With so much casting “news” floating around about Christopher Nolan’s third installment of the Batman series, The Dark Knight Rises, it is hard to know what to believe. However, today’s rumor sounds a lot like earlier rumors we heard about the film and may have a little more insight into the film’s production. Casting listings seem to be circulating listing a group of actresses that could potentially fill two roles for the film. A few months ago, a similar list was “released” stating that one of the roles would be a potential love interest for Bruce Wayne and the other a villain. Names on the casting list this time around include familiar faces such as Keira Knightly, Anne Hathaway, and Naomi Watts but also include new names such as: Jessica Biel, Kate Mara, and Charlotte Riley.

hat makes this story news-worthy is not that new names are being thrown around for these roles (some more familiar than others) but that the reported villain that is to be cast will be Talia Al Ghul, daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul played by Liam Neeson in Batman Begins . It makes sense that Talia would be cast in this film, bringing Nolan’s trilogy full circle and adding continuity to the story he’s established. I was hoping that TDKR picked up where TDK left off and introduced both Hugo Strange and Harley Quinn as the villains, but I trust Nolan’s and Goyer decision to move on with Talia Al Ghul.

The Dark Knight Rises is currently slated for release on July 20, 2012 and based on the previous 2 films we probably won’t know too much until then. Still, TDKR will certainly be one of the most talked about projects until then as the anticipation builds. How do you feel about Talia Al Ghul being portrayed in the next Batman film? Which one of these actresses would you most like to see fill the role?