Warner Bros. has released a trio of TV spots for the conclusion of the Batman trilogy.
They each have a little something new to show us from the film. This first one gives us a bit more Bruce Wayne than we’ve seen yet, as he interacts with his background support team.
The second one is more thematic; playing up the idea that Batman is more than a man, but an ideal, a theme which has been a strong thread throughout this franchise.
Finally, this newest one shows us that Bane will have some interaction with what looks like the US military or perhaps a military contractor, and we get a brief view of the broken Batman mask, an image which has pervaded the promotional efforts, as it will appear in the film:
All three of the spots also reinforce that much of the film will take place during the daylight hours, something we typically don’t expect from Batman, who operates primarily at night. This decision may be symbolic of the shedding of the shelter of darkness and thus the end of the Batman. The promotional material has made it very clear that something ultimate will be happening to Batman here, and all this daylight just pushes the point further.
The synopsis gives away surprisingly little considering its length:
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox. The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.
Here’s the long-form theatrical trailer, for reference:
The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters on July 20th, 2012.
