Get ready, Batman fans. The final chapter of director Christopher Nolan's reboot of the caped crusader franchise will hit theaters this summer.

Until then, treat yourself to the trailer for "The Dark Knight Rises." It's quite interesting, but I am a bit confused why a football field collapses in the upcoming film. As a fan of Batman, the villain Bane isn't up there with the likes of the Joker and Two-Face, but he looks menacing nonetheless.

Check it out below:



- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

For the diehard Batman fans, like myself, wondering what Director Christopher Nolan would do in his next installment of the Dark Knight to write off the Joker character, it appears fans have an answer.

The gap between "The Dark Knight" and the sequel "The Dark Knight Rises," out next summer, is eight years. Nolan revealed that in an interview with Empire.

"Perhaps surprisingly for some people, our story picks up quite a bit later, eight years after The Dark Knight," Nolan said. "So he's an older Bruce Wayne; he's not in a great state."

The Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger, was not killed in "The Dark Knight," but Ledger obviously could not return for the next Batman film. Christian Bale will reprise his role as Batman in "The Dark Knight Rises."

One of the most famous Batman stories is Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns," as a middle-aged Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement for one last adventure. Whether or not Nolan is using the '80s graphic novel as inspiration for his next film is anyone's guess.

- Mark Podolski | @mpodo

It's Comic-Con week, so that means movie trailers will get the 24-7 treatment in San Diego. Fans will be begging for them.

One such trailer has already been released. "The Dark Knight Rises," Christopher Nolan's third and final Batman film will hit screens in 2012, but fans have their first taste of what to expect, which is once again an intense movie-going experience. Check it out below.



In other super hero news, I'll be in attendance on Wednesday for an advanced screening of "Captain America: The First Avenger," starring Chris Evans. I'm excited for the film, and I think it has a chance to be the surprise hit of the summer, but we'll see. I'll post a blog about the film on Thursday.

I'm also excited about the photos Entertainment Weekly released for next summer's "The Amazing Spider-Man," starring Andrew Garfield (The Social Network). Critics have said it's too soon for a reboot of the franchise, but I say an emphatic YES. Spider-Man 3 was a major disappointment and some new faces and a new take on Spidey was needed.

- Mark Podolski