In a dark dark film there was a dark dark bat ... Christian Bale in Batman Begins. Photograph: the Kobal Collection
The Dark Knight is about to return, but how dark will he be? Warner Bros is currently rebooting the batman franchise with the sequel to 2005's Batman Begins, which again will be directed by the London-born Christopher Nolan.
The new film will feature a new version of the Joker, played by Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger and based more closely on psychopathic character featured in various comic books.
To date, at least eight websites promoting the movie have appeared on the web. There's a facsimile of the Gotham Times; a defaced ransom note from the Joker; Gotham City's version of Neighbourhood Watch; access to the police department; the rail company; even the national bank; websites dedicated to victims of crime an election campaign for the two-faced Harvey Dent; and an online advertisement for villain's henchmen. Indeed, everything except the layout of the Batcave, which I think is a missed opportunity.
The film is still in production, and won't see a US release until next summer, so these sites are the best opportunity to assess how dark the film will be.
After all it takes its name but not its plot, from Frank Miller's supremely sinister graphic novel, the Dark Knight Returns. So is it dark enough for you?
