Everyone has been speculating whether or not the final entry in director Christopher Nolan‘s Bat-trilogy would be at least somewhat following the Knightfall storyline from the comics, which features the villainous Bane, breaking the back of the caped crusader.

This new official poster will likely fuel more of that speculation… for the next seven months, while we wait for The Dark Knight Rises to hit theaters. Check it out below!

[Click Images to Blow Sh!t Up Gotham-Size]

The six minute prologue for The Dark Knight Rises can be seen prior to early release showings of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in select 70mm U.S. IMAX theaters on December 16th, and in select U.K. IMAX theaters on December 21st. For the full list of theaters CLICK HERE.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar winner Christian Bale (The Fighter) again plays the dual role …of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

The Dark Knight Rises is slated to hit theaters on July 20th, 2012.