Show caption Concealment... Hmmm... could 'Rory's First Kiss' possibly be the new Batman film? Film Chicago journalists smell a Bat in ‘Rory’s First Kiss’ Staff and agencies Thu 19 Jul 2007 05.39 EDT Share on Facebook

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Warner Bros attempted to concoct a humdrum alter-ego for their superhero blockbuster this week - posting casting notices around Chicago for a film entitled Rory's First Kiss. Yet the tactic backfired when the film was swiftly unmasked by the city's media. Rory's First Kiss, it transpires, is the secret identity of The Dark Knight, Warners' big budget sequel to Batman Begins.

In an apparent effort to throw paparazzi off the scent, the studio had earlier posted casting notices asking for "real police officers, sheriffs, county guards and bagpipers to work in non-speaking roles in August". The notice added: "The rate of pay is $125 for eight hours ... a nice lunch is provided."

But Warners appeared to give the game away when it explained that Rory's First Kiss was "a Warner Bros production directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale and Gary Oldman".

Writing in the Chicago Sun-Times, columnist Richard Roeper was quick to smell a rat. "Is there a Bat fan in the world that doesn't know Rory's First Kiss is actually The Dark Knight, which has been filming in Chicago for weeks, " he asked. "... When you identify the studio, director and stars, even the most casual fan is an imdb.com click away from determining the film's real title."