DARK KNIGHT RISES casting: Anne Hathaway (Catwoman), Tom Hardy (Bane)

Anne Hathaway is Selina Kyle / Catwoman and Tom Hardy is Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. Christopher Nolan follow-up to The Dark Knight certainly has a cadre of colorful characters. I never expected Bane to be seriously used in a single Batman film, not the way he was represented in the comic book. I really hope his life sentence storyline is kept intact, the experiments done on him are part of The Dark Knight Rises‘ plot, and his henchmen get screen time. Zombie! Breathe, breathe. Down geek boy, down. Ok, I’m all better now. There is still one more major role in The Dark Knight Rises left uncast, that of the other major female character. These and other questions still remain.

Is Selina Kyle really the love interest, and if so, will we even see the Catwoman alter ego? If that’s the case, then Talia al Ghul could be the other female character, which would make sense, because her father R’as al Ghul had some association with Bane in the comics.

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I’m thinking Harley Quinn should be the other female character, which would connect The Joker with this film. The official Warner Bros. Pictures press release announcing the casting of Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy.

BURBANK, CA, January 19, 2011 – Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Anne Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises.” She will be starring alongside Christian Bale, who returns in the title role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Christopher Nolan stated, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Anne Hathaway, who will be a fantastic addition to our ensemble as we complete our story.”

In addition, Tom Hardy has been set to play Bane. Nolan said, “I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman’s most formidable enemies.”

Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Nolan will also produce the film with his longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is slated for release on July 20, 2012. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

What do you think of the current characters in The Dark Knight Rises?