Credit: Thedarkknightrises.com.

Bat-fans don't have to wait to see "The Avengers" in theaters to get a peek at the latest trailer for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises."

The last chapter in the director's acclaimed, blockbuster Batman series has the Caped Crusader tackling Bane, one of his most powerful foes. Played by Tom Hardy, Bane's a criminal mastermind whose strength is boosted by a mysterious chemical concoction.

The newest trailer - which will unspool before "The Avengers" in theaters starting May 4 - incorporates elements of a daring aerial escape that some fans saw in a special IMAX prologue of the film, scenes of devastation in Gotham City, as well as more footage of Anne Hathaway as Selena Kyle/Catwoman, and Joseph Gordon Levitt as a cop only known as John Blake.

"The Dark Knight Rises" hits theaters July 20. To whet your appetite, a fictional police report on the so-called "anonymous vigilante" known as "The Batman" has just been posted on TheDarkKnightRises.com. The fake report asks citizens to tweet or email any graffiti showing support of Batman and lists locations all over the world - no doubt a savvy global guerrilla marketing campaign for the movie.