'Dark Knight' Will Film Here in Summer

Third in Batman Series:  The Dark Knight Rises

The news media and social networking sites have been abuzz about Pittsburgh ever since the April 5 announcement that "The Dark Knight Rises," the third installment in director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, will be filming here in July and August.  Filmmaking may be nothing new for "Hollywood on the Mon" -- more than 101 movies and television productions have set up shop here since 1990 -- but four to six weeks of filming of the iconic and lucrative Batman franchise puts the city into an entirely different category.  Simply put, Hollywood insiders say, this is a really, really big deal for the city.

As with any film shot here, the Warner Bros. production, slated to open nationwide July 20, 2012, means money spent on local film crews and actors, hotels, restaurants, transportation, dry cleaners, entertainment -- you name it.  No one knows how much money because it's unclear how much of the film will be shot here. The movie, whose budget is rumored to be in excess of $185 million, reportedly also will film in England, Bucharest, Romania and Los Angeles.

Christian Bale, who won an Academy Award for his work in "The Fighter," will return in the title role as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Anne Hathaway, who has been cast as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, and Tom Hardy, who is playing Batman enemy Bane, may also be here depending on what role Pittsburgh plays.  Put together all of that commerce, pop culture and star power and you don't need a klieg light to see something special will be happening in Pittsburgh this summer.

Dawn Keezer, director of the Pittsburgh Film Office, said that while Pittsburgh has a positive reputation in the Hollywood community as a great place to film a movie, landing Batman creates a buzz heretofore unknown for the city.  Pittsburgh has a great film history ..... From 1914's 'Perils of Pauline' to 1968's 'Night of the Living Dead' and also 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Deer Hunter'.  But Batman brings us into this century with one of the most recognizable franchises there is.

This type of movie industry recognition gives Pittsburgh 'cool factor'.  It says Pittsburgh is some place great for entertainment, some place great for pop culture and it gives the city the recognition it deserves. It sends an unconscious message out there that creates more business.   

In announcing that Pittsburgh had bested Chicago, Detroit and other cities vying to be the film's location, London-born director Mr. Nolan said he chose the city because of its great architecture and diversity of locations.  "Pittsburgh is a beautiful city", he said.  "We have been able to find everything we were looking for here, and I am excited to spend the summer in Pittsburgh with our final installment of Batman."

So, what can Pittsburgh anticipate? Well, maybe a lot of what Chicago experienced when "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" filmed there.  Richard Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, said those two films brought in more than $50 million in local spending.  Websites and blogs picked up on it and there truly was wildfire word of mouth that got people talking about Chicago.  As with any movie project, there were inevitable public inconveniences, such as street closures and setting up perimeters for filming.

Anyway you look at it, Batman is just very cool and this type of publicity for Pittsburgh is invaluable.

Pittsburgh Film Office
Metro Pittsburgh Real Estate
The Dark Knight Rises