[Tom4784]

Robin Williams will appear as Dr Hugo Strange in The Dark Knight Rises, insiders have suggested.

The 59-year-old comedian, who came close to securing both the role of The Joker in Tim Burton's 1990 re-imagining and The Riddler in 1995's Batman Forever, is believed to be the subject of a tantalising tweet from Batman On Film which teases: "RW as Strange? Hmm..."

Batman News has noted that the poster correctly identified the presence of Bane in Christopher Nolan's superhero sequel prior to the confirmation of Tom Hardy's casting in the role. The website adds that another reliable source has frequently claimed that Strange will make an appearance.

Insiders have previously hinted that the Rises plot will be based on comic-book storyline 'Prey', in which Strange is portrayed as a psychotic psychologist tasked with helping Gotham police capture Batman.

Williams stated last summer that he would "do Batman in a second" should he be offered a part.

The Dark Knight Rises, which includes Anne Hathaway's Catwoman amongst its confirmed villains, is due for release on July 20, 2012.

Hmm, I reckon he could be quite good but I think it'll probably be a smaller role if it's true, you can't really introduce and develop three (well two and a half as Catwoman isn't really a villain but you get my point) different villains without overloading the film.