Is BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN the Framework for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES?

With Variety claiming that actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt is going to be portraying Alberto Falcone, the serial killer known as Holiday, in director Christopher Nolan's third and final Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises, it certainly appears as though the central plot of the film will be based around the classic story Batman: The Long Halloween by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Tim Sale.  Set in Batman's earliest days as a crimefighter, The Long Halloween  is about a series of serial killings taking place each month on holidays by the murderer dubbed "The Holiday Killer." 

The Long Halloween has already been referenced in Nolan's previous Batman film, The Dark Knight, with the phrase "I believe in Harvey Dent" (the comic book limited series' final line uttered by Dent's wife Gilda) used in the film by Dent's friend Bruce Wayne during a fundraiser gala for Dent.  In addition, Alberto's father Carmine Falcone was introduced in Nolan's first Batman film, Batman Begins, as the central crimelord of Gotham City before being driven insane by the Scarecrow's fear toxin.

Actress Anne Hathaway has already been confirmed as playing Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, which adds to the possibility of The Long Halloween being the framework for the upcoming film.  Catwoman is featured quite a bit in the limited series and in its sequel, Batman: Dark Victory, where it is heavily implied that she is actually the illegitimate daughter of Carmine Falcone.  It's possible Nolan could be borrowing some story elements from Dark Victory as well in order to flesh out the characters and give some of them their respective resolutions shown in the comic book sequel.

Marion Cotillard, Levitt's co-star in Nolan's other film Inception, has also been rumored to appear in The Dark Knight Rises, although early speculation pointed to her portraying Talia al Ghul, daughter of the villain Ra's al Ghul, who appeared in Batman Begins as played by Liam Neeson.  However, if The Long Halloween is indeed the central plot, it seems more likely that Cotillard will be playing Sofia Gigante Falcone, Carmine Falcone's legitimate daughter and sister to Alberto Falcone.  Interestingly, Sofia also becomes a serial killer Dark Victory, known as the mysterious Hangman, after being severely damaged and forced to use a wheelchair after the events in The Long Halloween.

And with the villain Two-Face being integral to both comics stories, it certainly makes you wonder if the character actually died at the end of The Dark Knight.  Aaron Eckhart is listed as next filming The Expatriate for 2012, the year The Dark Knight Rises arrives in theaters, but maybe he'll find time to work some scenes as Two-Face into his schedule...