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Jonathan Nolan Explains the Origin of ‘The Dark Knight’s’ Most Famous Line: “…I’m Plagued By It Because I Didn’t Write It.”

The Batman film's co-writer on the line that's since taken on a life of its own: "It felt uniquely resonant to the tragedy of Harvey Dent and the tragedy of Batman."

At the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter asked Jonathan Nolan about his thought process for coming up with the line. As viewers will recall, the dialogue is spoken by Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) to Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) early in the film while they’re having a chat in a restaurant (video below). Ella Purnell ( Yellowjackets) stars as Lucy, an idealistic vault dweller whose ideals are tested when people harm her loved ones, while Walton Goggins plays The Ghoul, a bounty hunter on the surface who’s hiding his past.

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