Film News: Will Chicago Make ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Cut as Third Filming City?

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CHICAGO – With shooting expected to begin in May 2011 for “The Dark Knight Rises,” Warner Bros. is currently busy scouting filming locations. While rumors have been running rampant for the last six months about which cities make the lucky cut, we now have two confirmed: Los Angeles and somewhere in the United Kingdom.

The Batpod in the The Dark Knight
The Batpod in the “The Dark Knight”.
Image credit: Warner Bros.

This news surfaced on Dec. 30, 2010 from Scene (Lousiana’s entertainment magazine), which cited an exclusive interview with Warner Bros. senior vice president of production Ravi Mehta.

In further news, there will be a currently unknown third filming city, too. Will Chicago, which embodied the integral and iconic Gotham City in “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight,” make the cut? Perhaps not. Of course, Scene wants and has some reason to believe that New Orleans is in the running as the project’s third filming city.

While the magazine says “some scouting” has occurred in Louisiana, pre-certification with the state’s film commission (a necessary step to earn film tax credits) currently hasn’t be filed. Scene says Mehta is the Warner Bros. executive who brought “Jonah Hex” and the upcoming Zac Efron film “The Lucky One” to New Orleans.

While Chicago and New Orleans currently haven’t been rumored as the project’s third filming location, two others have: New York City and Detroit. As the script for “The Dark Knight Rises” was only turned in early Dec. 2010, though, much work remains before this film starts rolling.

“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. Tom Hardy is currently rumored to play Dr. Hugo Strange. So far, “Black Swan” star Natalie Portman has denied rumors about her involvement in the film as Catwoman.

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.

Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises mastermind Christopher Nolan
“Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” mastermind Christopher Nolan.
Image credit: Los Angeles Times’ Hero Complex

Along with “The Dark Knight” (2008), other major movies that have filmed in Chicago have included “Public Enemies” (2009) with Johnny Depp, “The Unborn” (2009) with Gary Oldman and “Little Fockers” (2010) with Ben Stiller. Upcoming films that have shot in Chicago include “The Dilemma” (2011) with Vince Vaughn, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011) with Shia LaBeouf, “Contagion” (2011) with Matt Damon and “The Vow” (2012) with Rachel McAdams.

HollywoodChicago.com editor-in-chief and publisher Adam Fendelman

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief/Publisher
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2011 Adam Fendelman, HollywoodChicago.com LLC

rplonka's picture

???

That would be a tragedy for them to ignore Chicago as a set for Gotham. The Chicago night has been a great characterization of Gotham and the 3 films would lose continuity to not include the layout and feel of Chicago as the setting for Nolan’s conclusion to his Batman story.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Has Detroit won out over Chicago for 'TDK Rises' filming?

Buried in this story on ReelChicago.com, we see this:

SORRY TO SAY that Detroit won out over Chicago as a location for writer/director Christopher Nolan’s latest “Batman” entry, “The Dark Knight Rises.” Instead of shooting here, as originally announced, the movie will film in Detroit. Starting in May, it also will shoot in New Orleans, and two locations in the UK.

No source is quoted in that story and no one else is reporting that at this time. While that may end up being true, it’s challenging to confirm the accuracy of that at this time.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Grand Rapids Press speculation about filming in Detroit

Now the Grand Rapids Press is speculating according to rumor that the third filming city for “The Dark Knight Rises” might be Detroit because of that brief ReelChicago.com mention.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

On TV news: Detroit over Chicago?

Now we see TV speculation about Detroit winning out over Chicago.

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Chicago Tribune says Chicago is still in the running

Despite the ReelChicago.com news bit that is being picked up around the Web (that I currently believe to either be premature or untrue), the Chicago Tribune on Sunday is reporting (based on an interview with the well-known Chicago Film Office director Rich Moskal) that Chicago is still in the running and the decision will be determined by yet-to-be-made script decisions.

Jackob's picture

the dark knight risies is

the dark knight risies is going to be great

HollywoodChicago.com's picture

Yes

Jackob wrote:
the dark knight risies is going to be great

Yes. There’s ZERO doubt about this.

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