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Amazing New Poster for The Dark Knight!

by Alex Billington
April 24, 2008

An absolutely phenomenal new poster for The Dark Knight has been discovered as part of the on-going viral marketing game. You can check it out below but I guarantee you will be BLOWN AWAY. I have not seen a poster that brings out this much energy and excitement ever. I'm certain this isn't the last poster we'll see - but is the first full poster featuring Batman himself. I love the colors, I love Batman's pose, I love the flaming building - this poster kicks some serious ass! Now is everyone getting excited for The Dark Knight? We've got 85 days left until it hits theaters and I hope you're getting even more excited each and every day. Check out the awesome new poster below!

Click the poster for full-size version.

The poster was discovered when the Joker sent text messages to all cell phone holders that said "Guys, I wouldn't worry about Gordon. IT'S ALL PART OF THE PLAN" in relation to Operation Slipknot. This pointed everyone to a new site located here: whysoserious.com/itsallpartoftheplan/. If you click the lever in the photo it will take you to the new poster page! The new website also has a tag that says "Four days." Everyone is guessing that this means we'll see the new trailer in four days on that website. Stay tuned for more updates!

The Dark Knight is again directed by Christopher Nolan (Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige) and co-written by Nolan, his brother Jonathan Nolan (The Prestige), and David S. Goyer (Blade, Batman Begins). The movie arrives in theaters worldwide on July 18th this summer!

Explore tags: Hype, Posters, Viral News

Safi

I'm speechless - in a good way....
http://myspace.com/mysideoftheinstitution Zach

not as eye-catching as the one with the blurred Joker figure behind glass but still enough to only anticipate it even more
Tyler

Amazing, and I just hope for the love of God that we see a new trailer on sunday, its killing me, but Lost is out of control right now so that will suffice.
bltzie

It's Perfect! 4 days 4 days 4 dayyys!
Chris

Reminds me of when the Punisher created a skull of fire in Saint's car dealership. Unfortunately this is going to get a lot of negative reactions from people who feel this looks an awful lot like what we saw when the planes hit the WTC on 9/11.
bltzie

Chris, oh god, I hadn't notice... but you have a point, Some people will be offended.
Icarus

Freakin sweet. Sweet glorious poster design. I want 5 of them. And Chris, I see where you're coming from, but it's just a building on fire. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "People only see what they WANT to see." So if you look at this and see 9/11, that's just a reflection on who YOU are. Not on the poster. Personally when I look at it, I see a 22 ounce serving of bad-ass!
Curtis

damn that is one hot poster i love it, im looking forward to seeing what else they'll dish out for us and the new trailer i absolutely cannot wait.
ANTHONY

FUCKING AWESOME. I CANT WAIT TO SEE THIS MOVIE.
Spider

That poster is on fire! Love it!
craziemutant

new trailer on sunday? the site says 4 days for a new game and the end of two weeks isn't till next friday. anyway, this is an awesome poster. it stands second to the why so serious one.
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

#11 - I think the DC guy at the NY Comic Con meant "within" two weeks, not necessarily at the two week mark. This Sunday/Monday would be the perfect time to debut it right before Iron Man...
http://www.oliverchua.com/ Oliver Ortega Chua

I have to agree with Chris. It's the first thing I thought of when I saw it. http://www.new-york-document-scanning.com/on-site-scanning_files/9-11-01_850am_from_my_apt2.jpeg BTW, I'm not offended but I do think this was intentional to create controversy. (Compare it to the picture of the burning WTC tower.) Not like there's not enough controversy already with Heath Ledger's passing. Controversy sells.
Andy

Wow, that's pretty awesome...!
Frame

Seeing this and the Batman & Robin thing on the front page is ridiculous. The latter looks like a comedy while this looks much like a nightmare (a good nightmare.)
PHATBOY_x

HOOLY FXCKING SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JNYCE

now thats a poster i like...screw HANCOCK and its Terrible poster....
http://bitchhappy.wordpress.com Angie

Hm! Consider me intrigued. What a great poster. We always knew Batman was a really dark hero, but here he looks like an actual villain. Contrast with this Spider-Man poster for example: http://www.amazon.com/Spider-Man-Widescreen-Special-Tobey-Maguire/dp/B00005JMQW Can't wait to see what that means!!
neil

did anyone notice the cites that are under neath the pictures
M.

