By Jessica Lin

The eagerly anticipated finale to Christopher Nolan’s gothic telling of the Batman legend, “The Dark Knight Rises,” will be released July 20. Until then, fans can only speculate as to what Nolan has in store for his big finish. What we do know for sure is that this time Nolan brings many new faces to the Dark Knight universe.

To finish off the trilogy, Nolan has cast several of the actors in his 2010 hit, “Inception.” Tom Hardy, the British gentlemen that caused several ladies to swoon as Eames, reteams with Nolan. Sadly his face will be covered as he takes on the role of Bane, who, judging from the trailers, seems to be the primary villain in “The Dark Knight Rises.” Interestingly enough, the character of Bane has been seen before on the big screen in Joel Schumacher’s “Batman & Robin,” albeit in a more minor role, as he was merely one of the token henchmen. You may remember this movie as the time George Clooney sported bat nipples. Needless to say, Hardy has stated that he will be adding more depth to his performance.

Also joining from the Inception cast is Marion Cotillard, who will be playing Miranda Tate. She is said to be an original creation of Nolan’s and has no connection to any characters from the comic. According to press statements, Tate is a board member from Wayne Enterprises who wants to help Bruce take over his father’s role at the company. According to the trailer she thinks this is best done with her tongue.

Finally rounding out the “Inception” family is Joseph Gordon-Levitt. All that has been released about the character is that he is a beat cop in the city of Gotham named John Blake. Some readers may remember that this is not indie-sweetheart, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s first foray into the superhero world. He played the titular Cobra Commander in the 2009 summer blockbuster, “GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra.” The movie was a flop, and Gordon-Levitt’s performance was uninspired at best. Thankfully, Nolan isn’t a director that goes for the easy outs and unnecessary explosions used in “GI Joe,” and Gordon-Levitt’s face remains endlessly endearing, so we’re excited for his role.

Also joining the new characters is Anne Hathaway’s Selena Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman. Though information regarding Catwoman abounds, little is known about Hathaway’s version. This character is a large variation from Hathaway’s previous roles, in which she played the wide-eyed, simpering romantic to many interchangeable jaded yet sensitive and always deeply muscled men, in several color-by-numbers romantic comedies. Judging from the trailers, she seems to do well enough, but one can’t help but wonder if she’ll get left behind in a movie that doesn’t revolve around physical comedy, partial nudity, or a grand, sweeping kiss.

Reprising their roles will be Christian Bale as Gotham’s growly nighttime crusader Batman, Michael Caine as a dry and brilliant Alfred, Gary Oldman as Batman’s police liaison James Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as basically God again.

Whether this film lives up to the high expectations set by “The Dark Knight” is yet to be determined, but judging from the moody trailer and all the hype this will be a movie that shouldn’t be missed. Be sure to catch the cast in action this summer in a theater near you.

Image Source: We Heart It