Director Christopher Nolan has wowed Batman fans with his artistic approach to filming major studio films. His ability to wipe away all the harm that was done upon the character by Joel Schumacher's atrocious
Batman and Robin, was truly remarkable. No longer was would a Batman film be a two hour long toy commercial
With all journeys they must come to an end and Christopher Nolan discusses the importance of bringing his trilogy to a rightful conclusion.
“Without getting into specifics, the key thing that makes the third film a great possibility for us is that we want to finish our story. And in viewing it as the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story … unlike the comics, these things don’t go on forever in film and viewing it as a story with an end is useful.”
Many of us fans will feel excitement the first time we see Batman back on the screen this summer, but deep down most us know there will also be a deep sadness when the credits roll. One of the best chapters in comic book movie history will have concluded, and the search for a new director and most likely a new Batman will begin again. Christian Bale who has been behind the mask for Nolan's franchise felt that impact the first time he read the script.
“I remember when I first read the script, of course it was all top secret. I went round by Chris’ house, was shut in the room with the script — not allowed to leave with it — and it hit me that this was the last one. What Chris couldn’t believe was how slow I read because I go back and re-read until I have it all in my mind. I was in there six or seven hours. It was dark when I came out. And I was smiling.”
Morgan Freeman also feels the weight of knowing that he has worked on Christopher Nolan's last Batman film.
“Back in Gotham, back in Chris Nolan’s city,” actor Morgan Freeman said as he stepped past barbed wire and debris used in a just-finished scene. A moment later, he added: “The only drawback is this is the last one we get to work on with him. And a lot of us won’t really get that until later. It’s not until the curtain goes down that you think, ‘Jesus, that’s the last one.’”
The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters July 20th 2012 and stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, Tom Hardy as Bane, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake and Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate.