The 'Dark Knight' Will 'Rise' April in Louisiana

According to backstage, 'Dark Knight Rises' starts shooting this coming April in Louisiana, specifically for interior shots in the Warehouse District. However, batman-news has the additional details about exterior shooting in Chicago:

Aside from the Warehouse District it’s unclear as to what they want to do in New Orleans. They will not be focusing on making the city appear “larger” as previously reported. However, a studio is being specially constructed for the film. My source also confirms that they will be returning to Chicago for the majority of exterior shooting.

Good to know those mammoth, foreboding buildings of Chicago that swept the screen in glorious IMAX will be returning for the third Batman installment. Unlike Superman's Metropolis, which always seemed to just be another generic big modern city, Gotham's a city with character that adds real dimensions to the whole Batman mythos.

Would love to know what Nolan's cooking up in that Warehouse District in Louisiana. My guess is it's some kind of evil lab, or evil criminal lair, or maybe just Bruce Wayne's vacation getaway.

The principle actors from the first two films--Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman are all set to reprise their roles, with the addition of Tom Hardy as an unknown-as-yet new character.

The movie is set to debut in theaters July 20th, 2012.