Despite the many times Christopher Nolan has spoken about The Dark Knight Rises in terms of concluding a trilogy, there are still fans hoping the director will change his mind and return for a fourth outing.

However, Nolan has been speaking about the future of Batman, and couldn’t have made it more clear that he regards his part of the story as complete.

“For me, The Dark Knight Rises is specifically and definitely the end of the Batman story as I wanted to tell it,” says Nolan. “The open-ended nature of the film is simply a very important thematic idea that we wanted to get into the movie, which is that Batman is a symbol. He can be anybody, and that was very important to us.

“Not every Batman fan will necessarily agree with that interpretation of the philosophy of the character, but for me it all comes back to the scene between Bruce Wayne and Alfred in the private jet in Batman Begins , where the only way that I could find to make a credible characterization of a guy transforming himself into Batman is if it was as a necessary symbol, and he saw himself as a catalyst for change.

“Therefore it was a temporary process, maybe a five-year plan that would be enforced for symbolically encouraging the good of Gotham to take back their city,” he continued to explain. “To me, for that mission to succeed, it has to end, so this is the ending for me, and as I say, the open-ended elements are all to do with the thematic idea that Batman was not important as a man, he’s more than that. He’s a symbol, and the symbol lives on.”

Doesn’t sound like he’ll be directing Justice League then, does it? The Dark Knight Rises is released on DVD and Blu-ray on 3 December 2012.

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The Dark Knight Rises is going full steam ahead with its big marketing push prior to its cinematic release next month, with the new TV spots and trailer followed by the publication of a mock-up press release explaining the finer points of the Dent Act.

Designed to close the loopholes that have allowed organised crime to flourish in the city, the bill also establishes Batman as a dangerous vigilante, as well as establishing an official public holiday to commemorate the fallen DA.

“Harvey Dent was a hero in the true sense of the word,” says Mayor Garcia in the release. “His courage in taking on the criminal empire that ruled our streets saved our city. It would be inappropriate for us not to honour his sacrifice.”

“To those who claim this legislation creates a police state,” he continues, “my answer is very simple. Before the Dent Act, our city was so desperate that we placed our trust behind a masked vigilante who ultimately murdered the man who was truly Gotham’s shining hope. Luckily for us, the hope has endured. This bill is Harvey Dent’s legacy and I intend to protect it.”

You might find that a little trickier than you’d anticipated, old chum. The Dark Knight Rises opens in the UK on 20 July 2012. In the meantime, you can check out the new viral below…

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The Dark Knight Rises is just months away from bursting into our screens, and Entertainment Weekly has got the lowdown from Tom Hardy on the burning question that seems to be troubling the majority of fans: will we be able to understand what Bane is saying?

“It’s a risk, because we could be laughed at,” says Hardy of his uniquely accented character. “Or it could be very fresh and exciting. The audience mustn’t be too concerned about the mumbly voice. As the film progresses, I think you’ll be able to tune to its setting.”

Meanwhile, Anne Hathaway has also had a few things to say about playing Catwoman, particularly the amount of work Christopher Nolan expected her to put in to the role.

“I had to physically transform,” says Hathaway. “Chris sat me down at the beginning and said, ‘Joseph Gordon-Levitt did all of his own fighting in Inception . That one zero-gravity fight? He trained for two months.’ I basically left his office and went to the gym and just came out about five minutes ago.”

As for Nolan himself, he also piped up to give his take on Hathaway’s incarnation of Catwoman. “She has a very strong way of protecting herself and those she cares about,” he explains, “which implies an underlying darkness.”

Darkness? In Gotham? We won’t believe it! The Dark Knight Rises opens in the UK on 20 July 2012.

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Tom Hardy has spoken to the Daily Mail ‘s Baz Bamigboye about his upcoming role as Al Capone in Cicero .

Hardy will play the infamous gangster after he has finished shooting Mad Max: Fury Road .

He told Bamigboye: “I’ve been working with Warner Bros, watching their gangster films — the ones with James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robinson,” naming The Petrified Forest , The Public Enemy and Little Caesar as examples.

“It’s interesting to get them, and a bit of Capone, into the bloodstream… The idea isn’t to remake those films but to get a flavour of them as we explore Capone’s career as a racketeer.”

On the status of the movie (which is set to be directed by Harry Potter ‘s David Yates), Hardy added: “The idea at the moment is of doing a trilogy of films, but nothing is set. Everyone is just talking and exploring.”

Tom Hardy will next be seen in This Means War , before appearing as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (you may have heard us mention that one before).

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Tom Hardy has spoken exclusively to Total Film about his role as Bane in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises .

We recently sat down for a chat with the rising star (as certified by Bafta), and couldn’t resist asking him about his role in the epic Bat-threequel.

He told us that Nolan called him up while he was shooting This Means War , to ask if he’d be happy playing the musclebound, mask-wearing villain in Rises :

‘Hang on a minute. You’re asking me to come round the world with you in a Batman movie, playing a villain, and the only downside to it is I have to wear a mask? Hmmm, let me think. I’ll get back to you… No, I’m fucking there, man! Anything you need.’”

While Nolan’s take on Bane is likely to be worlds away from any earlier screen incarnations of the character (a necessity to ensure he fits in with the ‘reality-based’ Gotham), he’s still best known as ‘The Man Who Broke The Bat’; so will Bats suffer any spinal injuries here?

Hardy responded coyly: “Mmmmm… Good lead-in, but all I can say is that Chris has a plan up his sleeve that’s not at all disappointing. And that is a definite choice that’s watertight in every respect.

“I think Bane’s fucking cool so I’m really excited to play him. It’s not the guy in Joel Schumacher’s film, but it shouldn’t disappoint fanboys…”

So, does he feel any pressure living up to Heath Ledger’s portrayal as one Batman’s arch-nemeses? “No, none at all,” he insisted. “Brilliant actor, brilliant work – that’s it. I’ve got a job to do.

“It’s the same with Mad Max and Mel Gibson. I’m not here to engage in a competition with their talent. It’s to play the character that I’ve been given.”

And he’s not bothered about wearing a mask either: “Any time you put something over your face, you’re going to adopt a personality and a physicality that has nothing to do with acting. It allows a performance to be free.”

For more from Tom Hardy, get the new issue of Total Film Magazine, which hits newsstands on Thursday 4 August 2011.

The issue includes four FREE posters for The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows . (Scroll down to preview the posters).

To subscribe to Total Film Magazine, click here. (opens in new tab)

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A new set photo from The Dark Knight Rises has appeared, showing a masked stuntman climbing out of a building.

The blockbuster sequel is currently filming in Croydon, London, where this low-res snap was taken.

See the full image below;

Rumours have the production moving to Scotland soon where Inverness Airport is likely to double as Gotham City airport or a private runway.

While the airport’s management didn’t confirm that Rises would be filming there, Highland News got confirmation that they “have entered into a contract with a film production company.”

Batman-News scooped that Osterley Park House in London, which was scouted by Nolan, is to close from 15-17 June and on 22 June 2011. Some rooms will be closed until 3 July.

The stately home is likely to double for interior shots in the film, which should feature a re-built Wayne Manor.

The Dark Knight Rises opens on 20 July 2012.

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