Just as The Avengers did earlier this year, The Dark Knight Rises has begun to make headlines on an almost daily basis – with just under two months left until Christopher Nolan’s climactic Batman movie hits theaters.
Warner Bros. spent the past week showering fans with Dark Knight Rises posters, character one-sheets, TV spots, and domestic banners. Today, we add to the DKR paraphernalia pile with two international character banners, a “secret” poster with femme fatale Catwoman (or, rather, her high-heel), and some plot details revealed in the synopsis for a children’s tie-in book – about the relationship between Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway).
Gotham becomes a veritable war-zone in Dark Knight Rises, after Bane (Tom Hardy) and his army of mercenaries, freed convicts and low-stature citizens who join the terrorist’s “revolution” all attack the city, forcing Bruce to “get back in the game” after eight years of semi-retirement as the Caped Crusader.
That idea has been emphasized in recent footage and posters, but takes a bit of a backseat in the new, glossier, international Dark Knight Rises character banners. The “secret” Catwoman poster – which was hidden on the official DKR website – retains the dark, rainy, motif of previous one-sheets, starting with the second domestic poster that teases Bane’s triumph over Batman.
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Meanwhile, HarperCollins has posted a short plot summary for the DKR-based kid’s book, “Batman versus Catwoman.” While it doesn’t give away major plot points in the film – those who wish to go in as unspoiled as possible should obviously STOP READING NOW.
MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!!
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There’s a ferocious feline in town, and she’s out to steal from Gotham’s wealthy citizens. Unfortunately, Catwoman makes a mistake when she visits venerable citizen Bruce Wayne and takes Bruce’s prized family heirloom. She thinks she made a clean escape . . . but she doesn’t know who she toyed with!
In other words, this confirms the popular theory that sprung up after the second Dark Knight Rises trailer featured a shot of Selina Kyle putting on a pearl necklace – that piece of jewelry is indeed the property of Bruce’s late mother, bought for her by his father.
The inclusion of said element from Batman Begins should not only help Dark Knight Rises to bring Bruce’s overarching character evolution full-circle (as this finale is meant to do), but it’s also a clever way of setting the stage for Batman and Catwoman’s complex relationship (to say the least).
Selina wears a prized Wayne family heirloom in 'Dark Knight Rises'
Overall, the past week of Dark Knight Rises marketing has re-energized certain portions of the fanbase – while providing further confirmation for others that the film will be an exhilarating thrill ride full of grand spectacle, intense drama, and everything else that makes for a good Batman movie. Feel free to share your own thoughts about the DKR marketing scheme in the comments section of this article.
The Dark Knight Rises stars Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Marion Cotillard. It is of course directed by Christopher Nolan, based on a screenplay he co-penned with Jonathan Nolan (working from a story co-conceived by Davis S. Goyer).
Look for The Dark Knight Rises to arrive in U.S. theaters on July 20th, 2012.
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Source: Warner Bros. [via Batman-News], HarperCollins Childrens [via CBM]
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Remember back before The Avengers opened when ScreenRanters consistently complained, with every new promotional piece for TA, that there was not enough or any advertising for TDKR? Smh.
Well, those people weren’t very bright. They should have know that once The Avengers hype died down, the DC/WB marketing team would be let loose.
And remember when we also said that Avengers is the “hot girl of the party” right now and when the Avengers fill is over, then the next “hot girl” (TDKR) will emerge? Smh.
TDKR is more the Fine Woman you take home to meet mom! haha
Looks like the “The Avengers” or “The Dark Knight Rises” war is now a “Betty” or “Veronica” war.
Loving all the new posters, character banners and the tv spots. What got me really excited was the shot of the two fighter jets in the final few seconds of the catwoman-centric tv spot, Bane has turned Gotham into a war-zone
. Also glad that there’ll be some light-hearted moments as well; Valet: Your wife said that you’re taking a cab home. Bruce: My wife!?
Will be the first one in line to buy the tickets in IMAX I’ll tell you that
I was thinking that those two jets might also be the ones chasing and firing missiles at The Bat.
I was glad to see the lighter moments in the TV spots, as well. The trailers made the movie look like it would be dark and dramatic from start to finish. Which is okay, but after how The Avengers was, a movie that kicks your ass the entire time might have been a chore to watch.
I dont understand the problem of a pure dramatic film without the need for “lighter moments”.
If we can appreciate films like Saving private ryan for its dramatic violence and depiction of a heartbreaking, violent event, regardless of it being fiction, why can’t we have a pure dramatic comic film?
As a fan of film, I feel that mainstream audiences are the most hypocritical of viewers. They always have to be pat on the back and told “its okay” during rough time, instead of being treated with real life.
