New Batman movie opens and debuts Midlands mansion to the World

Actor Christian Bale Sibi Blazic at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, at the Odeon cinema, London Credit: Film

The new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises", opened in cinemas at midnight, marking the big screen debut of a Midlands mansion. Several scenes for the eagerly-awaited film were shot at Wollaton Hall in Nottingham, a 16th century country house and one of the city's most popular visitor attractions.**

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ITV Central broke the news that the Hall was to be used as a filming location in June last year. Within hours, it was being talked about by movie fans across the world. The film's stars Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freemen joined the five-hundred strong crew on the site. Some lucky Nottingham residents got the chance to be extras.**

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Nottingham City Council allowed Warner Brothers to use the Hall for an undisclosed location fee. The American studios also paid for £100,000 of improvements to the building. It was an exciting experience for a number of council staff who work at Wollaton Park and got close to the action.

Operations Manager, Mo Allahi, got a part as an extra. He took part in a scene filmed at the back of the Hall involving Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon from Gotham City Police.**

Ron Inglis, the city council's Museums Service manager, rubbed shoulders with Hollywood royalty - without realising it. "I had lunch sitting next to Morgan Freeman. One of my colleagues said, 'It's not every day you can sit having lunch with Morgan Freeman', and I said, 'Where is he?', and he said, 'He's been sitting next to you for the last 40 minutes.'"**

The city council were impressed with the professionalism of the film crew and are hoping other movie-makers will be drawn to Wollaton Hall as a location. The council is also hoping excitement around the new Batman movie will have a financial spin-off for Nottingham. The Hall is organising Bat Tours for film fans and expecting a surge in visitors to the Tudor mansion.

"The Dark Knight Rises" is the final part of a trilogy of Batman movies by director Christopher Nolan. It's one of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters ever filmed in the Midlands. The last film, "The Dark Knight" grossed a billion dollars worldwide.