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Christopher Nolan Calls 'Dark Knight Rises' His Last Batman Film

'We're very much excited about really finishing a trilogy and giving a conclusion to our story,' filmmaker says on Oscars red carpet.
By Shawn Adler

Christopher Nolan attends the 2011 Academy Awards
Photo: Getty Images

Over nearly 70 years as the World's Greatest Detective, Batman has followed clues, pursued investigations and pounded out confessions from a diverse rogues' gallery as tight-lipped and unresponsive as they come. But never mind the Joker or the Penguin: If the Dark Knight wanted a real challenge, he should try getting information from his director, Christopher Nolan.

The ever-reserved Nolan was predictably and amusingly coy when asked about "The Dark Knight Rises" on the red carpet at the Academy Awards, where the 40-year-old was a double nominee in the categories of Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for "Inception."

We asked Nolan what the theme of "The Dark Knight Rises" would be, with fear such a major subtext in "Batman Begins" and escalation in "The Dark Knight." "Wow, that's a tricky one. I actually don't have an answer for you today," Nolan smiled, having already finished the script for the film, which is set to begin shooting in a few months. "I'm gonna have to really think about that."

When asked about the casting choices of Thomas Hardy for Bane and Anne Hathaway for Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catwoman, Nolan replied, "Once you see the film in 2012, you will completely understand why they were the perfect choice for these characters."

On one note, however, Nolan was incredibly emphatic: This will be his last Batman film.

"Yes," he said when asked if he was done with the franchise after "The Dark Knight Rises." "We're very much excited about really finishing a trilogy and giving a conclusion to our story. And that's what we're doing."

Starring a large cast led by newly minted Oscar-winner Christian Bale, "The Dark Knight Rises" is scheduled to open on July 20, 2012.

Check out everything we've got on "The Dark Knight Rises."

For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com.

Stick with MTV News on Oscar night and beyond for red-carpet fashion coverage, analysis of the winners, plus interviews, photos and more from your favorite Hollywood stars!

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Michael Jackson Doctor Conrad Murray's Trial To Be Televised

Judge rules that camera will be allowed in the courtroom for manslaughter case.
By Gil Kaufman

Conrad Murray
Photo: AFP/ Getty Images

For what promises to be one of the most bizarre and riveting legal proceedings in years, a Los Angeles judge ruled on Monday that a television camera will be allowed in the courtroom when Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial for involuntary manslaughter.

Reuters reported that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, approved the presence of a camera in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray as long as it does not interfere with the proceedings in the closely watched case.

The judge asked for the "absolute least-intrusive placement" of a TV camera in the courtroom, but blocked cameras from documenting jury selection.

Pastor also announced that he would bump up the opening date of the trail by four days to March 24, at which point jury selection will begin. Murray, who faces up to four years in prison if convicted, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the trial is expected to last around six weeks.

Cardiologist Murray was hired to be Jackson's personal physician in the run-up to the King of Pop's planned 50-date comeback series of shows at London's O2 arena in the summer of 2009. The doctor told police that he provided Jackson, 50, with sedatives and the surgical anesthetic propofol in order to combat the singer's chronic insomnia. He said he did so on the morning of June 25, 2009, when Jackson died of what a coroner deemed acute propofol poisoning.

TMZ reported on Tuesday (February 8) that Murray's lawyers plan to argue that Jackson was already in weak health before he died and that it's unfair to blame propofol for his passing. Unnamed sources close to the case told the gossip site that at the time of his death, Jackson's body was already failing him in part because concert promoter AEG Live had "driven [him] over the edge" with a rigorous rehearsal schedule for the shows.

Murray's lawyers reportedly plan to call witnesses to say that Jackson was not showing up for rehearsals and when he did he showed "clear signs" of frail health. They also reportedly plan to argue that it was Jackson who administered the final, fatal dose of propofol to himself while Murray was out of the room.

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