‘The Dark Knight Rises’ trailer offers a bleak portrait of Gotham

Tom Hardy plays Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises," the final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. (Warner Bros.)

“The Dark Knight Rises” has a trailer out, and it reveals a portrayal of Gotham that’s more bleak (if that’s possible) than the first two films in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.”

Judging from the trailer, “The Dark Knight Rises” promises a deeper look at Bruce Wayne’s character and his relationship with his butler Alfred (played again by Michael Caine), a ruthless villain in Bane (Tom Hardy), and plenty of action and explosions, including an incredible scene on a football field. Catwoman is strangely missing; Anne Hathaway is shown whispering in Wayne’s (Christian Bale) ear, and her silky voice provides narration for the trailer, but she’s not in her kitty regalia. Check out the trailer below, and let us know what you think in the comments.

The film, which opens July 20, stars Bale, Hardy, Hathaway, Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman,  Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard.

— Noelene Clark

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