tom Hardy as Bane will be brilliant, I can't but help wonder how this is going to work as Nolan's final Batman film. Not doubting that he can, but it just seemed that bringing Talia back into the fold would be the way to wrap up the Ghul narrative that started off the whole series. Mind you, there could be a Talia in there that we just don't know about.

Also, flag for whitewashing re: Bane.

However, on the other hand...CATWOMAN. Yes plz.

[morgana006]

...Did Bane just get whitewashed?

[sherkahn]

Yes he did, but Bane is of mixed parentage, and I think Tom can play that.

[darkness_p]

I really like Anne Hathaway but as Selina Kyle?! She seems like she cannot pull of alluring, catty and strong simultaneously. To be fair, I had my share of doubt when Heath's casting was announced but this is my favorite female character in DCU.

Nolan is already scaring me with the portrait of female characters in films.

Please don't make me hate you by making Selina Kyle needy and weak Nolan!

[shadowpsykie]

see my above post

[filthysize]

This is from an official WB press release, so this is the one to believe.

That whole thing with Black Mask and Talia and Deadpool was just some guy on the internet claiming to have read the script, which for some reason everyone decided to just believe without any proof whatsoever.

[ian_karkull]

Anne Hathaway is about the least sensual and dangerous person in the movie business I can think of, this side of Dora The Explorer. Maybe there was a mix up and someone cast her to play "Hello Kitty" instead of Catwoman?

On the other hand, Fuck Yeah! Tom Hardy! That dude is awesome.

[sindra]

Well, this would explain why our news site just now crashed due to traffic. Our top-visited article recently was the Tom Hardy being cast in Batman 3 news break. This just killed out bandwidth.

[uadlika]

Why is 90s Catwoman fighting Elektra?

The movie could fall victim to the "third movie sucks" pattern, but if I recall correctly all of the movies mentioned (Spider-Man 3, X-Men 3, Superman 3) had some major interference, whether it be studio or new director or what. Nolan has been at the helm from the start, has stated in an interview that he always imagined the Batman movies as a trilogy, and the studio is basically all "here have a ton of cash and whatever you want" (at least, as far as I know). This should rock.

And: Selina! I'm glad she's in the film (even if it is just her and not Catwoman) and have absolute faith that Anne Hathaway will pull it off. She's got range.

[icon_uk]

Why is 90s Catwoman fighting Elektra?

Because it's from the 90's "DC vs Marvel" series, and this was one of the matchups which could be decided by popular vote from readers. Elektra won.

[colonel_green]

Hardy as Bane is great casting; he's already shown he can be extremely intelligent and convincingly physical.

Hathaway as Catwoman is a bit unexpected. Her standard persona is a long way from femme fatale, but she's a great actress, so I don't doubt she has the range.

[shadowpsykie]

Watch Rachel getting Married, and Brokeback Mountain (her character in BBM had the ever so slight dark edge to it that she played off REALLY well)

[magus_69]

Anne Hathaway: YES! She can act, and I think that she'll be an excellent Selina.

Tom Hardy: ... I have no complaint about his acting abilities, but he's awfully... what's the word? Oh yeah... WHITE.

[cypherfdp]

Catwoman EEEEEEEEEE!

Bane is also excellent, I hope they don't just turn him into dumb muscle like a lot of adaptations seem to do.

[espanolbot]

Anne as Selina I can get behind. :) She is a talented enough actress to pull off Selina's many layers, while still being likeable enough to wash the unpleasant taste of Rachel Dawes out of our mouths.

Or at least mop her off the walls and ceiling.

Anyways, I do hope that they manage to pull a bit of the characterisation from the actual comics into their version of the character, rather than have her a secretary of Rupert Thorne (who I read was in the movie), a millionairess who steals for fun or a flight attendant with concussion.

Make her be from that area of the East End/the Narrows that was abandoned by the police following the Fear Gas Attack in the first movie, and have her steal from the mob in order to help out the people in her neighbourhood, then moving up into Gotham high society to get more targets, meeting Bruce along the way... Or something.

Considering the good job they did with condensing numerous elements of the Joker's many characterisations (a bit of Mark Hammil's Joker, a bit of Jack Nicholson's, a bit of the comics', a little Cesar Romero), I hope that they manage to do something similar with Catwoman.

A girl from the wrong side of the tracks who pulls herself up from the gutter through grit and hard work, to help out those who weren't as fortunate as her.

