TDK RISES NEWS
Josh Pence Apparently Playing Ra's Al Ghul in 'The Dark Knight Rises'
by Alex Billington
April 8, 2011
Source: THR
Whoa - big casting news for The Dark Knight Rises. THR is reporting that Josh Pence, the actor who played Tyler Winklevoss in The Social Network, at least physically some times (not the face), has been cast in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises. THR claims that he'll be playing the role of a young Ra's Al Ghul, which is a bit of an odd reveal because it must mean there's a flashback or some other big twist. THR adds: "Also, while the studio never confirmed [Marion] Cotillard's character, it has been rumored to be that of Thalia Al Ghul." With Hathaway, Hardy and Gordon-Levitt as well, this is quite a cast they're amassing.
Here's what THR says: "sources say Pence will appear in scenes that take place 30 years prior to the present story." So he's part of a flashback sequence and will only have another fairly small role, but this is very interesting news nonetheless. A flashback setting up Ra's Al Ghul for some more Gotham mayhem in the third movie? Quite intriguing indeed. I'm not really able to speak about Pence yet because I haven't truly seen him work, but I think this may be his chance to shine. Maybe this the prologue sequence being shot in IMAX that we'll see in advance of the release? Who knows. Either way, we'll definitely continue to keep you updated on The Dark Knight Rises, especially as more is revealed. Thoughts on Pence as Ra's Al Ghul?
55 Comments
1
Liam Neeson really gave the first movie credibility
Anonymous on Apr 8, 2011
2
But Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Tom Wilkinson and the rest didn't?
Anonymous on Apr 8, 2011
3
Liam Neeson gave Ra's al Ghul credibility.
JL on Apr 9, 2011
4
Liam Neeson wasn't Ras Al Ghul dude
Noct on Apr 9, 2011
5
Watch Begins again dude....yes he was.
Cody W. on Apr 9, 2011
6
yes he was obviously you do not know much about this movie so leave your thoughts out of this blog
archie_charles4 on Apr 10, 2011
7
are you a nimrod??? all answers point to yes;-)
Drbjhfbase on Apr 10, 2011
8
I FEEL LIKE I'M TAKING CRAZY PILLS
Voice of Reason on Apr 11, 2011
9
Great casting.
Davidarthurwall on Apr 8, 2011
10
Really? Ra's over over 500 years old, he wasn't a pretty boy 30 years ago.
runnerx13 on Apr 9, 2011
11
I do not think that Nolan ever used the concept of Ra's Al Ghul as a 500 year old.....the character played by Liam Neeson was of a man that used the title of Ra's Al Ghul.
Steve on Apr 9, 2011
12
Yeah over 700 years old but in the Nolan Batman Universe he is trying to keep away from the un-natural and set it in the real world so Ra's is just a normal guy with no Lazarus Pits, Scarecrow and Joker just normal Humans and I'll assume that Bane will be on some form of steriod so he will prob be huge but not comic bane huge and again just an assumption but catwoman will either be just a skilled cat burgular and not a metahuman as per comic version
Gordon on Apr 11, 2011
13
Makes sense to me Gordon because it works "Upset the established order an everything becomes chaos"
Dennis25 on Apr 27, 2011
15
16
Hey Alex, maybe it has been discused before, but I just noticed in imdb.com that Katie Holmes is credited as Elaine Dawes... Do you know what's up with that?
Abelardo Gutierrez Chavez on Apr 9, 2011
17
This confuses me: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005017/ Are we going to see Katie Holmes play her character's own mother in the flashbacks as well? A sister seems like a cop-out and way too many love interests for Wayne.
MauryBrown on Apr 8, 2011
18
WTF are you talking about?
Anonymous on Apr 8, 2011
19
On IMDB it shows that katey holmes is playing the role of Elaine Dawes for The Dark Knight Rises
Alkatron on Apr 8, 2011
20
IMDB is run by fanboys.
Footintherest on Apr 8, 2011
21
I can't wait for this, he actually looks like Liam Neeson quite a bit. Perhaps we will see flashbacks of him talking one of his children? That could possibly allude the audience "whoever" this child is will seek revenge on Batman. I'd like to see that.
Cruzer on Apr 8, 2011
22
Ra changed his age or did we forget that?
tra la la la la di da on Apr 9, 2011
23
The Lazarus Pit doesn't apply here. In Nolan's movies, all of the characters are like real people. There is no supernatural, and though some of the elements do tend to reach a little beyond what's currently technologically possible, there is no super villain, no mystical pit of glowing juice, and no immortal man who will come back from the grave looking younger than he did when he crashed a monorail train.
JL on Apr 9, 2011
24
I guess no super soldier experiments using vast amounts of a substance which only requires one drop to render a man useless doesn't apply here either right? Just stfu! You're talking about a director who filmed an entire chase scene with IMAX cameras not to mention he made a van fall for almost thirty minutes and we liked it! No one knows what to expect from this guy! He's completely unpredictable. We can only speculate. ....Your comments remind me of those who said Ra's would never work in a live action Batman universe ever before he did it with Batman Begins! So please, do all of us a favor and leave your DC/Nolan P.h.D . at home. You're just as in the dark as we are!
