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Holy big f*cking news Batman! After months and years of speculation, we finally have official confirmation of the villains of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. An official press release from Warners has told us that Anne Hathaway will be Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and Tom Hardy will appear as the villain Bane. Here's the official word:
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.
Wow, well there you have it. Hardy was announced some time ago as being attached to the film, and there was rampant speculation on who he'd be playing. Guesses ranged from Killer Croc to Black Mask to Clayface with Bane seldom brought up as a possibility.
Meanwhile, Hathaway was part of a slate of actresses testing for two unspecified female roles in the film, and apparently she impressed Nolan enough to land the role of Catwoman. That was not one of the speculated roles on the table, as last we heard, the parts being cast were Vicky Vale and Talia Head (Ra's Al Ghul's daughter), though one or both of them could theoretically still be in play.
Will there be skin tight leather and whips, or will this Nolan-ized Catwoman try to distance herself from past iterations? And with Hardy's Bane, will he be putting on 150 lbs of muscle, or are we going to see prosthetics/CGI here? Or will this "new interpretation" be a lot less jacked?
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