Pretty excited about this, I’ve been looking forward to seeing who they pick as the villains for Dark Knight Rises (I still hate that title by the way–seems so Studio Exec-ish, with no originality and all about the “They’ll remember it because they liked it the first time!” type of mentality. Today, seems to have been a great day for news to break about a lot of different things and I’d like to start with the Batman rumors first.

Seems as if Anne Hathaway has been picked to play Selina Kyle (Catwoman) and I don’t think he could have picked a better person. I think Anne Hathaway has a hotness to her (although I will say, she is like Sarah Michelle Gellar where she can be hot, but if seen in certain light or at the wrong angle, she can be pretty ugly…but why am I the vain one? I’m glad director Christopher Nolan picked her and I think she’ll be a great addition to the Batman film series.

Also, chosen was Tom Hardy (no, he is not the long lost Hardy Boyz brother from WWE–or TNA) who previously worked with Nolan on Inception, he will be playing Bane. I am highly interested in this because I’d like to see if they can do a better job with it than the STUPID Batman & Robin movie.

Unlike The Dark Knight, where I questioned Chris Nolan’s choice for The Joker, which I now completely take back and think that Heath Ledger did an amazing job with this role and I feel like Nolan will bring the best out of these two.

I would however like to see a third villain added, I was hoping that Joseph Gordon-Levitt would nab a role in this movie…also, I for some reason thought that Nolan said that he didn’t want to have any villains that were in the previous movies. I’m not complaining though…

from Dark Horizons:

“Dark Knight Rises” Villains Revealed

By Garth Franklin Wednesday January 19th 2011 11:47AM

A press release from Warner Bros. Pictures has just confirmed the two key members of Batman’s Rogues Gallery that will appear in the much-anticipated upcoming “The Dark Knight Rises” – Catwoman and Bane. Check it out below:

“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.”