KEY POINTS:
Batman film The Dark Knight, starring the late Heath Ledger, is a leading contender in the 35th People's Choice Awards after landing seven nominations.
The box office smash has nods in categories including favourite movie and action movie, pitting itself against Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in the same categories.
Actor Christian Bale is also up for favourite leading man for his role as the Caped Crusader, against Brad Pitt and Mark Wahlberg. While Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson and Queen Latifah are in the running for favourite leading lady.
Other categories introduced for the 2009 show are favourite superhero, favourite TV drama diva, favourite atar under 35 and favourite scene-stealing guest star - which pop singer Britney Spears is nominated for, after her appearance in How I Met Your Mother.
Britney is, however, not included in the music categories, where Rihanna dominates with three nominations including Favourite Female Singer.
Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown and Coldplay all have two nominations each.
In the comedy section Steve Carell, Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler are nominated for favourite funny male star, while Ellen DeGeneres, Tina Fey and Whoopi Goldberg are nominated for favourite funny female star.
The awards will be held on January 7 next year in in Los Angeles and will be hosted by Queen Latifah.
- BANG! SHOWBIZ
