With the NFL lockout having ended just two weeks ago, one would think the Pittsburgh Steelers would be busy gearing up to make a second straight run at the Super Bowl. However, some of these Steelers have their sights on the silver screen. Today, they’re set to shoot a scene at Heinz Field for Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises.
Members of the team will play Gotham football players while extras cheer from the stands, says the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The historic football franchise will (as Steeler fans would hope) have a real practice later in the afternoon. There’s no word on whether or not the Green Bay Packers were tapped to fill in as extras on the opposing team, but we’re guessing that it won’t happen.
This interesting turn of events comes thanks to Thomas Tull. He’s an executive producer on “Rises” and part owner of the Steelers. He’s also a close friend with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, so that probably didn’t hurt matters.
As for what we can expect from the scene, here’s what Roethlisberger had to say:
"From what I've heard, it's going to be like a pre-game, warming-up type thing. I don't know the whole concept. There's a Gotham team, a football game. We'll be wearing uniforms. It will be fun.”
Going up against a team from Gotham City? Sounds like it could make for some fun. What are your guesses as to why Christopher Nolan and The Dark Knight Rises would having anything to do with an American football game?