Catwoman and Bane set as villains in 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Posted Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 12:19 PM Central
Last updated Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 12:19 PM Central

by John Couture

We have known for some time now that Inception star Tom Hardy was set to re-join director Christopher Nolan for his third Batman movie, but we weren't clued into his character. Today, Warner Bros. confirmed that Hardy would be portraying Bane, a ruthless villain.

"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," says Nolan.

The other nugget of casting news from today's press release is that Anne Hathaway has been tabbed to play Selina Kyle. As I'm sure many of the more comic book-inclined of you have already figured out, Selina Kyle is the secret identity of Catwoman.

While I'm sure many of you are groaning over the inclusion of Catwoman in this series of films, I must remind you that Catwoman/Selina Kyle appeared in Batman #1 and has been one of the most enduring villains in the Batman universe and has often served as a love interest for Bruce Wayne/Batman. And, given Nolan's track record, I think it's safe to assume that he'll breathe new life into the character and give us something that we've yet to see in Catwoman.

On the flip side, I know that many of you are ecstatic about the news of Bane making an appearance in these films. Best known for breaking Batman's back, he's the sort of villain that combines both brute strength and intelligence that should make for a satisfying third chapter. That and how could Tom Hardy not be perfectly cast in the role?

The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters on July 20, 2012 and will be the last Batman movie directed by Christopher Nolan. What do you think of today's casting news?