Christopher Nolan Auditioning Actresses for Secret Roles in Latest "Batman"

Christopher Nolan Auditioning Actresses for Secret Roles in Latest "Batman"

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Daphne Hernandez

We know that Christopher Nolan’s latest "Batman" installment has a name: "The Dark Knight Rises."

It has a release date: July 20, 2012.

It will not be filmed in 3-D (Thumbs Up).

It will not have the Riddler as the villain (Thumbs Down).

Now we also know that Nolan will begin the audition process for two female roles in the franchise's third film, one as Bruce Wayne’s love interest and the other an unnamed villainess. Now that Carey Mulligan has snatched up the Daisy Buchannan role in the latest "The Great Gatsby adaptation," young Hollywood starlets are abandoning Baz Luhrmann’s casting line to stampede over to Christopher Nolan’s corner.

Since the villainess role is completely under wraps, fans can only speculate which character may see the silver screen next. It wouldn’t be that shocking if Catwoman made an appearance in the franchise since the Joker has appeared in both Tim Burton’s and Nolan’s films. Of course, comparing Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger’s Jokers is like comparing apples to Nutella--both are equally delicious but belong nowhere in the same food group.

According to Deadline.com, the rumored actresses meeting with Nolan include Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley. This leads me to speculate--of all those whispered to be in the audition process, which gal is a fit for which role?

Girlfriend: Anne Hathaway.  She’s AMERICA’S girlfriend. She was even likable playing a recovering drug addict who made her sister’s wedding super awkward in "Rachel Getting Married." I see her as a balance between Katie Holmes and Maggie Gyllenhaal, so I think Bruce Wayne dating her is plausible.

Villianess: Rachel Weisz. Though I think Naomi Watts can bring the crazy, she is slightly reminiscent of Michelle Pfeiffer, the original big-screen Catwoman. This is not a bad thing, but clearly Nolan’s take on the Gotham characters are very different from the celluloid versions we’ve seen already. This is not to say Catwoman is the secret villainess, but I would like to see someone like Weisz in the role nonetheless. Like Watts, Weisz has the acting chops, but can certainly bring it in the action department. "The Mummy Returns" was a while ago--action misses you, Rachel Weisz.

Honorable Mention: Bring Abbie Cornish in here!  She would do well in either role, but it’s about time Cornish was catapulted to mainstream audiences. Have you seen the trailer to "Sucker Punch"? She can brandish a weapon. Sounds perfect to me.