Catwoman and Bane are one step closer to terrorizing Gotham City, with actors Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy joining the cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.
The studio confirmed the casting decisions in a press release.
The Dark Knight Rises is the third film in Nolan’s Batman series and follows up on the 2008 critical and commercial smash hit The Dark Knight. Nolan is directing The Dark Knight Rises from a script he wrote with his brother, Jonathan Nolan, and based on a story by the director and David S. Goyer. Christian Bale is returning to play Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Catwoman is one of Batman’s oldest foes, first appearing in the comic book pages of Batman #1 in 1940. She has been a constant foe and at times friend and even romantic interest to Batman since then. The character has previously been played by Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar and Lee Meriwether in the 1960s TV series and movie; by Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton’s 1992 movie Batman Returns; and by Halle Berry in the 2004 bomb Catwoman.
Hardy plays Bane, whose strength is fueled by a drug called venom. The character first appeared in 1993 as part of a comic book story in which he breaks Batman’s back and a new crimefighter takes over the role from Bruce Wayne. Bane appeared briefly in the 1997 film Batman & Robin.
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.
