Okay, folks. If you don't want anything from "The Dark Knight Rises" spoiled then stop reading here. Seriously. This is your last warning.
Moving on, Christopher Nolan has always been known for subterfuge, looking to keep the secrets to his films as close to the vest as possible, but not always succeeding. Almost a year before "Inception," the plot details leaked out and on "The Dark Knight Rises," before casting even started, rumors of Talia al-Ghul playing a key villainous role were also batted around. When Marion Cotillard was cast in the film, many expected it was for the part of Talia, but instead the official line was that she was playing a board member of Wayne Enterprises. However, it appears those early rumors may have been right.
According to a (pretty random) report in the Surrey Comet (via Latino Review), the mother of child actress Leilah de Meza (who recently appeared in the Hallmark movie "Christmas In Castlebury Hall" on U.K. TV hence the article), she was offered a part in "The Dark Knight Rises" but had to turn it down. Saying that it was for the part of "young Talia al-Ghul," de Meza's Mom said, "After careful consideration we turned it down as they were insistent that Leilah had to shave all her hair off. We were prepared to have it cut short but not shaved at such a young age. We were concerned how this could have affected Leilah’s confidence and general social welfare."
While the gut reaction is to call this a missed opportunity, you have to kind of admire the decision to turn down a huge blockbuster for the sake of the young actress. Anyway, the speculation is that the young and equally unknown Joey King wound up with the role. And all of this would certainly fit in with the rumors put forth this summer that Liam Neeson would be appearing in flashback sequences reprising his role as Ra's al-Ghul. And since we're all guessing away right now, the popular theory around The Playlist water cooler is that Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt's characters are moles, who wind up in positions near to Bruce Wayne, so they can hatch whatever evil plan they have in store.
Anyway, lots to consider, but for now, if you slept on it, the tickets for "The Dark Knight Rises" prologue screenings tomorrow night are pretty much gone (though, if you're in Ottawa or Montreal, you should get on that). There is also word that a standard trailer will be arriving this Friday as well. But if you miss all that, you can just watch the movie proper when it opens on July 20, 2012.