Preview: 10 things we know about 'The Dark Knight Rises’

Paparazzi pictures today provided the first complete reveal of Anne Hathaway in full Catwoman attire on the Los Angeles set of Christopher Nolan's third and final Batman outing, The Dark Knight Rises (2012). To celebrate, we've put together our top ten facts that we now know about one of the most anticipated superhero films of all time. WARNING: Contains spoilers

1. Anne Hathaway has snagged the role of master thief Catwoman/Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy is playing steroid-loving psychopath Bane. Old news to most, but with Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and regular cast members Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman all on board, we have an ensemble cast to rival the mighty Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011).

2. Director Christopher Nolan has shot more scenes of the film specifically for IMAX than he did in The Dark Knight (2008). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Anne Hathaway's stunt double broke one of the IMAX cameras during a chase scene. An IMAX camera was also destroyed during the Joker's underground truck chase in The Dark Knight. Hopefully Mr. Nolan is well insured.

3. The Batwing will definitely make an appearance, and pictures have emerged of Catwoman astride a vehicle that looks suspiciously like the Batcycle.

4. Pittsburgh has taken the place of Chicago as a double for Gotham City. Filming has also been known to have taken place in London and the Indian city of Jodphur.

5. Batman Begins (2005) antagonist Ra's Al Ghul will return. Josh Pence will play a younger version of the villain and Liam Neeson, who played him in the first installment, will also make a cameo appearance.

6. Recent pictures show Anne Hathway in a full leather outfit complete with matching cat ears. Unless she hangs around her living room dressed like that we can safely assume this is her Catwoman costume.

7. Marion Cotillard has sworn to whatever God she believes in that her character Miranda Tate is not the alter-ego of Ra's' daughter Talia Al Ghul. Nobody seems to believe her, but we’ll have to wait until next year to see if she's been telling porky pies.

8. The Dark Knight Rises will definitely, absolutely and without a shadow of a doubt be the last Batman film Christoper Nolan is going to direct. However, if the film does mega-business at the box office, who knows how much he might be offered to do a fourth.

9. It was reported by actor Gary Oldman (who returns as Jim Gordon in the film) that Christopher Nolan revealed the ending of the film verbally to his cast, in order to avoid any leaks.

10. The Dark Knight Rises seems to reference the Knightfall, Legacy and Bane of the Demon series of Batman comic books. At least we think so. To be honest we're amazed that we managed to get 10 facts together, as everyone concerned has been threatened by Nolan under pain of death to keep their mouths shut.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises is due to hit UK cinemas on 20 July. For more info on the film, follow this link.

Lee Cassanell