This much we know to be true. Christopher Nolan cut things out of The Dark Knight Rises to reach its final 165-minute running time. We also know Nolan is something of a perfectionist. So, with that knowledge, we present a rumor currently circling the Internet. One website reports that when The Dark Knight Rises hits Blu-ray later this year, it’ll feature a “director’s cut” which will include not only Bane’s origin (something costume designer Lindy Hemming confirmed was shot) but other deleted scenes edited back into the film, including some with Ra’s Al Ghul.
With The Dark Knight Rises still breaking box office records, it’s highly doubtful, if this extended cut even exists, that it would be included on the first home release of the film, but that’s the rumor. Do you think it’s possible? Read more and discuss it after the jump.
The rumor originated on the site Nuke The Fridge, which can be hit or miss when it comes to news of this magnitude. Here’s the wording:
Sources have informed Nuke the Fridge that not only is a Director's Cut being developed by Warner Bros. for The Dark Knight Rises, but it's going to include Bane's origin plus a bit more screentime for Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) which were omitted from the current theatrical cut of the movie….According to our reliable spies…The new Director's Cut is said to make the film about thirty minutes longer.
A few things strike me about this rumor. First of all, the site refers to the spies as “reliable” but then finishes the piece by saying “Until I see the Blu-ray I'm treating this as a rumor.” That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence but could just mean Warner Bros. hasn’t decided yet. Second, Nolan has never re-edited extra footage into his previous films once they hit DVD. Finally, though we do know at least one of those scenes exists, all were obviously cut for a reason. If anything, maybe Warners would double dip and release a second version down the road with new footage. Either way, it seems pretty unlikely the crusader for classic shooting on film would release a theatrical product that wasn’t already his “director’s cut.”
Then again, maybe it’s possible. The incredible size and weight of the IMAX film print for The Dark Knight Rises totally maxed out all projectors. It’s possible, however unlikely, that Nolan didn’t want to cut from his film and only did so because of the physical size of it. If that’s the case, maybe this extended cut exists, maybe it’s his “director’s cut,” maybe it’s 30 minutes longer and maybe we’ll see it later this year.
Do I think so? No. But that’s the rumor. And as of publication, Warner Bros. has yet to return messages looking for a confirmation or denial.
What do you think? Is it possible Christopher Nolan did not let his preferred version of The Dark Knight Rises into theaters? Will it be released on Blu-ray? Will we ever be done discussing Dark Knight Rises rumors?
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