Is this the end for Batman? New poster says 'yes'

The new poster for The Dark Knight Rises. Photo / Supplied

A new Batman poster has fans speculating that Christopher Nolan will kill off the superhero in the third and final film in the director's hyped series.

The new poster for The Dark Knight Rises shows Tom Hardy's villain Bane walking away from Batman's broken mask, along with the headline, "The legend ends".

The film's not due out till July 19 but confused fans are already speculating online, wondering if this is the end for Batman.

"I wouldn't put it past Nolan ... to have things turn out not so well for Bats," said one online commentator. "Then again this teaser poster could be exactly like the thousands of misleading comic book covers that have been printed over the years.

Christian Bale has confirmed that The Dark Knight Rises is he and Nolan's last Batman film together. And the first trailer, released several months ago, shows Bane and Batman fighting it out in an epic showdown.

But actor Gary Oldman, who plays Commissioner Gordon in the series, has suggested to Crave Online there may more Batman movies to come.

"For us I think it's the end. Whether they make more, my guess is probably. I mean, they don't have Potter anymore. So, there could be a Batman four and five," he said.

"It may be Chris [Nolan] overseeing it in a producorial position, but for us and for Chris I think that's it. It's a great way to go out though. It's a great story. Epic, epic thing it is."

- Herald online