Why did Batman blow-up that building. I thought he was a good guy. That poster needs something more. It needs "Batman- The Dark Knight" as the title.
DCompose

Every piece of media concerning this movie has been awesome.
m4st4

Holy fucking shit!!!!! This is...AMAZING!!!! TDK, YOU'RE THE BEST!!! ; )
m4st4

'Why did Batman blow-up that building. I thought he was a good guy.' Man, are you serious? It was the Joker...THE JOKER.
DCompose

Or maybe it was Batman letting everyone know he's still in charge.
http://www.thedarkknight.com Ram Kunchur

Hmmm... This poster kicks some ass.... I think Nolan is doing all that he can do to get back the Bat-reputation that was lost due to Joel Schumacher's utter nonsense stuff.... Batman.Begins did justice to its name... TDK is gonna make it even big....bigger...biggest....I wonder whether there will be a sequel to TDK? I can't wait to see the trailer..... July 18....its too long....time doesn't seem to move fast.... Just crossing my fingers for the trailer to unveil after 4 long days.... "Together we can Bring Gotham Back, F#ck u Joel Schumacher"
m4st4

'I wonder whether there will be a sequel to TDK?' Off course! Nothing official about Nolan, but for sure! Two-face will be the main baddie.
m4st4

'F#ck u Joel Schumacher!' Agreed.
Chris

Icarus, I wasn't offended by this poster, I was saying that there are going to be OTHERS, probably many, who look at that poster and feel uncomfortable. The first image I saw on TV on 9/11 was that burning hole that the first plane had caused when it ripped through the tower. It's something etched in my memory forever. So yeah, the very first thing I thought of was that image when I saw this poster. Am I offended? Nope. Would I change the poster? I don't think changing the poster is necessary. It triggered a memory, but I don't think that means it's offensive. It's a personal thing, I know that. But there are others that don't know that. I don't know if anyone remembers, but there was a debate about changing the title to the second Lord of the Rings movie (Two Towers) because of 9/11. There was a debate about scenes in Cloverfield being similar to the footage of people running and screaming through the streets during the collapse of the WTC. It's rediculous, but there are plenty of rediculous people out there. But as Oliver Ortega Chua already said, it's not like this movie is a stranger to controversy. Regardless... this movie is going to KICK ASS!!!!
chris

no matter how great it looks, it will probably come out like the the previous film have shaky cam quick cut action and be rated 12 (UK.. pg13 in us?), instead of actually being dark and badass and getting a 15 (ie like the original)
http://www.thestopbutton.com Andrew Wickliffe

It looks like it'll be an action movie with Batman, dark, but still an action movie. Which it won't be if the first one is any indication. Batman's in these less than he was Batman 4.
Don P

The poster is alright, it didn't make me bust a nut or anything! They should've had Batman facing the other way with his back toward the camera. I like the Batman Begins posters better.
http://BarackObama.com Barack Hussein Obama

Looks amazing and the overall feel of the poster seems elecrtrafying. Not that any previous posters were bad, this truly captures the Dark Knights point of view.
Jay Moodley

Dudes did'nt heath ledger die about 2 months back
TCox

Nice poster. I have to ask....are we always going to automatically think "9/11" when we see a burning building? The topic comes up way too often. There's nothing offensive in the poster. The building in the poster is obviously not the World Trade Center. There are no airplanes visible. It's a Batman movie. It's fiction. It's based on a comic book. We have to dial back our sensitively levels people. Why so serious?
Nunya

