Dark Knight Rises Wiki

The Dark Knight Rises Wiki is a summary of the key story plot, character/cast and reviews for the 2012 Batman movie directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway and more.

The Dark Knight Rises is the sequel in the series of Batman movies rebooted by Chris Nolan, following the Batman Begins and the Dark Knight.

Director Chris Nolan describe the trilogy as dealing with various themes. For Batman Begins, it was on “Fear”, while The Dark Knight deals on “Chaos” and the Dark Knight Rises focus on “Pain”.

Various Batman comics ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ ‘Knightfall’ and ‘No Man’s Land’ serve as the source for the main storylines in Dark Knight Rises.

Additionally “‘A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dicken was an inspiration of the various class conflict themes in the third movie.

Dark Knight Rises Wiki: Plot Story

The movie begins with the Commissioner Gordon attempting to resign and reveal the truth about Harvey Dent and the Batman from eight years ago to the citizens of Gotham City. Ultimately Commissioner Gordon decide not to reveal the truth as he felt it would have caused chaos, despite his guilt at upholding the lie about the false hero Harvey Dent.

Meanwhile a terrorist leader Bane is captured onto a airplane by CIA agents. Bane manage to turn the tables by killing the CIA agents and capture a scientist.

A congressional representative is abducted and Commissioner Gordon is captured by Bane during the rescue mission. Gordon’s written speech about Harvey Dent is left behind as he escapes from the underground sewer with gunshot wound.

A new hothead police officer John Blake is promoted to detective by Gordon to work on the case while he’s recovering.

Meanwhile Bruce Wayne is devastated after the loss of Rachael and the exile of his alter ego “The Batman”. Bruce Wayne is an recluse in Wayne Manor and people believe he has gone mad or become disfigured.

Wayne Enterprises is struggling financially due to Bruce’s decision to pull back on a heavy investment of board member Miranda Tate’s clean energy project. This was because Bruce learnt that the core could be modified to become a nuclear weapon.

Catwoman shows up at Wayne Manor to take a fingerprint of Bruce Wayne for business rival, John Daggett. In exchange the Catwoman would get her criminal records removed from the system. The fingerprint would be used to for forgery of Bruce Wayne.

Bruce Wayne decides to get back to his dangerous mission as Batman and this upset the housekeeper Alfred. They check up on Bane and discover he was exiled from the League of Shadows.

Bruce Wayne meets Selina Kyle (Catwoman) at a charity dinner to take back a necklace she had stolen at Wayne Manor. Not realizing his secret identity as Batman, Selina express her dislike for the rich and powerful of Gotham City.

Bane and his gang of terrorist storm into the stock exchange and bankrupts Bruce using the stolen fingerprint to make risky trades. This forces Bruce to relinquish control of Wayne Enterprises.

Batman reappears in public and was chased down by Gotham Police, he escaped after a wild chase across the city.

On the business front, Bruce entrusts Miranda Tate to keep full control out of John Daggett’s hands. Miranda Tate and Bruce Wayne then engage in a romantic relationship.

Daggett is upset at the failure of the aggressive take over and throw a temper tantrum. Bane killed him and take over his construction company.

Alfred is increasingly upset at Bruce’s decision to return as Batman, wishing he could settle for a safer life and doubting his ability to take on Bane. After a emotional conversation, Alfred resigns from the Wayne Manor, leaving Bruce by himself.

Batman strike a deal with Catwoman who bring him to Bane. During their meeting, Bane reveal that he took over the League of Shadows following Ra’s al Ghul’s death and know Wayne’s identity.

In a fight, Bane physically and psychologically breakdown Batman, eventually crushing his back. Batman is then placed into a prison inside a well, which is very difficult to climb out of.

The other inmates tells the tale of how only Ra’s al Ghul’s child has ever escaped from the prison. The child was believed to be Bane.

In Gotham City, Bane sets up explosion everywhere under the guise of the construction company. John Blake discover the plot after recognizing a truck driver who had also appear at the stock exchange takeover.

However Bane had already lure the Gotham’s police force underground and sets off explosions, trapping the police.

Bane shows up at a football stadium during the explosion and declare on the house microphone that he is taking over and turning Gotham into an isolated city-state as part of an revolution. If anybody tries to escape the city, the detonation bomb at the Wayne Enterprises fusion core would be triggered.

Special forces are sent in secretly to control the situation but are killed. The authorities give in to the threat and does not resist Bane’s act of terrorism.

The bridge leading out of the city was blockade by outer state police, in a bid to ensure that nobody escapes so the bomb would not be activated. The blockades by the government gave full power for anarchy to take place in Gotham.

