Last June, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception) reportedly joked with director Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight) on the set of Inception about reading for the director’s next installment in the Batman franchise, and while it wasn’t confirmed by anyone, at the time he was rumored to be on the short list for the role of The Riddler.

Then in July, a reliable source reportedly saw a Warner Bros. studio casting grid which listed The Riddler as a character in Christopher Nolan‘s (at the time, working titled) Batman 3.  That same source said that the actor listed in the studio grid to play the villain was Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whose status was listed as “interested.”

Now, Deadline reports that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Live with It, Looper) is now in talks to reunite with his Inception director Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight Rises. Because details are always kept close to the vest on Nolan’s projects, the role he is in talks for is currently unknown.

What do you think, is Joseph Gordon-Levitt in talks to play The Riddler, some smaller role akin to what Anthony Michael Hall (CSI: Miami, No Ordinary Family) did in The Dark Knight, or… ?

Christopher Nolan will direct the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jonathan Nolan, from a story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Goyer will also produce the film with Charles Roven and Nolan’s longtime producing partner, Emma Thomas.

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