Actresses to Test for Dark Knight Rises Female Leads

New information has surfaced regarding the casting of two female leads in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. As with the last round of rumors, some of Hollywood’s hottest actresses are vying for the opportunity to appear in the concluding arc of Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

According to sources speaking to Heat Vision, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Biel and Keira Knightley are all scheduled to participate in screen tests within the next two weeks. Joining them will be lesser-known Kate Mara and Charlotte Riley. Kate appeared in Entourage, Shooter and 127 Hours, while Charlotte’s resume is limited to brief television show appearances.

The two female roles are expected to be a villain and a love interest. The unanimous assumption is that the villain will be Talia Al Ghul, daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) who Batman disposed of in Batman Begins. In the comics, Talia is both a lover and enemy of Batman and his alter ego, eventually producing Bruce Wayne’s son.

The love interest is rumored to be Vicki Vale, a name which should sound familiar to Batman movie fans. Vale was Wayne’s love interest in Tim Burton’s Batman as portrayed by Kim Basinger. Any of the aforementioned actresses could be up for Vale or Talia with a little hair dye and makeup.

A separate rumor report at Collider offers up a couple more names and some other specifics regarding the production of Batman 3. Their sources tell them that Eva Green has already been cast as Talia Al Ghul and Naomi Watts will play Vicki Vale. Heat Vision’s sources debunk both of these actresses have being cast, but do admit that Watts’ schedule will open up in time to shoot Batman 3. Green is scheduled to begin shooing Arbitrage with Al Pacino in April which would conflict with Batman’s shoot.

Collider’s scooper suggests there will be a new design for the Batmobile that is similar to the Tumbler but more streamlined. A new Batmobile is a given considering the Tumbler was destroyed in The Dark Knight and the caped crusader needs a set of wheels. This Batmobile will presumably park in the new Batcave that was under construction during The Dark Knight but completed and operational for the final Batman film. The cave will be similar to the old one with a circular pad for the Batmobile, but better equipped with a Batsuit armory ala Tony Stark’s garage and super Batcomputer to aid Batman in his crime-fighting and police-dodging adventures.

The final scoop from their source indicates a May 6 shooting start for The Dark Knight Rises and November 28 for the beginning of post production.

Definitive Batman 3 casting should start trickling in over the next 1-2 months. For now the confirmed cast list is restricted to Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and newcomer Tom Hardy in a villain role, possibly Hugo Strange.