'The Dark Knight Rises' Countdown: Fake Trailers and Feline Fatales
Chris Clow is a comic book expert and contributor to Batman-On-Film.com. You can find his Dark Knight Rises Countdown column here at Movies.com every other Thursday.
No major publicity stills or casting news to report this time around, but I have some interesting tidbits for you if you’d like to keep up with everything happening in the production of The Dark Knight Rises. For the record, I always appreciate a certain intensity that fans have when expressing their devotion to this character and franchise, but certain fans go a little too far when they actually create news that ends up being false. Case in point…
Fake Teaser Trailer Authenticated By Some, Debunked By BOF’s Jett
It seems like some of the news in this latest cycle of reports revolving around The Dark Knight Rises was fan-made. Normally, stuff like this is easy to spot, but in certain situations, some fabrications seem credibile when certain effort is applied into making them look real. Such was the case with this first bit of “news” that Jett had to deal with over at Batman-On-Film back on June 20th. You see, he was inundated over there with questions about a shaky YouTube video, apparently taken within a theater, showing what could have been a possible teaser trailer for next summer’s Batman outing. Although certain sites were apparently reporting the trailer’s authenticity, Jett (who has a line to WB and DC) confirmed that it was, in fact, a fabrication.
Michael Caine Praises Dark Knight Rises Screenplay
In his latest bit of data leakage, Michael Caine recently stated in an interview with Metro.co.uk that the story lined up for Dark Knight Rises is pretty great. “The plot is extraordinary… really extraordinary. I know why he wants to keep it a secret.” In the same interview he also recalled a little bit of a scolding he received from director Christopher Nolan presumably around 2004 before Batman Begins was to start production. “I remember I did an interview and someone said to me, 'What are you doing next?' I said, "I’m doing Batman".
“I saw Chris and he said, ‘Why did you tell them you were doing Batman?’ I said, ‘Because I am.’ He said, ‘You’re supposed to keep it secret.’ I said, ‘I couldn’t keep that a secret.’ Caine makes fun of the NDA he undoubtedly had to sign for this film, equating it to the “National Secrets Act” and thought now that just being able to talk about the film’s title was a privilege. Will his lips become loosened even more over the next year? We’ll just have to wait and see, but both on the internet and in the films, Michael Caine seems to be the gift that keeps on giving!
Extras Casting in Pittsburgh
Back on June 24th, Jett pointed readers of BOF over to this news report from Pittsburgh, detailing some info about the casting process of extras in the area to participate in the production of the film. The local Pittsburgh news interviews the Extras Casting Director for the production, in addition to a local casting director and how they coordinate their efforts to populate Gotham with a whole bunch of Pittsburgh natives. In addition, the casting director talks a little bit about the film’s working title of Magnus Rex and the reasoning surrounding the existence of such a thing.
It’s a fun report to watch, and you can see that the locals in the Pittsburgh area are excited about embodying Gotham City for a portion of the new film. If you’re an aficionado of news like this you won’t learn anything new, but through it you can definitely see the local enthusiasm in the city’s involvement in The Dark Knight Rises.
Big Stunt to be Shot in Scotland
According to BOF and STV.tv (potential spoilers!), a reportedly “epic” stunt for the film is to be shot on Scotland’s A9 road. The A9, a major road connecting Scotland and England and the longest road in Scotland (at 273 miles), will allegedly be the site for significant production resources to shoot what sounds like a very complex and dangerous stunt. I won’t spoil any details here, but be wary clicking the link, as there may be certain details involved that you don’t want to hear about.
Info on Catwoman’s Costume and Anne Hathaway’s Preparation
According to an article at HollywoodLife.com, Anne Hathaway’s costume as Catwoman will look more in line with the most recent costume she sports in the comics. The article in question erroneously refers to the costume as the “original comic book Catwoman,” when in fact it’s a costume that’s been in place for the character since 2002. This version of the costume was designed by popular artist Darwyn Cooke for his and writer Ed Brubaker’s restart of the ongoing Catwoman series, and has managed to stick around in the comics since it first appeared.
I’m pretty pleased with this, personally, as the current costume, as it retains the flamboyance you expect from Catwoman, tends to be more tactically sound -- especially when compared to her previous costumes in the comics, as well as the costumes worn by Michelle Pfeifer in Batman Returns and by Halle Berry in that awful film that I shall not name in good conscience. The particularly defining feature of the costume in the comics and presumably the film, are the goggles she uses in place of an ordinary mask over her eyes. Even nine years later it’s still modern, sleek, and definitely cool.
Apparently Hathaway is doing more than just putting on an appropriate costume, as it sounds as if her workout regimen is pretty intense. According to an article at HarpersBazaar.com, Hathaway’s intense exercise is more than just simple toning: “She has been working out five days a week — rigorous exercise and stunt training followed by an hour and a half of dance. ‘I've always thought that skinny was the goal, but with this job I also have to be strong,’ she says.”
And that about does it for this edition of The Dark Knight Rises Countdown. What do you think of Anne Hathaway’s apparent costume inspiration? Any ideas on what kinds of scenes will go down in the Pittsburgh shooting? Sound off below, and we’ll see you again in two weeks!
385 Days Until The Dark Knight Rises
[Catwoman image courtesy of Catwoman (vol. 3) #2, art by Darwyn Cooke].