Production has begun on Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures' The Dark Knight Rises, the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar winner Christian Bale (The Fighter, pictured above in The Dark Knight) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) reprises the role of Lucius Fox. In helming The Dark Knight Rises, Christopher Nolan is utilising IMAX cameras even more extensively than he did on The Dark Knight, which had marked the first time ever a major feature film was partially shot in the medium.

The results were so spectacular that the director wanted to expand the use of the large-format cameras for this film.

Behind the scenes, The Dark Knight Rises reunites the director with several of his longtime collaborators, all of whom worked together on the The Dark Knight.

The creative team includes director of photography Wally Pfister, who recently won an Oscar for his work on Nolan’s Inception; production designer Nathan Crowley; editor Lee Smith; and costume designer Lindy Hemming.

In addition, Paul Franklin and Chris Corbould, who both also won Oscars for the effects in Inception, will supervise the visual and special effects, respectively. The music will be composed by Hans Zimmer, known for his epic theme to The Lion King.

The locations for The Dark Knight Rises span three continents and include the American cities of Pittsburgh, New York and Los Angeles, as well as sites in India, England and Scotland.

The Australian release date is set down for June 12, 2012.

>> For more film news, check out our website cairns.com.au/movies

Share this article