In a live TV broadcast, Bane reveals the letter written by Commissioner Gordon about the truth crimes of Harvey Dent. The prisoners in Blackgate Prison are then released and equipped with weapons.

John Blake is upset with Commissioner Gordon for the falsehood. In a emotional outburst, Gordon maintain his decision was out of sheer necessity. Eventually they patch up and work to take out Bane’s gang.

The resulting chaos resulted in attacks against the rich and powerful who are captured into a mock trial with Jonathan Crane (the Scarecrow) with the verdict being death or exile.

Watching the news update on a video screen, Batman is furious. He eventually escape the prison after recovering from the back injury and retraining himself physically and mentally.

Upon returning to Gotham City, Batman seeks the help of Catwoman Selina Kyle, John Blake, Miranda Tate, James Gordon and Lucius Fox to stop the bomb and stop the lawless regime.

Catwoman has doubts about overcoming Bane and urge Batman to escape with her. Batman affirm his decision to save Gotham City and challenge Catwoman to rise to the mission.

The police in underground are released and go into battle with Bane’s gang. During the chaos, Batman and Bane had another fight with Batman gaining the upper hand.

However Talia al Ghul is revealed to be Miranda Tate as she stabs a knife into Batman who was shocked by the betrayal.

It was revealed that she had escape the prison as a child and was here to seek revenge for her father and the League of Shadows. Bane had helped her escape the prison.

Meanwhile John Blake is attempting to lead people out of the city at the bridge, but is stopped by the police who are not allowing anybody to leave. To his frustration, the bridge is blown up, leaving everybody trapped.

Commissioner Gordon blocks the bomb’s ability to be remotely detonated while Catwoman shoot Bane to save Batman. Then Batman chase down Talia who is moving the bomb on a truck.

Batman and Catwoman share a kiss during the chaos. Then Batman reveal his double identity to Commissioner Gordon for the first time. With little time left, Batman decides to carry the bomb using his aircraft.

John Blake and the people on the bridge witness Batman’s aircraft flying out of Gotham City, carrying the bomb. The bomb detonates over the ocean and apparently kills Batman.

In the aftermath, Batman is proclaimed a hero as Gotham City is rebuilt while billionaire Bruce Wayne is presumed to have been killed during the chaos against the rich and powerful.

Bruce’s estate is divided up to Alfred Pennyworth and running an orphanage. Gordon convinces Blake to keep the real identity of Batman a secret.

However Lucius Fox finds out that Bruce Wayne had fixed autopilot on the aircraft, suggesting Batman wasn’t inside when it exploded with the bomb.

Then Gordon discover that the Bat-Signal has been repaired. Finally Alfred witnesses Bruce and Selina together and alive in a cafe in Italy.

In the final scene, “Robin” John Blake has left the police force. With a instructional map, he enters the Batcave in the final shot of the movie.

Dark Knight Rises Wiki – Cast

Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman
- Bale has state that Dark Knight Rises is the final time he will take on the role of Batman. Bale trained in the Keysi Fighting Method to prepare for the role.

Tom Hardy as Bane
- The Riddler was favored by studios executives to be the main villain but director Chris Nolan chose Bane to test Batman physically and mentally. Bane is described as a terrorist who is a strategist and one man army that can go toe to toe with Batman.

Nolan modified Bane’s mask as he felt it was too similar to Mexican wrestling mask and came off as cartoon-ish. The purpose of Bane’s mask was also changed from containing a steroid that amplifies his strength to an anesthetic to battle constant chronic pain.

Tom Hardy gained 30 pounds in 3 months to prepare for the role and wore boots with 3 inch insole lift during the shooting of the film. Hardy also studied various fighting styles that he would use in the film. Hardy described Bane’s fighting style as clinical, result based, brutal and nasty.

Hardy reveal that Bane’s voice was inspired by Bartley Gorman, an Irish Traveller who was an undefeated Bare-knuckle boxing champion.

Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
- Those who audited for the role include Angelina Jolie, Natalie Portman, Jessica Biel, Charlize Theron among others. Anne Hathaway thought she was auditing for the role of Harley Quinn, until she had a chat with Chris Nolan.

After the audition, her agent called saying there was good news. Anne screamed “I’m Catwoman” and ran around a room in a frenzy only to be shocked and numbed after the agent reveal it was about an offer to host the Academy Awards. Eventually another call came back to confirm that she had the part of Catwoman.

Anne state that she had to double her effort in the gym, working out 5 days a week. Beside stunt training and dancing, she also trained in martial arts to prepare for the role. She believe this is the most physically demanding role she has done.

