An ominous new poster for The Dark Knight Rises that may reveal a crucial plot point: Bane is walking away from a shattered Bat mask with the slogan: The Legend Ends.

The 6 minute IMAX prologue was screened to select critics earlier this week.  The prologue was an action packed opener featuring Tom Hardy as Bane much like the opening of The Dark Knight showcased the Joker.

Christopher Nolan told Empire this new film is set 8 year after The Dark Knight with Batman in a weaker state and “with Bane, we wanted to give Batman a challenge he hasn’t had before. With our choice of villain and our choice of story we’re testing Batman both physically as well as mentally.”

The one-two punch of the new poster and Twitter image make it seem like Nolan will follow the Knightfall storyline in which Bane breaks Batman’s spine and Bruce Wayne is forced to quit.    In comic book version there was Dick Grayson and Azrael (who temporarily took on the famous cape and cowl) were Bruce Wayne’s possible replacements. There’s no one in the cast list so could it be the Nolan will end the series with Batman broken?

One question still out there. Is Bane working for Ra’s Al Ghul? This film is said to come full circle with Batman Begins. Batman let his ex-mentor Ra’s Al Ghul/Henri Ducard played by Liam Neeson crash to his death in the first film. In the final film Liam Neeson is listed in the cast and actor Josh Pence is listed as playing a younger version but is this in flashback or in the present? In the comics Ra’s Al Ghul resurrects himself via Lazarus Pits hidden around the globe. And I still wonder about my contention that Marion Cotillard could be playing Talia Al Ghul and she is the secret mastermind and Bane her enforcer.

The new poster is courtesy  TheDarkKnightRises.com.