Riddle me this, dark knight... Guess who's coming to Gotham City?
Fresh off his turn as the dream forger Eames in last summer's surprise blockbuster "Inception," Tom Hardy is set to play a lead role in the next "Batman" film, according to Deadline. With the level of secrecy around Christopher Nolan's upcoming sequel to "The Dark Knight," it's currently unknown if Hardy will portray a villain. But it seems likely.
The most popular rumor has Hardy linked to play the Riddler, a role which his "Inception" co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt has also been associated with. Marion Cotillard — who memorably portrayed the femme fatale Mallorie Cobb in "Inception" — has also been heavily rumored to have been offered a role in the new film.
Hardy got his acting break in the critically acclaimed "Band of Brothers" miniseries on HBO before playing the villain Shinzon in "Star Trek Nemesis." Hardy has also appeared in "Black Hawk Down," "The Reckoning," "Layer Cake," "Sucker Punch" and "RocknRolla." He also received critical raves for his roles in "Stuart: A Life Backwards" and "Bronson."
More recently, Hardy has been cast in the adaptation of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" and the comedy "This Means War" opposite Chris Pine and Reese Witherspoon. Hardy has also been linked to star in the long-awaited "Mad Max: Fury Road," which appears to have been delayed.
Nolan recently confirmed his plans to helm his third "Batman" film, which he has described as a conclusion to the story he started in "Batman Begins."
The next "Batman" movie is expected to be released in 2012.
