WB Would Like You to Know Dark Knight Rises Started Filming
Thu, May 19, 2011 
Speculation was pretty crazy after Batman Begins opened back in June 2005 and everyone (us nerds and general public alike) couldn't wait to see what director Christopher Nolan had to store for what-ultimately-became The Dark Knight (then Batman II).
But after the Batman Begins sequel hit theaters and broke shit-loads of box-office records and won even more critical acclaim than its predecessor, anticipation for the next installment hit full-retard. Every rumor (ranging from the plausible, what little of those we heard, to the inane and utterly stupid, like "Eddie Murphy as the Riddler!") was deemed news-worthy, wasting much of our time and energy, let's be honest here.
Well gather the kids around the family computer because Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures would like to make it officially official. The Dark Knight Rises, the third and final entry in the Nolan-helmed Batman trilogy, started filming. Granted we already knew that considering those snap-shots taken from both India and London recently.
But I digress. Here's the press release:
"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."
I can't ridicule others because I'll probably go crazy when filming starts on The Man of Steel (incidentially being produced by Nolan) and Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. But indeed I too am looking forward to see how Nolan plans to wrap everything up next July. It would probably be wise to go ahead and buy an advance ticket.
Reader Comments (1)
Nice press release on filming start up.