MATTHEW MODINE'S CHARACTER DETAILS FOR 'THE DARK KNIGHT RISES' REVEALED

Long but not forgetton 'Full Metal Jacket' star Matthew Modine (below) is hopefully set for a triumphant return to mainstream cinema after being cast recently in Christopher Nolan's much anticipated Batman sequel 'The Dark Knight Rises'. And now we appear to have all the details of his hush-hush role. Modine will play the part of 'Nixon', a corrupt politican! No relation we're sure, however he'll be joining one heck of a cast list which includes the returning Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman as well as newcomers Tom Hardy ('Inception'), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis, Tom Conti and Joey King! Check out Roger Friedman's report from the London set below.

"The great news from the London set of “The Dark Knight Rises” is that Matthew Modine is about to start filming key scenes in the new Batman movie. I’m told that Modine –whose character’s name has been reported as Nixon– is playing an appropriate character for his name. “He’s a politician and a key villain,” says a source. This does sound like director Chris Nolan is creating an homage to another Nixon we knew long ago. At least Modine is getting to shoot his scenes in a safe studio in London. When I ran into producer Charles Roven in Cannes a couple of weeks ago he was regaling pals about the “Dark Knight Rises” shoot in Jodhpur, India. The film is using the ancient Mehrangarh Fort as a key setting for what will likely be one of the biggest movies of all time…"

Currently shooting in London, 'The Dark Knight Rises' is due to arrive in theatres from 20 July 2012.