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Image: Christian Bale and wife Sandra Blazic promoting 'The Dark Knight' in Barcelona
23rd June 2008
Debuting to US takings of £7.7m in its first weekend, the latest superhero summer blockbuster 'The Dark Knight' has toppled even the 'Spider-Man 3’ 2007 record of £75.6 for an opening weekend. Starring Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Sir Michael Caine as Alfred, Wayne’s indispensable butler, Maggie Gyllenhaal as love interest Rachel Dawes and the regrettably late Heath Ledger as manical menace the Joker, the second film in director/writer Christopher Nolan’s reboot Batman series has also smashed Imax ticket sales records around the world. With cinemas rushing to add additional unscheduled showings at all hours of the day and night, and reviews giving the film an almost undisputed thumbs up, more box office records look set to fall.
The dazzling 21st July London premiere attracted massive crowds to the Leicester Square Odeon. Onlookers were drawn not only by the star studded cast, but also to pay tribute to the memory of Heath Ledger and to catch a glimpse of the infamous 2.5 ton Batmobile. Not quite the sleek car Batman flashed around in through the Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney eras, Nolan’s ‘Tumbler’ – more a heavily armoured tank than luxury vehicle – fairly well stole the show as it shot flames on its cruise down the red carpet.
However, despite the excitement of the lavish affair, 'The Dark Knight' stars took time to remember their absent co-star, Heath Ledger, who died tragically earlier this year, aged just 28, from an accidental drugs overdose. Bale was full of praise for Ledger, saying that "he did an incredible job with the Joker... I enjoyed watching him perform." Sir Michael even tipped Ledger’s performance in the film as Oscar worthy and claimed he would be "very surprised" if he didn’t win the much coveted award.
Love your superheroes? Tune in for Super Heroes Sunday on BIO!
Throwing a gloomy cloud over the success of ‘The Dark Knight’ is the Tuesday arrest of Christian Bale for the alleged assault of his mother and sister. The alleged incident is thought to have taken place the day before the UK premiere in Bale’s Dorchester Hotel suite. Jenny Bale, 61, and her daughter Sharon, 40, lodged a formal complaint at a Hampshire police station. However, metropolitan detectives did not approach Christian in relation to the unsubstantiated charges until after the Leicester Square premiere on Monday. The Batman star then reported himself to a Belgravia police station on the morning of Tuesday 22nd July, where he was questioned for fours hours before being released on bail. He is now continuing the promotion of 'The Dark Knight'.
Brook Hogan, star of the television series 'Brook knows Best' and daughter of ex-wrestling maniac Hulk Hogan, has reportedly been approached by the magazine Playboy to pose nude, either on the cover or at the very least in a photo shoot. Every year the adult magazine has a section on WWE girls, and Daddy Hogan qualifies Brooke for the job. His opinion on the request is not yet known though...
Click here to read our review of 'The Dark Knight'
Check out the film roles that made your favourite actors stars with our hot new series 'The Role That Changed My Life'
Need some more Hulk? Check out Hogan Knows Best on BIO.
Tune in for Super Heroes Sunday on BIO!
Cecelia Broadbent
23rd June 2008
The Dark Knight sets new box office records
Debuting to US takings of £7.7m in its first weekend, the latest superhero summer blockbuster 'The Dark Knight' has toppled even the 'Spider-Man 3’ 2007 record of £75.6 for an opening weekend. Starring Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Sir Michael Caine as Alfred, Wayne’s indispensable butler, Maggie Gyllenhaal as love interest Rachel Dawes and the regrettably late Heath Ledger as manical menace the Joker, the second film in director/writer Christopher Nolan’s reboot Batman series has also smashed Imax ticket sales records around the world. With cinemas rushing to add additional unscheduled showings at all hours of the day and night, and reviews giving the film an almost undisputed thumbs up, more box office records look set to fall.
The dazzling 21st July London premiere attracted massive crowds to the Leicester Square Odeon. Onlookers were drawn not only by the star studded cast, but also to pay tribute to the memory of Heath Ledger and to catch a glimpse of the infamous 2.5 ton Batmobile. Not quite the sleek car Batman flashed around in through the Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney eras, Nolan’s ‘Tumbler’ – more a heavily armoured tank than luxury vehicle – fairly well stole the show as it shot flames on its cruise down the red carpet.
However, despite the excitement of the lavish affair, 'The Dark Knight' stars took time to remember their absent co-star, Heath Ledger, who died tragically earlier this year, aged just 28, from an accidental drugs overdose. Bale was full of praise for Ledger, saying that "he did an incredible job with the Joker... I enjoyed watching him perform." Sir Michael even tipped Ledger’s performance in the film as Oscar worthy and claimed he would be "very surprised" if he didn’t win the much coveted award.
Love your superheroes? Tune in for Super Heroes Sunday on BIO!
Batman star arrested on alleged assault charge
Throwing a gloomy cloud over the success of ‘The Dark Knight’ is the Tuesday arrest of Christian Bale for the alleged assault of his mother and sister. The alleged incident is thought to have taken place the day before the UK premiere in Bale’s Dorchester Hotel suite. Jenny Bale, 61, and her daughter Sharon, 40, lodged a formal complaint at a Hampshire police station. However, metropolitan detectives did not approach Christian in relation to the unsubstantiated charges until after the Leicester Square premiere on Monday. The Batman star then reported himself to a Belgravia police station on the morning of Tuesday 22nd July, where he was questioned for fours hours before being released on bail. He is now continuing the promotion of 'The Dark Knight'.
Does Hogan know best?
Brook Hogan, star of the television series 'Brook knows Best' and daughter of ex-wrestling maniac Hulk Hogan, has reportedly been approached by the magazine Playboy to pose nude, either on the cover or at the very least in a photo shoot. Every year the adult magazine has a section on WWE girls, and Daddy Hogan qualifies Brooke for the job. His opinion on the request is not yet known though...
RELATED FEATURES
Click here to read our review of 'The Dark Knight'
Check out the film roles that made your favourite actors stars with our hot new series 'The Role That Changed My Life'
Need some more Hulk? Check out Hogan Knows Best on BIO.
Tune in for Super Heroes Sunday on BIO!
Cecelia Broadbent
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