Bat-fans queue for another date with hero

Almost six of nine theatres screening the The Dark Knight Rises at Dendy Cinemas in Canberra last night were sold out four hours before the midnight premiere of the film.

Dendy employees said the event would likely be the biggest night of the year at the cinema, with more than 700 people expected.

Employee Brooke Pearson said the special screening of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight before the premiere of the third instalment also generated a lot of hype at the cinema.

‘‘There’s quite a lot of interest in all those films – it seems quite a lot of people have decided to take off work tomorrow,’’ Ms Pearson said.

‘‘We’ve got people who have booked the same seats for all three sessions.

‘‘It’s nine hours’ worth of film!’’

Jordan Hale, 25, and his friends decided to dress up as characters from the hit movie for the premiere last night.

When Mr Hale arrived as the maniacal criminal mastermind who terrorised Gotham City he soon realised his friends had set him up.

‘‘All the boys stitched me up – they said they’d dress up as Batman, Robin and the rest but it was a set up, they didn’t,’’ Hale said.

‘‘At least I get all the attention.’’

Mr Hale said he had seen the first two films and expected the third to live up to expectations. Limelight Cinemas transformed their complex into a Bat Cave in anticipation of an influx of Bat-fans at midnight.

About 1600 people saw The Avengers midnight screening in April and about the same number turned up for Harry Potter last year.

‘‘We’ve established a bit of a reputation for creating a carnival-like atmosphere at these midnight premieres and tonight will be no exception,’’ said Ross Entwistle, Limelight Cinemas founder.