WritersBlock on Apr 10, 2011
25
Why are you talking about super soldiers and what is this substance you speak of? And what does an entire chase scene filmed in IMAX have to do with Ra's al Ghul? Also, that van falling into the water was part of a DREAM in 'Inception'. And hey, I'm not one of those people who said Ra's al Ghul wouldn't work in live action, although I admit I didn't know to expect Nolan would deliver Batman Begins with that much believability. Especially after the previous two iterations were completely homo-erotic, campy, and with as much appeal to the mind as stool water. What I'm saying is that bringing the supernatural into this franchise at this point would be stupid. And as for your comment that "No one knows what to expect from this guy!," I do know to expect him not to do the obviously stupid and unbelievable thing of bringing back a dead man, only younger this time, because he went and visited his little fountain of youth. By the way, don't get so worked up next time somebody says something you disagree with and go on a rant that isn't logical or applicable to the conversation.
JL on Apr 11, 2011
26
He's not changing his age its not a flashback it's the Lazarus Pit that makes Ra's Al Ghul appear young in the present!!! Hello!!
Dennis25 on Apr 27, 2011
27
I call bull on the flashback, I mean "just" the flashback. Ra is going to have a sweet cup of that lazarus juice.
Tye1119 on Apr 9, 2011
28
Bros this isn't a flashback. The villain inceptions Batmans dreams of Ra when he is younger. Then Ra gets to see his kids, and Batman doesnt know if its a draem or not. THEN we realize that wasnt the movie at all. That is just a dream of Batmans.
Inzider on Apr 9, 2011
29
30
Yeah, Nolan's cool and all, but I hate flashbacks. Seriously. And a Batman flashback is rare. This movie is starting to sound overstuffed-- and I doubt it will have the run-time to give justice to three (or fucking four) villains. I hope I'm wrong.
Cracky on Apr 9, 2011
31
I agree. As much as I like TDK I felt Two-Face was rushed. He was a nice character and to kill him off after 30 minutes seemed to me like a waste of a future story line.
Tyler Morgan on Apr 9, 2011
32
Dude, with half of his body burned to a crisp like that, he would be dead soon anyway.
JL on Apr 9, 2011
34
I think their fucking with us, just to keep us guessing! 😛
Joshua on Apr 9, 2011
35
I don't know why people are freaking out about this. It's probably only going to be like a five minute flashback out of a 150 minute movie. It's not like they're adding another major character.
Anthony on Apr 9, 2011
36
wow intriguing indeed!
A5J4DX on Apr 8, 2011
37
Ras witnesses his wife murdered. He avenges his wife by killing the person. He goes to prison and in the process leaves his young daughter alone in the world, growing up like Bruce...her name is Talia. In prison, Ras really develops his ideals....he finds his very protege...a protege that will lead what will become the League. He is an adolescent by the name of Bane who has lots of potential. Ras serves as a father figure to him, encouraging him to educate himself and train in any way possible. Inspires him to be in peak condition.
Vito on Apr 9, 2011
38
Then what? I like that storyline...where does catwoman fit in?
tir na nog on Apr 9, 2011
39
Cat Woman is a high stakes thief. She enjoys the thrill of it and she enjoys the elite status it has helped her achieve. Her and Bruce get to know each other through their social circles. They may come to realize who the other really is, and it will create an interesting subtext when you see them interact in public. Almost toying with each other. Or maybe one toying with the other, while the other pursues. Bruce will be conflicted by Selina...she is a criminal, but there are aspects of her that are worthy and admirable...she will be useful ally to him although he may not expect it at first.
Vito on Apr 9, 2011
40
Gotta say out of all the predictions this is the most rock solid one Ive seen...+1 for you sir.
Cody W. on Apr 10, 2011
41
great stuff...what happens at the end?
tir na nog on Apr 10, 2011
42
a Shakespearean tragedy. would you guys be mad if you found out I read the script and just revealed the actual plot? lol
Vito on Apr 11, 2011
43
I've got goosebumps waiting for yet another Nolan masterpiece. I cannot wait!
Tim on Apr 9, 2011
44
45
maybe this is a new Ra's Al Ghul. I mean I got the impression from the first movie that Ra's Al Ghul was a title like Caesar rather than a man
Richie G on Apr 9, 2011
46
It's probably just setting up Talia's character. A scene similar to Begins in which her mother gets murdered and R'as fails to stop it.
cobbsdream on Apr 9, 2011
48
The whole mystique of Ra's Al Ghul is that he is hundred if not thousands of years old... This seems perfectly in line with that concept. I cannot wait to see what Nolan does here...
Rogue627 on Apr 10, 2011
49
i believe in nolan...
capedcrusader on Apr 10, 2011
50
All the info it's just wrong. This guy will play Ambush Bug. Love you, Cris.
Manuel on Apr 10, 2011
51
In Nolan we trust...
BinaryChaos on Apr 10, 2011
52
i hope its not another Batman and Robin... to many villains will spoil the pot
happy camper on Apr 10, 2011
53
Ras Al Ghul in Nolan's film was weak compared to the comics and the animated series. Poor understanding of the character. An even poorer interpretation leading to an anti-climatic end in Batman Begins. But still it is far superior than Green Lantern will ever be.
Rpin on Apr 11, 2011
54
Props to u vito ur predictions are actually pretty creative and realistic compared to the other hundreds ive read since the dark knight ended...
Cmo on Apr 14, 2011
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