{Updated: EW is now reporting that the Variety article is incorrect, and Gordon-Levitt’s role is still unknown. Variety seems to be sticking with its sources for now. Back to the rumor mill!}
After months of toying with people’s emotions, Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s role in The Dark Knight Rises has been revealed. If you wish to remain entirely spoiler free, well, then you probably shouldn’t have clicked on this article. So don’t say you haven’t been warned.
According to insiders who spoke with Variety, Gordon-Levitt has been cast as Alberto Falcone, the son of mob-boss Carmine Falcone who was played by Tom Wilkinson in Batman Begins.
In the comics, Alberto Falcone played a major role in “Batman: The Long Halloween” and its sequel, “Batman: Dark Victory”. “The Long Halloween” was a story set in Batman’s early days, which offered a fresh origin story for Two Face. The main plot, however, revolved around a year-long mystery which pitted Batman against a serial killer that only killed during holidays. The killer was eventually revealed to be Alberto Falcone, the quiet and unassuming son of Gotham’s kingpin.
Since Gordon-Levitt was first announced to be in discussion for a role in director Christopher Nolan’s third (and supposedly final) Batman film, most assumed that he would be playing a villain. The rumors flew, as they tend to do, and many had him pegged playing several possible roles, including the Riddler, Deadshot and Dr. Hugo Strange. It is far too early to know if Gordon-Levitt’s Falcone will play the role of the Holiday Killer or something different altogether, but it would be in keeping with Nolan’s more realistic take on the Batman universe.
The report also mentions that the film is looking to cast a “street-smart Gotham girl”, and the frontrunner appears to be English actress Juno Temple (The Other Boleyn Girl, Year One). This role could be anything from a random street person to a friend of Selina Kyle’s, so naturally various website are reporting that she will be either Batgirl or a female Robin. Gotta love rumors.
If Temple is cast, she will join Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman who all reprise their roles, as well as Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle (and probably Catwoman, although that has not yet been officially confirmed), and Tom Hardy as Bane. Marion Cotillard is also said to be in talks, possibly to play Talia al Ghul, although no deal has been finalized with the actress.
The Dark Knight Rises will hit theaters and IMAX on July 20, 2012.
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