Everyone here is so busy showering this poster with love that no one seems to care what a horrible costume Batman is wearing. Why does it have six pack abs? Why does it have what appear to be impressions going across/down the pectorals and thighs? Impressions that resemble veins that pop out above the muscles of body builders. I know REAL people can never match the proportions of the comic book heroes they portray, and I'm fine with adding a little extra padding, but why do movie makers find it necessary to add minute details to costumes/BODY ARMOR? It's a good thing this movie is going to kick ass, because unless Christian Bale strips and shows he is nearly as "ripped" as this costume makes him appear to be, there would be a lot more talk about bad costumes in bad movies. P.S. Notice how I did not reference another Nipply Costume from any previous movies, even though I think it would have reinforced my argument?
Kadoodle

Looks pretty awesome. Does anybody know when the posters will go on sale, I can't wait till it comes out. Lucky bastards, get to watch it a week before it comes out in UK.
Icarus

@Nunya (#35), I was waiting for a nipple reference in your post. And when you didn't drop it, I thought to myself, "Heh heh, hell yeah." Nicely done man. @TCox (#34) "Why so Serious?" Hilarious. Brilliant. In response to those of you who are asking, "Why did Bats blow up the building?!?" I seriously doubt that this is an actual image from the film. Or even an event in the film. The folks who designed the poster just found a sweet way of showing the bat logo, and they ran with it.
Tom

I hate when people suggest that this movie should be called "Batman: The Dark Knight." The Dark Knight is synonymous with Batman. Thus it would be like calling the movie "Batman: Batman" Sounds retarded, no?
DCompose

"I wasn't offended by this poster, I was saying that there are going to be OTHERS, probably many, who look at that poster and feel uncomfortable." Oh COME ON.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Amazing.
TCox

#35 (Nunya) I agree the costume is not very good. I'm hoping that there is some explaination to the change in the movie. If not, then it's simply another case of the studios pushing different costumes to sell toys. Sure, making the cowl more of a "helmet" so he can turn his head makes sense, but the other stuff makes Batman look more like Green Goblin from the first Spider-Man movie than anything else. I'm willing to overlook a lot of things, like the costume, as long as the movie is great, and the changes are explained in a realistic fasion. #38 (Tom) I never thought about it that way, but it does sound redundant. I tend to think of as Batman (is) The Dark Knight. I can accept the title with or without "Batman" in it. I'm no marketing genius, so whatever the decide works for me.
brian

Yes it's a nice poster. But calm down for chrissakes. it's a POSTER.
Vic

How come other movies have better websites and more materials- watF!
http://www.boredquiz.com The Quiz

This poster should have been used at a later date, unless they have some more powerful, creative marketing techniques for the near future.
Rob

Alex, why "Holy Sh*t" when just a few posts below you have a "Young People Fucking" thread?
http://16thmission.com blackHat

i'm not even much of a Batman fan, but the poster is an impressive piece of design. The image is quite thought-provoking in terms of what implications a burning building, the destruction wrought in the shape of the Bat Signal, have for Batman's character, and the plot of the film... One would do well to consider who in fact damaged the building, and for what purpose. Was it Batman himself, or was it an attempt to frame him (as this device has been used before)? If it was in fact Batman, does this point to a darker interpretation of the Dark Knight? One who, say, would destroy an entire building to get the villian? The poster is especially tasty because it provokes thought. In considering design, there's a viewing-time threshold—3 seconds, 3 minutes, or 3 hours. 3 seconds is standard advertising...you get that a given company is selling beer, or shaving lotion, etc...that's all well and good, and you move on, as there's not much to digest. 3 minutes means the poster gives you something more to look at....either it's visually more complex than just obvious advertising, or it uses a clever metaphor or double meaning. 3 hours, however, is a unique case, reserved for such works as those by Toulouse-Lautrec, Cheret, Steinlen, etc, in that the artwork is thought-provoking and legitimately artistic, and/or utilises themes that put it in broader context...the piece ceases to be simply crass advertising, but instead functions as art, changing the way we look at the way we consider around us. That being said, i wouldn't say this poster belongs in the same category as a Toulouse-Lautrec, but it's refreshing to see advertising that actually inspires one to pause and consider the underlying aspects of the image...
krn Tucker Moore

what the freak, too much effort. the person who made this poster failed. I give it a 3 out of 10. I go to georgia tech my opinion is credible, i'm a nerd. I have cool hair. My name. Tucker Moore. Korean.
Alan Meade

you love his pose? it looks like he's trying to poop standing up
http://www.transfusionmedia.com Warren Benedetto

