Batman film forecast for 2011

The third Batman film since the relaunch of the franchise should hit cinema screens in 2011, producer Michael Uslan has predicted.

He told the Courier-Post that the sequel to The Dark Knight is around three years from release, but declined to reveal which supervillains the Caped Crusader will face in his next outing.

Uslan said: "It's one of those deals where if I told you, I'd have to kill you."

He added that the first time he saw The Dark Knight, he was so happy he "wanted to cry".

Last year, director Christopher Nolan refused to confirm that he would direct a third Batman film.

He told the New York Times that he has to be emotionally invested in the story if he is to continue working on the series.