The Dark Knight Rises
…in five days!!
The movie, filmed in Pittsburgh (one of four cities used as a backdrop) and directed by Christopher Nolan, opens nationally on July 20th and stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, and Anne Hathaway.
You will also see some of your favorite Steelers playing the roles, appropriately enough, of football players! There are cameo appearances by Ben, Heath Miller, Brett Keisel, Willie Colon, Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Wallace, Aaron Smith, Ryan Clark, Troy Polamalu, James Farrior, Casey Hampton, and Hines Ward, who is featured in the official movie trailer.
*Just click on each player’s name to check out their “actor page” on IMDB (International Movie Data Base).
Below is a photo from the Steelers locker room last summer as Ben, Heath Miller and Brett Keisel prepare to suit up for their roles as the Gotham Rogues:
The home team Rogues, coached by Bill Cowher, take on the Rapid City Monuments at Heinz Field, which was also transformed for it’s role in the movie!
More from the filming last summer….
“Batman, meet Big Ben!”
From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on August 5, 2011:
Roethlisberger and about a dozen of his veteran teammates will take part in the filming of Dark Knight Rises playing — what else? — football players at a familiar venue for them, Heinz Field. The production, which has been filming in Pittsburgh, moves Saturday morning to the Steelers home, where thousands of extras playing fans have been recruited.
The Steelers quarterback has become close with Thomas Tull, the film’s executive producer who joined the Steelers ownership group two years ago.
“I’m kind of getting everybody together,” Roethlisberger told the Post-Gazette. “I heard it’s going to be a neat thing at the stadium. I don’t think it will be a big part, it’s not like we’re chasing Batman down or anything. It’s something neat that in 10 years or 20 years we can tell our kids we were in a movie. Thomas does movies big and I’m sure it will be a big-time movie and something fun to be part of.”
You can read more from Mr. Bouchette’s article here.
You can watch the official trailer for the movie here.
You can check out more of Ben’s photos in his […]
Message for Julia
Ben was recently made aware of a very special fan that is fighting cancer. Julia Pollock was in the hospital for 52 days before being recently released and is now recuperating at home. Ben sent her a short video message he made from his kids football camp in the hope it would lift her spirits.
Julia’s family wanted Ben’s fans to see how much it meant to her.
*If you can’t see the video here, you can watch it here.
Julia’s reaction to his videotaped message:
*If you can’t see the video here, you can watch it here.
From Julia herself:
Hello my name is Julia Pollock.
I battled breast cancer in 2010. In January 2011 I thought I had won the battle, but unfortunately I had not. The cancer is now in my spine and affecting my brain. They say it is terminal. I’m 38 hrs old and refuse to accept that. I still have so much I need to do.
I want Ben to know that his video email meant the world to me not just because I bleed black and gold and watching him every Sunday makes my week but because I’ve ALWAYS known him to be a man with a good heart. When I received the message I was in the hospital and I swear that was the moment I realized I had to fight like I was playing those dumb Ravens in a playoff game. Lol. After 52 days bed ridden in the hospital I am home with my family in Brighton,CO. I’m getting stronger everyday. I guess you could say this is my training camp.
I worked at a hardware store in Steamboat Springs, CO. We employee 45 or so employees. When they all saw the video message they reacted as I did with one exception. They all turned to Steeler Nation or better yet Ben Nation. Every Saturday at work I dress in my jersey for pre-game day. I’ve done this for 6 years. I have had to endure a lot from all my friends and customers. I never would have thought that one genuine and heart felt message could change all of their minds and that they are using words like classy, stand up, awesome and great guy when using Ben in a sentence. […]
More photos from Sunday’s event
“I have been playing here for nine years. I love being involved with the community. It’s home to me now. To be able to reach out and do something like this, to have people come out and have fun, is great.” — Ben
The Roethlisberger Family: Ken, Brenda, Ben, Ashley, and Carlee smile for the camera at Jergels Rhythm Grille last night!
You can see more, courtesy of Steelers.com here.
*Thank you to Teresa Varley!
Sunday: Ben’s Fundraising event
…included both a silent auction and a live auction with proceeds benefiting The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, which supplies police and fire agencies throughout the country with K-9’s and rescue dogs, and The Make-A-Wish Foundation!
Teammates Brett Keisel, Heath Miller, James Harrison, and Charlie Batch were there to lend a hand, as was ESPN’s Merril Hoge.
Ben and WDVE‘s Randy Baumann pose with Officer James Kuzak at Ben’s Fundraiser tonight at Jergels Rhythm Grille. On April 4th 2011, Patrolman Jim Kuzak and fellow officers of the Clairton Police Department answered a home invasion call in the City of Clairton. Upon arrival, Officer Kuzak was shot five times and critically wounded by two suspects as they fled the scene.
Sustaining gunshot wounds to the chest, arm and side which severely injured his lung and spine, Officer Kuzak is recovering from his injuries as he begins a journey down a very long road to rehabilitation and recovery.
You can read more about Officer Kuzak’s road to recovery here.
You can see more photos from the event here.
*Thank you to Teresa Varley and Steelers.com for the photo!
Tonight’s event was also about the children….
“I love the kids. I don’t think that is a secret. For them to have a wish to hang out with me and to be able to grant that is awesome.” — Ben, on the Make-A-Wish program.
Steelers.com‘s Teresa Varley was in attendance this evening at Ben’s first-ever Foundation fundraiser:
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger loves the joy he can bring to a child who he meets through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a child who is battling through tough circumstances but can leave that all behind when they meet their favorite football player.
Now Roethlisberger is finding a new way to help those kids, by not just giving of his time to grant wishes, but also providing financial assistance to help make the wishes possible.
Roethlisberger hosted his first annual Ben Roethlisberger Foundation fundraiser on Sunday night at Jergel’s Rhythm Grill, with proceeds benefitting Make-A-Wish and K-9 Police and Fire Units.
You can see how much he loves the Make-A-Wish moments when he meets the kids, many suffering from serious diseases but despite it all smiling with excitement when they meet him.
Nobody […]
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation Fundraiser
…is Sunday evening, July 8th at Jergels Rhythm Grille!
The event not only benefits Ben’s Foundation, but also the Make-A-Wish® Foundation as well.
Those attending will be rockin’ to 80’s cover band, Flashback Heart Attack, enjoy a strolling dinner, and a fabulous live and silent auction – including the chance to bid on a dinner with Ben, Brett Keisel, Mike Tomlin and Merril Hoge! WDVE‘s Randy Baumann will be the emcee for the festivities!
Ben was a call-in guest on the WDVE Morning Show earlier this week to talk about his Foundation event, which you can listen to here!
Hope to see you there!!
*If you are unable to attend, but would like to make a donation, please click here.
Thank you!!!
To Sue Pollard and the members of Steelers Universe for sending a $250 donation to The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!
The donations were made in memory of their founder and administrator, Marianne, who passed away in April after a long battle with cancer.
Thank you so much Steelers Universe!!
Back from the U.K.
And enjoying a night out at Heinz Field for the Brothers of the Sun Tour featuring Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw!
Honored to be with 2 of my heroes and the best that ever played! At a concert with Jim Kelly and Dan Marino! — Ben
You can see more of Ben’s photos in his gallery here.
Update: The Brothers of the Sun Tour played a sold-out show at Heinz Field. This is the sixth time out of six shows that Kenny Chesney has sold out at that particular venue since 2005. In recognition of that achievement, the Rooney family presented Kenny with a cast-iron Six for Six plaque.