Variety reports that
Joseph Gordon-Levitt is now officially confirmed for a key role in
The Dark Knight Rises, reuniting with his Inception director Chris Nolan for the second film running, though the identity of his character is still unknown. Also being eyed for a role in the film is young indie sensation
Juno Temple, who we kinda fell in love with for her portrayal of a nympho manic university student in the sure to be cult classic Kaboom. She will play 'a street smart Gotham girl' which means probably not Harley Quinn, sadly. I look at both actors above and I weep a little, because in another universe in another time... they would have made a great Joker/Harley Quinn pairing. I'm guessing with Nolan giving us a Catwoman story that Temple is wanted to play
Holly Robinson, a young girl who Selina Kyle takes under her wing from prostitution. But she could just as easily be a newly created character. In regards to Levitt, well I've said for a while now, with the villains side of things already looking heavily packed (
Tom Hardy as Bane,
Marion Cotillard likely as Talia,
Anne Hathaway as part hero/part villain Catwoman) - I'm hoping Gordon-Levitt simply plays a senior member of Commissioner Gordon's taskforce who attempts to take down the vigilante known as Batman. But that would be a non-DC comics canon character and I doubt it would bring with it this kind of secrecy. Is he actually playing The Joker in a small cameo after all, or Black Mask as heavily rumoured? Or is he The Penguin or Prof. Hugo Strange as perhaps hinted by Gary Oldman?
Expect The Dark Knight Rises casting to ramp up as we near it's May shooting start. The film, as I'm sure you all have it written in black ink in your diaries, will be released July 20th, 2012.