My first thought was also "9/11".
jason_md2020

"The image is quite thought-provoking in terms of what implications a burning building, the destruction wrought in the shape of the Bat Signal, have for Batman's character, and the plot of the film… One would do well to consider who in fact damaged the building, and for what purpose. Was it Batman himself, or was it an attempt to frame him (as this device has been used before)? If it was in fact Batman, does this point to a darker interpretation of the Dark Knight? One who, say, would destroy an entire building to get the villian?" My first impression was that the Joker purposely blew the building in the shape of the logo, as kind of a twisted version of the bat-signal. The Joker is calling him out, and Bat's fearless stance under the burning building and the rubble falling is him answering "Fine. Let's do this". But what do I know. Hell. Maybe Clover got tired of NY and made his way to Gotham...
bltzie

I can bet this is not part of the movie, this is just a way to get a bigass bat logo to kick ...ass in this poster. It is all for coolness!
http://bacondonut.com hugos_brother

This movie looks incredible. I didn't think "9/11" when I first saw this, I thought "badass". Seriously, are we not allowed to burn anything anymore without some freaks protesting, because it's "TOO SIMILAR TO 9/11!"? This is not even similar to 9/11. You're reading things into it that aren't there. Anyway... Can't wait for the movie.
Will

I think you are a little too excited
http://get-a-free-macbook.blogspot.com Evan

Wow, that's look sweet. I can't wait for this movie, but the whole Heath Ledger thing is gonna be kinda creepy...
theTruth

i like dis poster a lot but i agree with my guy Zach up there. the "Why So Serious?" poster was by far the most intriguing and gave Joker that mysterious feeling about him. and shout out to dem J.S. h8as. dat dude really....damn near destroyed Batman's reputation with dem crap movies, its like his need to put neon lights on everything, including the Batmobile was unnecessary. 2 fingaz, i'm out!
http://blog.myspace.com/shero_rauf shero

Wow and again Wow... that is the best poster for 2008 "until now " ... It give maybe a clue : That Batman is really the bad guy in the movie ...and why is that ? of course Joker have a lot of ways to make Batman look bad ... and the Poster really give me that feeling ... ...Joker will make Batman look bad ...
Just Kelly

*sigh* OK, apparently I'm the only one who doesn't think this is the greatest thing since sliced bread. To be perfectly honest, nothing I've seen about the Dark Knight has roused my interest in the least. In fact, I'll probably avoid it altogether. When I saw Ledger as the Joker, I remember thinking, "Oh, -no-. They *can't* be serious!" He looks like an eight-year-old goth playing with mommy's makeup. It's the silliest interpretation of the character since Caeser Romero refused to shave his ^%*(&^ mustache. Add the viral stuff which has been pure cheese, and the summersaulting semi which is just beyond ridiculous, and now this....what the hell does "Welcome to a world without rules" mean? Rules of direction? Rules of plot? Rules of common sense? To hell with it. I mean, don't get me wrong. The serious definitely needed a reboot, and while I didn't much care for the previous film it was definitely a breath of fresh air compared to "Batman and Robin", but even then I had to keep reminding myself as I watched that I was, in fact, watching a batman movie. It just didn't feel batman-y, so to speak. I think it's time we had a reboot from the reboot. But then, that's just my opinion.
Furious

Any even bother to notice TRAIL and ER???? Just curious.... I'm sure you have, beecause thats what good little BATS do......
ha1rball

wow #57 just kelly is a complete idiot!!
Joel

The 9/11 resemblance is nonsense.
jack

Dude, its obviously a reference to 9/11, what other time has a building been on fire before, it's not like its a normal thing. NEVER FORGGEETT BROS! Rock on. MUCH LOVE NYFD KILL THE TERRORISTS~!! GO AMERICA WHERE AT LEAST I KNOW IM FREE OMG YAAA GIT R' DONE!!!...
jack

