Some more The Dark Knight Rises casting news...

The plot thickens.

Last time I posted about the production of the upcoming Batman sequel, I talked about several ladies that were rumored to be "short-listed" for two female roles in the next film - one a love interest and the other a villain. Those women were: Kiera Knightley, Anne Hathaway, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz, Blake Lively and Natalie Portman. Since that report, nothing has really happened... until recently.

Now there is a new "short-list" out there, along with some more specific rumors. The first rumor was that Eva Green (Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale) and Naomi Watts had been cast as the female leads. Naomi Watts as the love interest (most likely, Vicky Vale) and Eva Green as the villain (Talia Al Ghul - daughter of Liam Neeson's character in Batman Begins). This rumor came from Collider. (HT: FirstShowing.net)

Around the same time, Heat Vision came out with a rumor that there are six actresses test screening for TDKR roles in the next couple of weeks, those actresses include Kiera Knightley and Anne Hathaway from the first "short-list," as well as Jessica Biel, Gemma Arterton (Clash of the Titans, Prince of Persia, Quantum of Solace), Kate Mara (Shooter, Entourage), and Charlotte Riley (who happens to be a lesser known British actress that is engaged to TDKR actor Tom Hardy). Morever, the Heat Vision article dismisses the Collider report as false rumor, citing scheduling problems with Watts and Green. Moreover, Arterton may be out of the running due to her recent commitment to Hansel and Gretel. (HT: FirstShowing.net)

Meanwhile, Batman-on-Film, which is the preeminent Batman movie news site, commented on the rumors. Batman-on-Film ("BOF") agrees that it appears that the female villain is probably either Talia Al Ghul or Catwoman, though - despite the recent reports from both Collider and Heat Vision that it will probably be Talia - BOF isn't willing to give up quite yet on earlier indications that it would be Catwoman.

So, it appears that there is still speculation on who the female characters will be, and who will be playing them. But given all the recent rumblings and the fact that TDKR is supposed to beging shooting late Spring/early Summer 2011, things should be heating up. No word in either of those articles on Rachel Weisz, Blake Lively or Natalie Portman, although Portman recently announced she was pregnant - which may have taken her off the list. But none of these three actresses are short on work right now, so they may be out based on their schedules. (Personally, I was really rooting for Rachel Weisz...dern.)

Also on the TDKR casting front, BOF has stated that they've been told by a credible source that Tom Hardy WILL NOT be playing Hugo Strange, as rumored a few weeks ago. BOF could not confirm who Hardy WOULD be portraying, but said it would definitely NOT be Hugo Strange (which is a relief to me). BOF did say that we should find out soon who Hardy will play.

Hugo Strange