After presenting the upcoming IMAX prologue from one of next year's most highly-anticipated films,
The Dark Knight Rises, director Christopher Nolan And Producer Emma Thomas exclusively conversed with
IGN about the final Bat chapter.

On whether he always wanted to introduce Bane physically in the middle of an action sequence, and the the genesis of how you wanted to introduce him
Well, when you're thinking about opening a film you want you want to lead in a striking way and with a very striking number of character-driven views. So you're looking for a sequence that showcases this -- in the case of Bane -- his physicality and his aggression and devotion to his prize and this kind of thing. Those are all things that get wrapped up in there.
On how much of the backstory does he retain in the film
Well, the liberating thing about dealing with a lesser known villain is you feel more creative freedom to embrace the elements of that character you feel can serve your story and ignore those that won't. But at the same time, we chose Bane because he has some very unique elements to who he is. As far as the emphasis to it in the film, I'm actually editing some right now, so you never quite know until it's done. But we certainly intend to do justice to it, to the character I've written and to the comics. And I think the significance of Bane, in our eyes, is his strength as an antagonist to Batman. Everything must serve that, including the nature of his past and how that will play into the story.
On whether there's a "Harvey Dent Act," an actual piece of legislation, and the shape that Gotham is in when we pick up the story eight years later
"Well, that's funny, I didn't read that. But there is a piece of legislation, and we are dealing with a Gotham that's moved on. In the last eight years, it has come to revere Harvey Dent in the way that Batman intended at the end of the last film."
On whether we'll see the repercussion of the spur-of-the-moment pact to lie and say Dent, "wasn't (Two-Face)," play out in this film
"(smiles) I don't think I want to answer that question."
And regarding what producer Emma Thomas had to say, head over to
IGN to find out. And if you have not already done so, be sure to check out the new "breathtaking" recently-revealed theatrical poster
here! What do you think?
Opening on July 20, 2012,
The Dark Knight Rises features an international all-star cast, led by Oscar® winner Christian Bale ("The Fighter") in 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. Reprising their roles from both "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," Oscar® winner Michael Caine ("The Cider House Rules") plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby") plays Lucius Fox.