BATMAN - BATMAN TURNING BRITISH?

BATMAN is becoming British after director CHRISTOPHER NOLAN has been given the go-ahead to reinvent the American character in new movie BATMAN: INTIMIDATION.

The MEMENTO film-maker wants to freshen up the superhero, who has so far featured in four modern day features, and has decided to give Batman and his American playboy alter-ego BRUCE WAYNE a more 'JAMES BOND' feel.

Brit CHRISTIAN BALE is playing the lead role with English veteran actor SIR MICHAEL CAINE and Irishman CILLIAN MURPHY are also signed up, and now Nolan has added Bond veterans, costume designer LINDY HEMMING and special-effects guru CHRIS CORBOULD to the crew.

WARNER BROS's production head JEFF ROBINOV says, "Chris is reintroducing Batman and it feels smart cool and fresh. That's no disrespect to the other movies, but it's really Chris' vision of Batman and that's what we're supporting."