Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly comes a handful of new images from The Dark Knight Rises, the third and final chapter of writer/director Christopher Nolan's beloved Batman film cycle. Shots include a very nice closeup of Tom Hardy's Bane, revealing all the details about his mask, and a great full-torso photograph of Christian Bale's Batman that also spotlights the many intricacies of his costume.

Along with the new photographs is an interview with Nolan, who is said to address the apparent political subtext of The Dark Knight Rises as well as, of course, the muffled speaking voice of Bane.

"I think when people see the film, things will come into focus," says the director. "Bane is very complex and very interesting and when people see the finished film people will be very entertained by him."

EW also spoke with Bale, who confessed that the task of living up to the record-breaking, hugely acclaimed The Dark Knight was nothing less than daunting.

"I can tell you the truth because I'm done with it: I felt immense pressure," Christian Bale tells EW. "And I think it's a good pressure, because you owe it to the films - and the people's expectations - to make great work."


The new Entertainment Weekly goes on sale Friday, January 13.