In 2005, director Christopher Nolan redefined the Batman legend with Batman Begins, staring Christian Bale as the Gaped Crusader. A fresh, dynamic reboot of the franchise, Batman Begins explored the comic book hero's origins and his evolution from billionaire Bruce Wayne to dark avenger who fights crime and corruption in Gotham City. A 2008 sequel, The Dark Knight, took those compelling character-driven foundations and raised the stakes, pitting Batman against a deranged master criminal, the Joker, in an all-out war for Got ham's soul. Now, the final film of Nolan's trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, is the summer's most anticipated film release.