As the tragedy of the Aurora shooting continues to ripple, director Christopher Nolan has issued a statement about the massacre, committed at a midnight screening of his new film The Dark Knight Rises.

Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Dark Knight Rises, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community.

I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime.