2. Where is The Joker?
There are several theories regarding The Joker's whereabouts during The Dark Knight Rises but only two of them hold any real water. Firstly it is suggested that The Joker is dead. Shocking we know but if he's alive then why doesn't anyone mention him when he escapes with the other crazies? He's the biggest threat Gotham has ever known right (well until Bane and co), so surely Gotham's finest would be bricking themselves at the thought of him running amok again? Theory 2 fortunately doesn't kill off the most awesome bad guy of all time. According to Greg Cox's novelisation of TDKR it is suggested that with the insanity plea negated by The Dent Act, the rogues of Gotham found themselves transferred from Arkham to Blackgate Prison, everyone that is except The Joker who remains the sole inmate of the Asylum. With that in mind it would explain how people like Crane were free but Joker was not. How likely is it to make the cut?: Nolan made it clear at every opportunity that he would not be mentioning The Joker at all in The Dark Knight Rises. So this is pure fantasy at this point.