Considering that one of the other bits of news about the plot that I heard also mentioned the possiblity of Black Mask... Possible riff on the Catwoman storyline where she stole from some bent coppers who turned out to be working for Roman?

[shadowpsykie]

I am on board with this characterization. very Robin hood. not a villain, but not a good guy. she keeps a little something for herself and targets those especially who are inhumane to animals.

[jeyl]

Counting down to when Catwoman either dies, kills herself or loses the will to live. Hey, it is a Nolan film. That basta$& ruined any chance of Renee Montoya will ever appear in a film.

[stubbleupdate]

That basta$& ruined any chance of Renee Montoya will ever appear in a film.

Because after the success of Dark Knight (1 dollar in 8 that WB made that year was from Dark Knight), when Dark Knight Rises is done, WB will give up making Batman films, or films based on the Batman property?

[starwolf_oakley]

Since Bane is established as being at least half-white, via his father Sir Edmund Dorrance a.k.a. King Snake, Tom Hardy could work quite well as Bane.

As I've said elsewhere on this board, Bane was imagined as an evil Doc Savage, but keeps appearing in adaptations as an evil Captain America. Comics Bane is very intelligent, a strong strategist, and also a very skilled fighter despite his intense muscle mass. Most Adaptations of Bane keep him as a fast, skilled fighter despite his size, and give him a "cut the Venom tubes" weakness.

[psychopathicus_rex]

Well, to be fair, that's also his weakness in the comics, at least when he's using the stuff. That's how AzBats beat him in their climactic battle - he sliced up the Venom tubes. That turned the tide of battle.

[mr_neutron]

Whatever Hathaway's talents are, she'll be working for a director who has almost no interest or talent in creating non-cardboard female characters. I just hope Nolan has someone else working with him on the script. Regardless of the result, I doubt if it'll be anywhere as intense as Pfeiffer's version, which I will happily defend till the cows come home.

[shadowpsykie]

Regardless of the result, I doubt if it'll be anywhere as intense as Pfeiffer's version, which I will happily defend till the cows come home.

i think Anne could do well. hopefully Nolan directs a good Selena.

[thosefew]

I wonder if there's anyone out there only familiar with the movies thinking, "Why is the wrestler guy from Batman and Robin the bad guy?"

[psychopathicus_rex]

Boy, are they in for a surprise! (I mean, I hope they are...)

[jlroberson]

No...Hugo?

NO HUGO?

I'm just going to have to stomp in a circle repeating that for a while. Excuse me.

[thehefner]

I guess he shall remain known (or at least, appreciated) by that select handful of hardcore Batman fans. Well, give or take a handful of new fans who discover him via Arkham City.

[jelly_ace]

And here I was hoping for Eva Green. :((

I'm not really sold on Anne Hathaway as Catwoman--her big eyes just don't scream Selina/Catwoman to me. No matter how much eyeliner she puts on them, she'll always be that wide-eyed Princess. Hahaha

And yay, Tom Hardy! He and Joseph-Gordon Levitt were the only ones that made Inception bearable for me.

But NOT looking forward to Nolan's treatment of Catwoman, given his track record of how he portrays women in his films...

[psychopathicus_rex]

YES! Bane! I've been hoping and hoping that he'd be the villain, and here he is! A happy camper am I.
Regarding some of the comments that have been made on here regarding the casting choice - I don't know this Tom Hardy guy, but I don't think it really matters what race he is, as long as he can pull off the role. There are some iconic characters that I would have quibbles with if they were recasted as another race, but overall, I think acting ability is what's important here. Look at Michael Clark Duncan as the Kingpin in 'Daredevil' - he's a black guy, the Kingpin's a white guy, but he still did a pretty good job in the role, and fit the physical qualifications. (The movie itself sucked, but HE was good.) Anyway, as has also been noted, Bane is half-white anyway, and has never looked particularly Latino in the first place.
Just a thought here regarding Hathaway's casting as 'Selina Kyle', rather than Catwoman. Is it possible that that's because the character herself doesn't call herself Catwoman? Maybe Kyle is a simply a catburglar in a slinky outfit, and we're meant to infer the rest, or 'Catwoman' is just a media nickname, similar to how 'Doc Ock' was simply what the Bugle called Dr. Octavius in 'Spidey 2'.

[nonners]

Ugh I'm not happy with any of these choices, either for overexposure or other fail reasons.