Also poster 57 is NOT an idiot. He is sooo right the serious definitely needed a reboot! I mean its like siriusly in his de-fence, he is not making a mc steak here with his assertions.
Frame

@Just Kelly "Welcome to a world without rules." I think by you asking the question regarding this phrase is the very reason why its placed on the poster to begin with. Are you supposed to know what it means? I don't think so. With so much of the marketing focusing on the Joker's quotes -- "Why so serious" and "The only sensible way to live in this world is without rules", for example -- I think the idea is to lure an audience to the mystery of his particular motivations. Whether or not it worked on you, no one couldn't care less. The fact of the matter is you seemed to think that you were supposed to "get it" right off the bat. As for the look of Heath's Joker I can link several images from comic renditions that his image emulates, particularly The Killing Joke. The intense definition of the character's menacing facial structure was never truly captured on film till TDK, often looking more "clownish" than intimidating, and never has the character been taken seriously, IMO. It baffles me that his cartoon rendition in Bruce Timm's productions gets so much praise. The only time here where he ever showed his true colors was in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. And honestly, I can't fathom how much of an actual Batman fan you are by mentioning that BB lacked a Batman feel. Compared to what? Passed Batman iterations on film? Or the comic books? Begins was a triumph because it was no simple superhero movie but beared a likeness to crime thrillers that the comics were inspired from. But then, that's just my opinion. Ahem.
Dan

If any of you are in a major city you might want to check this out: When you click on the images it pulls up a page, the source for the page says: Gather with 300 of your closest friends at this exact spot on April 28th. You'll need to be in contact with a partner-in-crime who has online access to relay your instructions once you're there. These instructions will give you the TRAIL to follow, but be sure to look both ways when crossing the street; we wouldn't want you to make an unscheduled visit to the ER now, would we? Put on a smile and plan to spend about an hour or so bonding with your fellow clowns. Check back here often for updates or changes. When you mouse over each link Firefox will show the name of the city in the bottom-left. The popup also contains a google map.
nick

is there somewhere that we can buy this poster?
Clifton

I think the poster looks nice, but the first thing I thought of is 9/11 when I saw it. I'm not offended but there is a lot of resemblance.
MC No Doz

You people are a bunch of hacks, and this viral advertising shit is rediculously easy to see. If I ever met someone who used the phrase "TDK, you kick ass!" Like they're talking to the movie, well, my fist would stop at their face. Fuck you guys. The marketing shit for this movie has been good, I'll admit, but it's Batman for gods sake. It's gonna be funny when you guys think you can apply it to really crappy movies. Theres gonna be all these blogsites popping up with douchebags singing the praises of shitty films.
Frank

The link to 9/11 is quite evident and it's the first thing you notice. Other than that it's a pretty cool poster and they are free to do whatever they want.
sarah b

This poster is horrific. It absolutely is an insult as it plays on the images we all saw of the WTC. It's disgusting. I hate it.
fati

poster why so seriouse is good heath is alive in my mentality forever
http://authenticbatmancostume.com john walter

oh god! look at batman he is the perfect batman i have ever seen in my life . the batman costume is the best so far and background animation stuff quite remarkable i give full marks to this poster
http://vzwpix.mobi vzw

So Batman is a terrorist now, he destroyed a building to put his logo on it. Worth it for the coolness factor.
http://www.caso.com document scanning

Man this is one of the greatest movies that I have ever seen! I really wish that we could have more films like this that actually are entertaining as well as thought provoking. As long as we learn something from what we are watching then I think we are going to have much more ticket sales and people wanting to see what is being produced. Instead of that crap that we get like Transformers that has no real plot and it just a reason to show off special effects and a scantily clad young woman.
David Rosales

I love batman and having an Authentic Batman Costumes available for you to strut around in at a comic-con or halloween party is really where its at dont you think?