There are already rumors of a spin off Catwoman movie and Anne Hathaway has express interest in a production. She was previously cast as Black Cat (Felicia Hardy) in SpiderMan 4 but production was cancelled.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake
- Leonardo DiCaprio , James Holzier, Ryan Gosling, and Mark Ruffalo were considered for the role before Gordon Levitt was casted. At the end of the movie, John Blake’s full name is reveal to be Robin John Blake.

The black jacket worn by John Blake in the Batcave has a blue stripe that dips in the middle on the back of it. This is very close to that of Nightwing, whom the first Robin eventually becomes.

There are speculation that John Blake could either appear as Robin in the next Batman movie or become the new Batman who take over Bruce Wayne’s role.

Christian Bale had previously state that he won’t be in any Batman movies if Robin was involved and Nolan agreed it would undermine the dark tones of the series.

Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth
- The fifth film in a row that Chris Nolan and Michael Caine worked on set, following Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, and Inception.

Gary Oldman as Commissioner James Gordon
- Oldman reveal that Chris Nolan only verbally told the cast about the ending of Dark Knight Rises to avoid any spoilers leaking out.

Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox
- Along with Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy and Gary Oldman, he has appeared in all three Batman movies.

Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul
- Director Chris Nolan worked the film schedule around Marion Cotillard pregnancy so that she could work 2 months after she gave birth.

Dark Knight Rises Wiki: Production Notes

- The film is budget at 250 millions and with a running time of 165 minutes, making it the longest and most expensive film directed by Chris Nolan.

- In Christopher Nolan’s book “The Art and Making of the Dark Knight Trilogy” he states that it was important that the third film was an worthwhile story that would bring the series to an end.

- There were rumors of the Joker In Dark Knight Rises via unused footage, Nolan dismiss the speculation. There was no mention of the Joker in the final movie.

- Filming took place from May 2011 to November 2011, spanning 6 months. Nolan decided against shooting in 3D, opting to shoot selected footage in the IMAX format. Around 1 hour of Dark Knight Rises is in the IMAX format.

Dark Knight Rises Wiki – Marketing

An image of Bane was released in May 2011 followed by a official Dark Knight Rises trailer
2 months later.

An second trailer was attached to theatrical screening of The Avengers (another Superhero film).

A six-minute prologue of The Dark Knight Rises in IMAX cinemas in November, 7 months before the final release. Critics praised the prologue, but question Tom Hardy’s Bane dialogue as muffled and unclear.

On July 7, 2012, a special screening was arranged for around one hundred media reporters and film critics.

Tickets for the IMAX screening in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were sold out 6 months in advance.

Dark Knight Rises Wiki: Box Office

Dark Knight Rises premiered on July 16 in New York with worldwide release on July 19 and 20 around various countries.

A mass shooting at a Century movie theater in Aurora, Colorado took place during a Midnight Screening of the Dark Knight Rises on July 20th. In reaction, Warner Bros decided to delay the release of box office numbers until July 23rd.

The gala premieres in Paris, Mexico, and Japan was also canceled and marketing campaign in Finland was suspended.

There were media speculation that the shooting had led to lower ticket sales for Dark Knight Rises.

It was confirmed that $75.8 million opening day and $160.9 million opening weekend box office made the movie the third highest release of all time behind behind The Avengers and Deathly Hallows Part 2.

Dark Knight Rises Wiki: Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes suspended reader comments after a fake negative review of the movie from blogger Eric D Snider was published. The backlash from fans of the movie led to Rotten Tomatoes removing Eric Snider from the list of critics.

In a hoax, Snider describe the movie as the worst Batman film ever, only to reveal that he had not actually seen the movie.

There were also complains from movie goers over the screening of Dark Knight Rises in digitial IMAX theaters that were not in the original film format and had smaller screen than required.

Currently the Dark Knight Rises has the follwing score on aggregate movie review sites

- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 86% – 254 reviews
- Metacritic Rating: 78% – 45 reviews
- IMDB Rating: 9.1/10 – 149661 votes

Dark Knight Rises Wiki: Merchandise

Mattel will release action figures for Batman, Bane, and Catwoman while Lego also confirm plans to release mini figures for the movie. Jakks Pacific are releasing large scale action figures of Dark Knight Rises. Tshirts, hats, wallets and other clothing item are also available from various sellers.

The Dark Knight Rises DVD and Blu Ray edition are expected for a release date of November 2012. Bonus material including commentary and behind the scene footage are expected to be in the set.

The Dark Knight Rises Wiki: Welcome comments, questions and reviews about the movie in the comment section.