Set photos from Christopher Nolan‘s upcoming The Dark Knight Rises have started hitting the web recently, and this week’s addition is Tom Hardy in his full Bane costume. These set photos suggest a lot of things about the upcoming movie, and if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to take the time to work out some possible scenarios. (Photos are here below.)

Okay, so first up we have Hardy as Bane. The look is interesting, to say the least. If the paper in Hardy’s hands is not a copy of the script, then it can be believed that he will be reading some sort of prepared statement in which he is addressing the public, as he’s clearly standing on a camouflaged Tumbler. And unless he’s about to crush the car while juiced on venom, I have to believe that this is the case. He’s obviously not working in the shadows or behind the scenes, which is honestly what I thought he would be primarily doing since that was how Bane was working in his introductory tale from the comics with Knightfall. For a while there, it was appearing that The Dark Knight Rises was, in fact, going to be taking some cues from Knightfall, and while it still might, it’s becoming apparent, through these set photos, that Bane will be working more in the public eye. So Bane might be trying to draw Batman, played by Christian Bale, out into the light of day. We’ve seen through the teaser trailer, and based on the final scenes of The Dark Knight, that Bale’s Batman is taking time away from crime fighting to some degree, so for Hardy’s Bane, who is historically a foreigner to Gotham City, to challenge Gotham’s Dark Knight would be an excellent way to bring Batman back into the fold.

Next up, we have the appearance of a camouflage Tumbler, the model for Nolan’s Batmobile. The Tumbler Batmobile was introduced in Batman Begins as a prototype for a tank/armored car for the U.S. Army. And yes, if you remember its introduction, it too was camouflaged. Suspicion and logic can lead us to conclude, based on the appearance of the camouflaged Tumbler on set, that Wayne Industries has final solidified their governmental contract. The Tumbler will obviously not be available only to The Bat.

Or, you know, I could be completely wrong and none of this is actually what’s going on.

Okay… now, let’s call it how it is. That costume straight up looks ridiculous. I’m sure that once on film, everything we’ll see will look just fine. But Tom Hardy in a muzzle with a padded vest, padded cargo pants, and a high collared heavy coat on a nice summer day in Pittsburgh looks nothing short of hilarious. Like I said, though, I’m sure on film it will be a lot more intimidating and cold looking, but what we’re seeing just looks like a guy with rabies that doesn’t know how to dress appropriately for the season.

Check out these photos and some more from the set over at Just Jared.

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, starring Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Marion Cotillard, will hit theaters in the summer of 2012.