Now that football’s lockout has ended, the Gotham City Rogues can get back on the field this weekend and face their fiercest rival, the Rapid City Monuments. At least, that’s what hundreds of Pittsburgh extras will pretend is happening when Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises takes over Heinz Field Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 6 and 7, to shoot football scenes for the upcoming sequel.
According to a release we obtained, originally sent to paid extras, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers will host a major game between the two fictional teams for scenes that are being described as “VERY involved” and having “lots of action.” It’s unclear if that means in-game sports action, or if Tom Hardy’s Bane is making himself the halftime show.
Our source passed on the opportunity to participate because, as they pointed out, it’s a winter scene that will require extras to “be comfortable wearing layers in the heat.” The notice does say that extras will be able to ditch the layers when Nolan and crew are not shooting, and that the production crew will “do everything in their power with fans, misters and plenty of water” to make it as comfortable as possible. Temperatures in Pittsburgh aren’t expected to be brutal over the weekend, with highs hovering between 83 and 86 degrees. Still, donning coats and hats surrounded by screaming fans packed into Heinz Field is a steep price to pay for a chance to possibly be spotted in the background of a stadium scene in Nolan’s last Batman film.
The notice keeps in line with everything we’ve been seeing out of Pittsburgh, with wintry scenes and snow flurries surrounding the Caped Crusader. I expect security to be very tight for the people being let into Heinz Field, and it’s unlikely photos or video will escape from that controlled set. But we’ll continue to bring whatever we can from the set of The Dark Knight Rises as Nolan works his way toward his July 20, 2012 release date.
Now, who can tell me how to get my hands on an official Gotham City Rogues jersey?