Avengers’s tone was good for what the storyline involved. However, TDKR and all previous other films have always been more on the lines of dark, noir. Just don’t understand the “milk and cookies” break some fans need.
I’m not saying that TDKR needs to be funny. A laugh out loud moment like some in The Avengers would be out of place in the film. But some moments of levity are always nice.
Take TDK for example, none of the moments with Alfred were heavy, they were even funny in places. The Joker dressed as nurse was great. I’m pretty much wanting the same tone as the last film; that’s all.
What Eric Nixon said, I don’t want it to be a full-blown comedy with laugh out loud moments, I don’t want Bane to just pull Batman by his feet and smash him around like a rag-doll. I love the dark and serious tone of Nolan’s Batman movies, just a few scenes that can make me smile and chuckle a bit. I’m sure his scenes with Alfred and Fox will bring some relief to all the tension.
While I agree for the most part, you have to remember that the world is kinda screwed up at the moment… what the general audience wants most at times like this is a bit of fun. Something to take their mind off of all the crap going on outside their nice theater with a box of corn and a coke.
everyone loves puppies).
Without the occasional nice stories where the hero triumphs over evil and everyone lives happily ever after, we’ll all probably be suffering from depression. Sadly, “milk and cookie” movies are one of the few things keeping people optimistic in this day and age (and of course, puppies
It might sound stupid, but we’re all human. We all respond to emotion and it affects us subconsciously.
And by “lighter moments”, I don’t think ‘Eric Nixon’ meant lots of laughter every few minutes, I think he just meant moments that aren’t AS dark and serious as the rest of the movie.
Most of the scenes with Alfred or Fox are usually lighthearted… they’re funny (not “LOL” funny), and just serves as a nice change of pace from the overall theme of Nolan’s movies… and I think it works very well in the overall experience.
Exactly. I don’t need, or want, the movie to have the tone of The Avengers or Iron Man, but I don’t want to feel like I’m watching Schindler’s List either. At the end of the day, it’s a comic book movie and should have some fun on there somewhere.
Shindlers list is a classic! Lol
Saving Private Ryan had a few lighter moments. The running joke about the pool on what Tom Hanks character did before the war, most of Cpl. Opham’s initial interactions were comical in nature, like the fubar thing.
It’s called comic RELIEF. No one wants to be brow-beat or depressed the entire time. Levity is necessary to keep the film from being too dark and despairing.
BB &TDK both had its lighthearted moments. Do you think Nolan would switch the (winning) formula up on the third film?
After seeing the teaser and the first two full trailers, I stopped being so sure. They were both so intense. They really pushed how much Bane was “Gotham’s reckoning.”
I made that connection with the necklace when I saw it lol
Sony better pick it up due to TASM comes out before this and that would suck if all the hype is about TDKR coming out and spidey just gets pushed to the side
Waiting for a rod22 comment. Wait for it, wait for it…
I think I’ve seen of his poats. He’s a troll right? lol I think it’s the same dude. Name looks familiar.
let me fix the first line lol. *I think I’ve seen some of his posts.*
LOL…
Archaeon, I think you may be right about the heels. The metal spike seems to be able to pop off, & the material looks like it could be flexible enough to be productive, even being a heel.
That’s interesting. Maybe the spike will come off and be some sort of throwing knife? Or use it to climb walls? Idk
Those are great ideas. Maybe some kind of lock pick of some sort?
Mathew and trey…
After seeing that Catwoman boot closeup poster enlarged, I must admit my curiosity has increased about the purpose (if there be any) for the boots’ design…
Haha!
Hopefully they can keep up the hype for another 2 whole months. They might have jumped the gun a little bit unless they surprise us with another trailer which most likely won’t happen.
That’s true idk how much stuff they can release. There is still 2 months like you said. I expected the last trailer around a month before the movie I can’t see them releasing another but id love it
Can’t wait. Then again, I’ve been hyped about this movie since last May when the first production videos were posted on youtube and all the way up to November when shooting finished.
Batman-News has been one of the websites I check daily since last summer and regardless whether they have new stuff in the next 2 months or not, this will break all box office records. When it does, that can only mean good things for both DC and Marvel to let them know they have/had a winning formula thus far and to make future comic book movies follow similar writing and filming styles.
I realize fans like us won’t lose hype but the general public has a low attention span.
I’m a huge nolan fan and batman and I think that it won’t be able to break the avengers records without 3d it will be hard. But that being said the dark knight still has a higher domestic gross than the avengers for now id prefer it to stay that way so both movies can have ta record.
Lol, the follow up to The Dark Knight from the director of that, and Inception. They couldn’t stop the hype if they tried. Anywho, can’t wait till I’m standing in line, ticket in hand, knowing about to witness this. Oh, Spidey as well.
