Corona | Coming Attractions

Again, more rumors have sprouted concerning The Dark Knight Rises. Does Warner Bros. need any more proof that Batman mania is building again? Could a return of Bat-symbols shaved in the backs of mens' heads be in store for 2012?

Here's what's being gossiped about:

Sources inform Collider that Eva Green (Casino Royale) and Naomi Watts (Fair Game) have been cast in the sequel. That's not a maybe, but a definite that Collider's mole is telling them. The spy goes on to say that, while they don't know for sure what the two actresses' characters are, they believe Green to be playing the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, Talia, and Watts to be photojournalist Vicki Vale.

Collider also reports, via a different source, that a new Batmobile and new look for the Batcave will be revealed in Rises. That seems like a no brainer since the cave got wrecked in Batman Begins and the Tumbler bought the farm in Dark Knight.

And then The Hollywood Reporter weighed in with their own casting rumors. The trade states five actresses have, or will shortly, test for parts in the movie. These ladies are Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean), Anne Hathaway (Love and Other Drugs), Jessica Biel (Blade: Trinity), Kate Mara (127 Hours) and Charlotte Riley (DCI Banks: Aftermath).

Get this: Borys Kit, Reporter's reporter for the Batman piece, then shoots down Collider's casting rumors by stating that no casting has been done yet and Green and Watts are not locked for roles in the movie. Kit does add that he's also heard that there are two female roles in The Dark Knight Rises, and one is Talia al Ghul.

Last but not least there's the photo of a shaved Tom Hardy that's caused more fan speculation to erupt. Hardy was spotted by paparazzi with a clean-shaven head and the start of a beard growing. Naturally, that photo ignited talk that Hardy could be preparing for the part of Hugo Strange, the bald and bearded antagonist that's rumored to be a villain in the movie.

Christopher Nolan, would you mind dropping Coming Attractions an email and help sort this mess out?