The Tribune is calling today's story about "Dark Knight" director Christopher Nolan's incarcerated brother and his planned prison escape "Batman-like," which is good bait to get you into the story. But when you read deeper, it turns out that the tale being told isn't terribly Batty at all - it's only barely Dark Knight related. Which is not to say it's not a hell of a story - one which we're surprised hasn't been talked about much to date. (The conspirator part of our brain is saying "yeah, but that kind of talk might keep away other film companies, and that's bad for the city, so maybe...") more ›

As Batfans around the world are giving their Christmas present DVDs of The Dark Knight multiple viewings, rumors are beginning to circulate about the next chapter in the franchise, including filming once again in Chicago. Speculation has included pre-production on the next installment beginning in early 2009 and an office for the production opening here in town as early as February. Of course, most of the rumors are circulating around casting.

The most popular rumors: Johnny Depp as The Riddler alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin. Now, it'd be tough to imagine such campy characters in Nolan's Batman universe, especially since both are basically pale variations of The Joker. In October, "Dark Knight" co-writer David Goyer told MTV that all the rumors were false. more ›

Movies! Aside from preparing for and then recovering from your T-Day food coma, what else ya gonna do? more ›

Christopher Nolan's second episode in the relaunch of the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight, takes a daring turn towards embracing a darker, bleaker vision of the masked vigilante and his increasingly odd rogues gallery of adversaries. Batman Begins did a good job of saving the Bruce Wayne/Batman character from the travesties that Joel Schumacher rained down upon our hero, excised the remaining camp from previous cinematic versions, and rebuilt Batman to more accurately reflect the darker tone of the original comics. more ›

The 44th annual Chicago International Film Festival, Cinema/Chicago, and Warner Brothers have teamed up to treat Chicagoans to an advance screening of the newest Batman installment, The Dark Knight. Well, more specifically, you will have to treat yourself, since tickets to the gala event are $150 apiece. more ›

You'd have to be living under a rock or in a cave (hehe) not to know that the new Batman flick The Dark Knight is currently filming in Chicago. Several spots in the Loop are getting a filmic makeover, and we have some (by now nonexclusive) pics of an interior set. Our source has wisely declined to give us the specific location; after all, you wouldn't want director Christopher Nolan all up in your... more ›

As the city’s nighttime streets lend an air of authenticity to this weekend’s number one movie and Vince Vaughn's new flick shuts down a portion of Michigan Avenue for most of the day, the Sun-Times reminds us why The Blues Brothers is responsible for bringing moviemaking back to the city of Chicago. As we watched Batman Begins this weekend, we noticed three things: 1) It is possible for Chicago’s mass transit system to get worse... more ›

The new Batman movie, Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, is going to be doing some shooting in Chicago. Tomorrow there is an open casting call for extras so it's your chance to be in the movie. Here's the dillio: Joan Philo is the extras casting director (she's also done High Fidelity, Chain Reaction and ER) and will be looking for "students and all ethnic groups" for one- and two-day exterior shots, mostly at night. They are also looking for people willing to work with their cars. more ›