ONTD

Hollywood pundits believe that Christopher Nolan's forthcoming final Batman film The Dark Knight Rises is on course to perform even more impressively than its blockbuster predecessor, The Dark Knight, at the box office.

"Tracking" figures for the new film – estimates based on research by studios into the viewing plans of cinemagoers – suggest it will eclipse the record-breaking $158.4m (£102m) opening of the 2008 movie. The Dark Knight went on to be the year's highest grossing film, a feat that its successor might be on course to repeat. Research suggests it is tracking just, but not far, behind 2012's most profitable film so far, The Avengers, which recently became the third highest grossing film of all time.

Nolan's decision to shoot his final instalment in 2D in order to retain the format used for the previous two films may leave The Dark Knight Rises falling just short of overtaking Joss Whedon's superhero movie, because 3D tickets mean higher ticket prices. Multiplexes will also be forced to squeeze in fewer screenings of the new film because it runs to an epic 164 minutes – 21 more than The Avengers and 12 more than The Dark Knight.

Meanwhile, Nolan told Associated Press that he had no interest in being involved in Batman studio Warner Bros' own proposed ensemble superhero movie, Justice League, which is once again in development following the success of rival studio Marvel's The Avengers. It will star the caped crusader alongside Superman, Wonder Woman and several other minor characters.

Nolan is involved in the forthcoming Superman film Man of Steel in a "godfather" producer's role, but said he did not plan to make another movie starring the Dark Knight. "No, not at all," he said. "We're finished with all we're doing with Batman. This is the end of our take on this character."

The British film-maker added: "Batman will outlive us all, and our interpretation was ours. Obviously, we consider it definitive and kind of finished. The great thing about Batman is he lives on for future generations to reinterpret, and obviously, Warners will have to decide in the future what they're going to do with him. We've had our say on the character.

"I've got no plans to do anything more, and certainly, no involvement with any Justice League project."

The Dark Knight Rises, which arrives in cinemas in the US and UK on 20 July, once again stars Christian Bale as Batman/Bruce Wayne, with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman in supporting roles. New arrivals include Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Gotham cop John Blake. The film's events take place eight years after those of The Dark Knight, with Batman emerging from retirement to face a new threat to his beloved city.