A few days ago we reported that Charlize Theron, Kacie Thomas and Vera Farmiga were all up for major female roles in The Dark Knight Rises. While there's no more word on that (or indeed confirmation they were ever in contention), Deadline reports that a slew of top actresses are now in the frame for the two female leads in the movie.
Rachel Weisz, Naomi Watts, Blake Lively, Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley are also being lined up to meet Christopher Nolan. There's no news on what the roles are, other than that one is a love interest for Batman, while the other is a villain.
The earlier story about Theron said the parts were Sarah Essen, who in the comics had a brief affair with Jim Gordon, and later became his wife, and Julie Madison, who was engaged to Bruce Wayne not long after the Caped Crusader first appeared in the 1930s. While the latter could well be correct, if the other is a villain, it's unlikely to be Essen.
Nolan will meet with the actresses in the next couple of weeks, with a decision expected soon afterwards. The Dark Knight Rises shoots next April for release summer 2012.