WPXI aired footage of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh being prepped for “The Dark Knight Rises” filming which is the Gotham Rogues versus the Rapid City Monuments in a fictional football game in Gotham. Set photos and videos have been going viral across the Internet since Batman came to Pittsburgh.

Earlier today, more information about the Pittsburgh Steelers acting in the film became public. Both Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger both spoke excitedly about the experience.

“I heard it’s going to be a neat thing at the stadium. I don’t think it will be a big part, it’s not like we’re chasing Batman down or anything”, Roethlisberger said.

Local residents and workers have been filing into the streets to catch the footage or snap a photo of the “Rises” production. From the Tumblers to street brawls to Batman battling Bane, every nugget of footage is being consumed and shared by fans across the Internet.

Now the local stations are expanding some of their coverage as well, including the video close-ups of a transformed Heinz Field.

So, while the set photos keep rolling in and fans clamor over the latest photo of Anne Hathaway on a Batbike, the summer of 2012 inches a little bit closer.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is dusting off his college skills and playing a kicker for the Rapid City Monuments, the Rogues’ rivals. That may have been one of the reasons he was booed when one of his practice kicks did not go well.

On the kickoff, Hines Ward received, blowing past the mayor as he returned the kick. That scene was repeated many times over about three hours, with the fans putting on coats they had been instructed to bring to simulate the cold during each take, then taking them off between to try to cool off in the muggy weather. Shortly after noon, the kickoff scene was done and setup began for a special effects scene.

There are many homemade signs, including: “Rogue Rage,” “Rogues Gallery,” “Rogue Nation,” Rogue, Rogue, Rogue Your Boat,” and “You’re in Rogue Country.”

Filming details below – SPOILERS ALERT

The Gotham Rogues played the Rapid City Monuments. During the opening kick off, Bane sets off a bomb that blows up a large chunk of the football field and kills the players. The mercs storm the stadium along with bane & he has some sort of bomb. He makes a speech about “the device being our liberation” It all looked really good & it was all filmed with IMAX cameras.

someone already put up about the tumblers, that’s false info. They aren’t included in the shot at all, only made an appearance to show them off

Not an earthquake machine. Nothing was said about it. It’s probably a bomb…remember, they blew up the field so what he was standing on was the remains of the field. The rest will be altered digitally & covered in smoke

Correction: bane says “take control of your city….behold the object of your liberation”

Update: the bane scene was him walking out of the tunnel after the field was blown up. He spoke into a mic he took off a dead referee. He literally sounds like an old man on a respirator. It was hard to make out what he said. Something along the lines of “your city is being liberated…” he had a big object about 5 feet tall, it was a sphere, probably a bomb. Think about the one in the batman movie with two-face at the circus

The explosions werent much so im not too mad about it. Its all gonna be digital effects. It’s sooo hot. They are having a raffle now. I think the next scene is bane, they said he comes out and threatens the crowd. I saw a friend of mine who was a merc, he said Tom hardy is super cool to talk to and real down the earth. He said the costumes are awesome. I’ll try to snap pictures of him in action.

The explosions just happened, couldn’t get a picture bc our section had to run away from it. They just said that the “field will be totally destroyed” and the only part left is the one picture I sent you with the field elevated. They also jus said the 3 tumblers will be brought out again bc “bane stole them” I don’t know how true that is, but they announced it so let’s see how that rolls

They are filming the football scene now where the players are running & the field is blowing up. There are holes in that plateau the players disappear into

SHH’s Rayne another football extra

And to clarify: It was NOT Gordon who was captured; it was the “Mad Scientist” character played by Alon Aboutboul. Didn’t get to see what happened because they never let us come back out to the field after they finished the Hines Ward/explosion scene. Some players did, unfortunately I didn’t. Caught a brief glimpse of Bane (no sleeves…just the military vest) and Aboutbol’s character was on his knees with what looked liked his hands behind his back.

No word on what the “Earthquake Machine” or bomb actually is, but it’s basically a large black metal ball with silver machinery wrapped around it. It’s big, as you can tell.

SHH’s Yurka another extra has the scoop on Bane’s voice

Bane’s accent was great, weezy and raspy. I’m sure all others in attendance will agree. But they also might change it in post..

It initially did sound a bit hispanic but then in later takes he veered into more I guess I’d just call it an “older” person voice, very strained and raspy/weezy, no real accent.

It definitely caught me off guard but the more takes they did, the more awesome it sounded. He does little throat clearing/raspy noises which reminded me of Heath’s lip-licking tick’s. It should be awesome if it is in fact the “real” voice.

Some great photos from the set – all by Megan McKeever

CHECK OUT THE COMPLETE SLIDESHOW here

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/debbiedowner/news/?a=43838

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About the author – Brandon Jones

My first effort at “blogging” before it was called “blogging” was a Pop Culture, Comic Book column at CrazedFanboy.com.

A lot sure has changed since these days.

Due to the support/pressure from my DOB comrades, Splash Page was resurrected to publish Pop Culture topics and the “State of the Nation” will continue to deal with politics and heavy issues.

Brandon has two comic book columns on Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/comic-book-movies-in-national/brandon-jones

http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-tampa-bay/brandon-jones