With production only a few months away on the Dark Knight Rises, the third of Christopher Nolan's Batman films, the rumour mill is already grinding out an endless succession of possibilities, even if hard fact is tough to come by. Indeed that's probably how Nolan wants it, as he seems to have realised that saying nothing actually produces more interest than giving fans the official info they want.
First up is some relatively firm news, which is that according to THR, Keira Knightley, Anne Hathaway (who've previously been rumoured), Kate Mara, Charlotte Riley and Jessica Biel are due to test for roles in the Warner Bros. superhero flick in the next two weeks. Gemma Arterton is also said to be trying out, but having just signed for Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, she may now have scheduling issues. Although nothing's official, it's said there are two main female roles, a new love interest and villainess Talia, who's the daughter of Ra's Al Ghul, played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins. As this is said to be the final part of Nolan's Batman arc, having Talia in the film would certainly bring things full circle nicely.
Now for the more confusing rumours. Collider says 'a source tells us that Eva Green and Naomi Watts have been cast in the film', probably with one as Vicki Vale and the other as Talia. However THR discounts this and says they haven't been cast, and that while Watts can't be ruled out as being in contention for one of the roles, Green already has a gig when Dark Knight Rises shoots.
An even more dodgy rumour - not because it can't be true, but because it's based on such scant evidence - is that Tom Hardy, who's known to be cast in The Dark Knight Rises, will definitely play villain Dr. Hugo Strange in the film. It's possible he is, and it's been rumored before, but it's only being said this time because Hardy has been photographed with a possibly shaved head. However if you look at the photos (you can see them here), it's not even definite his head has been shaved, and even if it has, as production on the Bat movie doesn't start until May, it doesn't mean his new hairdo is definitely for Dark Knight Rises.
Oh and while we're at it, despite Collider's Eva Green and Naomi Watts info being slightly suspect, they also say shooting will begin May 6th, with post-production starting November 28th. And while the previous Nolan Batman films have shot extensively in Chicago, Detroit has apparently won out this time, due to it being cheaper, with filming also taking place in LA and the UK.