TDKR: The Great Debate On Miranda Tate

Miranda Tate.

You know the name. She’s Marion Cotillard’s character in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. She’s said to be “a Wayne Enterprises board member eager to help a still-grieving Bruce Wayne resume his father’s philanthropic endeavors for Gotham.” At least, that’s what the official announcement by Warner Bros. stated when she was cast last April.

Since that time, the Internet and rumor mill have been abuzz about whether or not Cotillard’s character of Tate is who we’re told she is. After all, why would an Oscar-winner take on such a small, seemingly insignificant role in the final chapter of Christopher Nolan’s epic trilogy? Forget the fact that they worked together on INCEPTION. Regardless of the professional relationship and respect Nolan and Cotillard share for one another, I don’t think she’d take on a role as one-dimensional as a board member and potential love interest unless there was something else that attracted her to this role—something deeper.

You know what I’m getting at by now, and if not what are you doing here?!

I’m of course talking about Talia al Ghul, who in the comics is the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul, portrayed by Liam Neeson in BATMAN BEGINS.

Since her casting, Cotillard has repeatedly denied reports that Miranda Tate is just a cover for her real character name of Talia al Ghul. She claims her character is not based off the comics and swears she is telling the truth. Yet, many people still question whether or not she is Talia.

Below, I debate both sides of the argument, giving reasons why she can’t be Talia and reasons why she can. In doing so, I may have also uncovered an important detail I overlooked in the last trailer, and that detail may impact your decision on whether or not to believe Miranda Tate is Talia al Ghul.

MIRANDA TATE IS NOT TALIA AL GHUL

What would Nolan gain by hiding Talia’s true identity from us? Keep us speculating further about what the plot of the movie will be? I don’t think there’s anything to be gained or lost by not telling us whether Talia is in this movie or not.

Gary Oldman has also hinted at another Batman villain being in this film, saying “I think it’s a villain from one of the old, old, from way back from the old comics. It is a Batman villain.” Talia al Ghul didn’t make her first appearance in the Batman comics until 1971, and since Batman’s been around since 1939, I wouldn’t necessarily classify Talia as “one of the old, old” villains.

Not only that, but when you go back to BATMAN BEGINS and look at the scene between Ra’s al Ghul (a.k.a. Henri Ducard) and Bruce talking around a fire, Ra’s says to Bruce, “I wasn’t always here in the mountains. Once I had a wife. My great love. She was taken from me.” So, he talks about his wife, but not his daughter? Granted, TDKR was written years after BATMAN BEGINS, so maybe they didn’t anticipate using Talia in any film, but I feel Nolan is smart enough to investigate the mythology of a character before using them. Therefore, not having Ghul/Ducard mention a daughter seems like a major oversight.

Speaking of Ra’s al Ghul, we know now that he’ll be making an appearance in this movie. Josh Pence has been cast to play a young Ra’s al Ghul, and Liam Neeson was reportedly spotted on set for a day, too. Just because Ra’s is in this movie that doesn’t mean has daughter has to be, too. There is the theory that Ra’s raised and trained Bane, so that seems like the more plausible scenario.

I know you will argue that those set photos of Miranda Tate getting into a Tumbler is undeniable proof she’s Talia (see photos below). I don’t deny that she’s likely a part of the League of Shadows, but it’s more likely she’s a love interest of Bane’s than Talia al Ghul...(continued at http://www.thesportshero.com/?p=1712)