Anne Hathaway, seen in the 2008 film Rachel Getting Married, is to portray Catwoman in the next Batman film.Anne Hathaway, seen in the 2008 film Rachel Getting Married, is to portray Catwoman in the next Batman film. (Bob Vergara/Sony Pictures Classics)

Anne Hathaway has landed a coveted role in Christopher Nolan's next installment of the Batman saga, with the Oscar-nominated actress to portray Selina Kyle and her alter ego, Catwoman.

Warner Bros. announced Wednesday the casting of Hathaway and Tom Hardy for Nolan's forthcoming The Dark Knight Rises.

The film will see Christian Bale reprise his role as Bruce Wayne and Batman.

U.S. actress Hathaway, who is set to co-host the Academy Awards with James Franco in February, has seen her profile in Hollywood rising over the years. Her breakout role came with The Princess Diaries and she followed with several similar films, including a Princess Diaries sequel, Ella Enchanted and Hoodwinked.

She began landing more mature roles, however, after her turns in Brokeback Mountain and The Devil Wears Prada. Hathaway earned her highest acclaim for her starring role as a recovering drug addict in the 2008 drama Rachel Getting Married, which earned her a best actress Oscar nomination.

British actor Hardy, who appeared in Nolan's mindbending 2010 thriller Inception and has a decade-long career in U.K. TV and film, is set to portray the intelligent, superstrong villain Bane.

The Dark Knight Rises is set for release July 20, 2012.