Oh, and I like how they replaced the bat symbol with the red lips, but you can still see the symbol between them. Nice touch.
I like Cat-womens high heels stepping on the Bat tool (whatever you call that) a winner in my eyes
Commonly called “batarangs.”
i thought that Bane had a hand full of troops. You know like a couple rejects. I was worried initially about how far Nolan was willing to go.
BUT
judging from that banner in which he is standing on the roof of his vehicle. Bane has “brigades.” Nolan’ said the essence of Bane is “military power.” Nolan has reaffirmed my confidence. This Bane will be the definitive version.
He looks unstoppable. Jesus, talk about stacking the deck!
has Nolan or WB gone made? because all of the posters/banners put out for this film seem very uncreative and uninteresting unlike the previous 2 batman films. never the less ill be seeing this film on its opening weekend
Yeah, the pearl necklace thing doesn’t seem like a major spoiler IMO… I’d recon most fans managed to piece that together after the trailer.
Anyway, still not loving Hathaway’s Catwoman and her unpractical footwear, but I’m not gonna let that get me down. July can’t get here fast enough!
TheAvenger
There is a functiom to her footwear. Its not impractical.
I’ll believe it when I see it
@Eric Nixon
“or want, the movie to have the tone of The Avengers or Iron Man,”
why ? avengers was fine or Iron man was good but that does not mean The Dark Knight Rises has to follow the same path we have seen and loved chris nolans batman movies earlier they are consistent with dark and serious tone thats their uniqueness and strength, even if it is a comic book movie it does not mean that it always have to be funny and lighter, all of the movies of the genre has followed the same path, these movies have shown us that they could be made in these ways and given a different perspective of already existing stories, now saying that it should have the tone of Avengers or Iron Man is an insult to the chris nolans earlier work , every movie has its unique identity and charm and it is degraded when we expect these type of things from them
Guys,
I am right now reading Batman – Legacy arc.. And shocking it maybe .. (SPOILER) .. its about Ra’s and him using a virus to kill 90% of the world.. and there is his faithful servant UBU who is to be married to Talia.. and you know what the surprise is ?.. UBU is BANE… and he wears the exact same military camo’s as in TDKR !!! coincidence ?
You should read TDKReturns, No Man’s Land and Vengeance of Bane I & II
I have read all that.. except No Man’s Land ..
and i somehow feel vengeance of Bane doesnt come into picture for this at all.. Maybe Knight fall ?
i would also like to add that i am reading all batman chronology.. so No Man’s land IS on the list
..
No Man’s Land is dope. Read for the first time bout a month back. Has a back to basics Batman in acity that is more morally ambiguous than ever. Good guys are bad, bad guys are good.
As for Vengeance of Bane I & II, I just think they are a sweet reead. I looked over when I was going through my Bane frnzy. It’s one if the few stories that kept Bane’s brain & brawn at peak level. No Man’s Land Bane is more Brawn unfortuantely.
That has piqued my interest to jump to No man’s land right now.. Just now finished Batman Legacy… and In the end book.. bane declares himself as the successor of Ra’s … so definitely yes.. Legacy Would have to be a part of TDKR
I honestly hope and think there will be the relationship between catwoman and batman like in the comics heck in fing arkham city to say the least!
But also anne atleast looks perfect for the role and hopes at the end as corny as it sounds her giving birth to the child yada yada yada lol
This is the first Batman thread I’ve seen on the net in months that didn’t have a comparison between one of the characters and Hannibal Lecter.
And look, another tv series based on that franchise is going into production.
Must be a coincidence.
Again.
I think WB is doing an okay job in building up the hype:
- They wait for Avengers hype to cool down first.
- Then start releasing the posters & TV spots. (although the official poster is really a downer, imo, they should use the character banner with Batman standing on the beaten GPD car as the official poster)
- Now are another 50 days plus until the release date, I’m sure they won’t be releasing another trailer.
- I think they’re saving room for the early screening reviews for the ‘really lucky’ movie reviewers, if the reviews are really glowing, with more & more reviews to surface over the 1-2 weeks close to release date, the hype will surely reach its peak (of course, ONLY IF the reviews are glowing, which I really wish it to be, NOT like Spider-Man 3 from 2007…)
All in all, just like all the TDK fans around the world, I really CANNOT wait for 20th July to arrive, this is the ‘longest’ 50 days++ in my life
GOOD THINGS;
Christian Bale
The Flying Bat Mobile
Tom Hardy’s Bane
Joseph Gordon Levitt
Marion Cottilard
Chris Nolan directing
Lucius Fox
Awsome Posters
Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow
BAD THINGS;
Bane’s Voice Problem
Batman’s Voice Problem
Bane’s lack of Strength
Venom- Free Bane