Warner Bros. have announced that Anne Hathaway will play Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises and that Tom Hardy’s much-speculated role has finally been revealed as that of Bane.
It’s worth noting that the official press release purposefully announces ‘Selina Kyle’ and there’s absolutely no mention of her costumed, jewel thief alter-ego, Catwoman. Then again, I think I remember the press releases of Aaron Eckhart’s casting four years ago not mentioning Two Face either…. so nobody will be surprised if she goes purrrrrr in the third act.
If you have been following the Batman 3 development closely you will know that Hathaway met with Nolan back in October and has stayed linked with the film, beating out the likes of Keira Knightley and Jessica Biel who screen tested for the role last week.
Hathaway is ultra sexy, a physically stunning young beauty with a distinct Julia Roberts wide smile and a self confidence that some might say borders on arrogance (at least I thought her performance in Love & Other Drugs could be perceived as that). She’s kind of fearless too – I loved her turn in Rachel Getting Married, and she can play unlikeable bitches very well and Kyle can certainly be that.
Don’t be fooled by her Devil Wears Prada wholesome ‘girl next door’ performances. There’s more to her than that. This isn’t another Katie Holmes situation…
Having said that Hathaway, 28, wouldn’t have been my first choice. I probably would have wanted someone older and closer to Christian Bale’s 36 years of age. But I’m not against her and I dropped the ball last time I doubted Nolan for casting somebody from Brokeback Mountain and look how that turned out! Seriously though, Hathaway’s fine and better than all the names we heard screen tested.
Presumably, Hathaway’s Kyle is the ‘love interest’ and the reported inclusion of Talia Al Ghul, is the new movie’s villain?
Moving onto Bane…
After immense speculation and a flurry of fanboy suggestions that he could be anything from The Riddler, The Penguin, Dr. Hugo Strange to Max Cort! - it’s finally been announced that Nolan has chosen Tom Hardy to play Bane, his muscle man villain in The Dark Knight Rises. And those thinking of Batman & Robin’s Bane, well it ain’t gonna be quite like that, I assure you.
Nolan’s will be gritter and more realistic. Hell, he’s got the guy who played Bronson to play him!!
In the comics, Bane can speak six languages, is of superior intelligence with a photographic memory and is something of a scientific genius. He’s kind of like Batman but he is fueled by anger to do terrible deeds, to make others suffer the pain he feels.
Nolan then has chosen a physically imposing villain, something the Nolan movies have never had. Here’s somebody who is going to be able to go toe-to-toe with Batman and comic book fans will remember he famously defeated The Dark Knight putting him on the sidelines for months after breaking his back in the famous Knightfall story in the 90′s.
And one might probably be correct in thinking that the 1993 storyline Legacy will be brought up, where Ra’s Al Ghul takes a shine to Bane as they attack Gotham City. Just swap Ra’s for Talia and you’re there.
Christopher Nolan says;
“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…
…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.”
The Dark Knight Rises begins filming in May for a July 2012 release. Exciting times!
Discuss, Discuss, Discuss!!!
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18 Comments
I’m yet to be convinced by Hathaway as a Catwoman. But still, better than Keira Knightley.
As someone has pointed out elsewhere, the press release says nothing about Catwoman, all we know is that she is playing Selina Kyle. I think this is an interesting distinction.
Who knows what Nolan has planned.
This has had almost EXACTLY the same response online that the casting of Heath Ledger had about 4 years ago. No one was thrilled, some were intrigued, lots were annoyed.
My only worry is that this series has had a problem with the main female character, who is the weakest thing. But I don’t imagine Nolan taking a misstep with such an iconic character at this stage.
Honestly, I don’t like Hathaway but Adam is alright about what happened with Ledger… Let’s trust in Nolan’s instincts.
The choice of Anne Hathway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman is kinda suprising, but I can why she was chosen because she has the “Girl Next Door” innocent!! The choice of Tom Hardy as Bane seems roght cause he has the body types of the character, but I really thought that The Riddler was going to be the next villain so I could se Johnny Depp, nevertheless I’m still looking forward to seeing this movie
Haha, because the only thing Nolan does better than juggling multiple villains and storylines is writing female characters. Oh dear.
I know what you are saying and I’m inclined to agree… but when he casts right (Memento’s Carrie Anne Moss, Inception’s Marion Cotillard, The Prestige’s Rebecca Hall) – the female characters can be powerful elements in his films.
The weakest thing in his Batman movies is definitely the female character (there is only really one, remember). This isn’t indicative of his writing; his other female characters are far better, and this time he is taking an iconic villain. He doesn’t write bad female characters; he has written a bad character, who was female.
Matt I understand you are a Nolan Fanboy but only Memento had a female character that either didnt bore me or annoy me. Im still waiting for something really memorable though I have higher hopes for Hathaway than most.
