Cinema-goers everywhere were shaken up after a masked gunman opened fire at a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, Friday, killing 12 and injuring another 50. Director Christopher Nolan has since released a statement expressing his thoughts on the matter.
“Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Dark Knight Rises, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community,” he says. “I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime.
“The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me,” he continues. “Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.”
Cast members of the film have also offered their own condolences, with Christian Bale releasing a statement saying, “Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them.”
Hans Zimmer, the film’s musical composer, expressed his thoughts on the shooting to Rolling Stone magazine: “We’re all devastated by what’s happened. When we set up this interview, we didn’t know that things would change. I was going to send a note to Chris [Nolan] … but I didn’t have the words. Suddenly, words become meaningless because it’s so beyond anything. Devastated, I suppose, is the word.”
In light of the tragic incident, the film’s Paris premiere, which was scheduled for the same night the shooting occurred, was cancelled, and it is presumed that premieres in Mexico City and Tokyo will also be cancelled. Promotional ads which were due to air this weekend were also pulled, although it’s unknown whether the networks or Warner Bros. made the decision. A marketing expert told Variety that these opening weekend ads are likely to value betwen $3 million-$5 million.
Warner Bros. has also decided not to report the film’s opening weekend numbers. “Out of respect for the victims and their families, Warner Bros. Pictures will not be reporting box office numbers for The Dark Knight Rises throughout the weekend,” the studio The Hollywood Reporter Friday evening. “Box office numbers will be released on Monday.”
