Those concerned they couldn’t get anymore excited about the currently shooting Dark Knight Rises can all breathe a sigh of relief – yes, you can be more excited, and you should be, and that picture up there is why.

Why? It’s the first official still from the threequel, showing off a considerably/impressively beefy Tom Hardy as big brute Bane. It’s a massive difference from the Bane we last saw on the big screen in Batman & Robin – but considering Rises is being helmed by Chris Nolan and not Joel Schumacher, that’s no big surprise. Released via the Bat sequel’s official website, this is obviously a bid to stop unsanctioned leaks from the movie set, as well as stoking the embers of our love for Nolan’s franchise. Quess what – it worked!

And just for comparison’s sake, here’s Jeep Swenson as Bane in Batman & Robin. Spot the difference?