Chris Nolan Speaks Out on Colorado Shootings

A 24-year-old student opened fire on moviegoers attending a “Dark Knight Rises” midnight screening in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 and injuring another 58. Chris Nolan, the film's director, has issued a statement on the tragedy.

As we also informed you yesterday, Warner Bros. had Nolan and the entire cast pull out of all promo appearances scheduled to take place in Paris, France yesterday.

The director is breaking his silence today, in a beautifully worded statement obtained by TMZ.

“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,” Nolan 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,” he adds.

“The movie theater 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,” Nolan goes on to say.

The man now in custody for the crimes is a 24-year-old student named James Holmes. Reports online say that he had painted his hair red, telling people right before he started shooting that he was The Joker, one of Batman's fiercest and most deranged enemies.

“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,” Nolan concludes by saying.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is the third and final Batman installment with Nolan at the helm. It's also the most anticipated release of the year.

Word online also says that, out of respect for the families of the victims and everyone else involved in the Colorado shootings, Warner Bros. might ask theaters not to release box office figures for the weekend.