Film News: As ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Begins Filming, First Set Image Leaks

Latest update: Monday, May 9, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.
CHICAGO (potential spoiler alert) – This weekend, three news gems [17] surfaced on the highly anticipated “The Dark Knight Rises”. First, filming officially began on May 6, 2011 in Jodhpur, India. Second, fan spies have already snapped and leaked the first official set image: an enigmatic green pool. Third, Josh Pence has been spotted on set and we’ll explain below why that’s important.

The first set image of “The Dark Knight Rises” leaks from Jodhpur, India on May 6, 2011.
Image credit: SuperHeroHype

Though we can only speculate about what we’re seeing here, this image almost certainly is being green screened for post-production special effects. Batman fans are currently hypothesizing that the pool might be a Lazarus Pit used by the comic character and international terrorist Ra’s al Ghul.

The DC Comics supervillain and assassin, which is one of Batman’s greatest enemies, bathes in a magical Lazarus Pit because of its rejuvenatory ability to restore the dying to life. The pit is like the real-life Dead Sea bordering Israel, which is famous for its rejuvenatory mud.

The first set image of “The Dark Knight Rises” zoomed in.
Image credit: SuperHeroHype

Ra’s al Ghul’s ultimate goal is a world in perfect environmental balance, which he believes can only be achieved by eliminating most of humanity. He often tries to create a global human holocaust with a biological weapon like a genetically engineered virus. Because of these Lazarus Pits, Ra’s al Ghul is like a cat with many lives. The pits have allowed him to live for many centuries.

In more “The Dark Knight Rises” news, actor Josh Pence (“The Social Network”) has been spotted on set [18] in Jodhpur, India. The sighting is foretelling that Ra’s al Ghul should be featured in the scenes in India. Pence has been cast as the young Ra’s al Ghul.

“The Dark Knight Rises” will again star Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Michael Caine as Alfred. The film also stars Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Josh Pence and Diego Klattenhoff. Nestor Carbonell and Daniel Sunjata are currently rumored to be involved.

The film, which is again directed by Christopher Nolan, is scheduled for release on July 20, 2012. “The Dark Knight Rises” is written by David S. Goyer (story), Bob Kane (characters), Christopher Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan (story) and Jonathan Nolan (screenplay) with original music from Hans Zimmer and cinematography by Wally Pfister.

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Updated on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 2:19 a.m.: While we know officially that “The Dark Knight Rises” is filming in India and other locations such as Pittsburgh, a credible Batman site on May 2, 2011 reported additional filming details from an anonymous but “very solid, longtime source”.

1. The shoot in India is a short one.
2. Filming in Pittsburgh is only going to last about three weeks.
3. Then back overseas for a shoot in the United Kingdom.
4. Then probably headed to New York City.
5. Most of the filming looks to be taking place in Los Angeles (studio and sound stage work).

The information directly above comes from Batman on Film [19], which has been covering Batman online since 1998. At HollywoodChicago.com, we don’t cite anonymous sources unless it’s from very credible outlets. We consider Batman on Film credible and so does MTV [20].

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Updated on Monday, May 9, 2011 at 4:45 p.m.: More set photos have emerged on Monday from Jodhpur, India. These images have been posted by Mehul Gohil [21] at the “Official ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Community [22]” on Facebook. We describe the images below each photo.

A better look at the alleged Lazarus Pit on the set of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Jodhpur, India on May 9, 2011.

Another look at the alleged Lazarus Pit on the set of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Jodhpur, India on May 9, 2011.

This image confirms the presence on set of Josh Pence (in the black shirt) in Jodhpur, India on May 9, 2011.
Pence has been cast as the young Ra’s al Ghul in “The Dark Knight Rises”.

The set of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Jodhpur, India.

This image is thought to be a “training area” in “The Dark Knight Rises”.

Stay tuned to HollywoodChicago.com for complete “The Dark Knight Rises” coverage.
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[27]	By ADAM FENDELMAN [28] Publisher HollywoodChicago.com adam@hollywoodchicago.com [27]

© 2011 Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com LLC