You’re right Adam. How could I forget the riveting character portrayed by scarlet johannson in the prestige. Wondeful writing, wonderful casting, and such a convincing accent! Or Ellen page’s memorable ariadne, who delivered the expositional questions with gusto and stamina. Or Marion cotillard – it really takes an actress of that calibre to be able to walk around with a gun looking scary.
Admit it, the only good female character he has produced was played by the wonderul Rebecca hall, and that was a tiny part. Even Carrie Anne moss was awkwardly cast and had some clunky dialogue.
First of all Hathaway is cute, ultra sexy? I don’t see it, I also don’t see her as sultry either. Ledger I always thought was a good choice, Hathaway puzzles me. Either way I think catwoman is a pretty rote choice and would’ve preferred Talia myself.
The signs point towards Talia’s inclusion also… more big news to come in the coming weeks I feel.
Well i for one am very pleased that Hardy has been cast, he no doubt stole the show in Inception.
And he’s…hot. ^_^
Wow this is pretty surprising. Im not a fan of Hathaway at all. Actually I cant stand her. However, as mentioned above, many of us thought the casting of Heath Ledger was questionable at best, and we all know how that turned out. So yes, we must trust in Mr. Nolan. He has yet to let us down. Although, I am a bit worried about Nolan’s ability to introduce a strong and interesting female character to his Bat-Universe because he has failed to do so in the previous two films with Rachel.
I have read every article regarding TDKR that has been posted on this great site. It’s funny how wrong you guys have been about almost every villain/actor prediction you’ve made. First you guys were sooo convinced that Tom Hardy was going to play The Riddler (I wont even bother getting into the whole Joseph Gordon-Levitt fiasco before that). Then there was the KillerCroc/Hardy prediction, the Marion Cotillard/Catwoman prediction (which hopefully would have come true if she wasn’t knocked up), and the Hardy/Max Court nonsense. And finally, I recall reading here in at least one article that out of all the villains in the Batman catalogue, Bane would be the LEAST likely character to appear in Nolan’s Bat-Universe. Im sure some of those were more wishful thinking/speculation than actual predictions, and I know you guys were not the ones to start any of that speculation. Having said that, you guys really went all-in on that Hardy/Riddler casting, even after David Goyer had strongly implied The Riddler would not be a part of the film in an interview. Don’t get me wrong though, I wanted Hardy to play him as much as most fans, just not as much as you guys, I guess. Yes, it’s fun to speculate (and it’s kinda your job too) so please don’t think I am discouraging that sort of thing.
Im not bringing that stuff up to be a OWF Hater or an asshole at all. I love this site. You guys do a hell of a job every week. I am simply pointing out the fact that as much as we try, none of us can predict what Chris Nolan is going to do or how he will conclude his trilogy. All we can really do is be patient and hope that the anticipation doesn’t kill us before July 2012. Damn that seems so far away.
“Hathaway is ultra sexy…physically stunning young beauty…distinct Julia Roberts wide smile… self confidence”
Gee, Matt, laying it on a little thick, ain’t we? If this was Rhona Mitra or Kate Beckinsale I’d agree but Anne Hathaway?
Catwoman could be played by ANY ingenue really and it wouldn’t matter worth a damn. I’m not surprised Nolan chose yet another NON-American to play a role in his film. Wonder when he’s going to reveal that Gotham has acutally been London all this time? I really can’t stand that about the man.
And Hardy as Bane? I know ‘roided-up actors are all the rage these days (Rourke and Stallone have got enough HGH in their bloodstreams to start their own “fitness” factory!) but even if Hardy works out like a maniac he still won’t be BANE huge. So, they go for a really fit Bane who’ll do what exactly?
I’m not ready to say this movie’s in trouble yet. But I don’t like the overexcitement every tidbit of news about a Nolan film gets.
Team Nolan has managed, in spite of their wrong-headed casting choices, to make some engaging and even meaningful comic-book films, so they’ve earned the right to have some leeway, but this is pretty much the last bit of rope I’m giving them! The casting stinks –period.
Guess I’ll have to hold my nose through all that and hope that David Goyer managed to pull off another world-class script.
It’s mostly written by Jonathan Nolan, as was The Dark Knight….
I really like the idea of casting Bane as the villain. He is essentially the antithesis of who Batman is. He is extremely intelligent, but he uses his gifts for evil due to his upbringing in a prison. He is easily my favorite villain they have ever had because he is actually smart. I really think it will work well as long as Nolan doesn’t include the Venom thing into it. It works well for comics, but not in the gritty more grounded in reality world that Nolan has created with his films.
Anne Hathawy is a great actress, but I think she would make a great Harley Quinn rather then a cat woman. Let’s face it after Michelle Phieffer there is no more Catwoman she was the greatest. Hally Berry Good but bombed as Catwoman. I would of liked to see the Riddler not played by Jim Carrey, but rather someone like Johnny Depp. But who am I.