HONG KONG (AFP) — The director of the next Batman film said Friday a planned scene in which the caped crusader dived into Hong Kong's harbour was cut because of script changes and not the water's severe pollution.
Producers had reportedly been forced to pull one scene involving the hero of "The Dark Knight" -- played by Christian Bale -- jumping out of a plane into the city's famed Victoria Harbour, as the dirty water was too dangerous.
"That was my decision, nothing to do with pollution. It was simply a script decision," said British director Christopher Nolan, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the latest instalment of the Batman franchise.
"Once you see the finished film, you will understand why. As far as the pollution question goes, I honestly have no problem dumping movie stars in it."
The film is making the franchise's first journey outside the fictional Gotham City and will use Hong Kong's spectacular skyline during several days filming here, Nolan added.
Bale, who took the title role in the previous film, "Batman Begins," said he was excited about climbing to the top of some the city's highest buildings "and jumping off of them."
Speaking alongside co-star Morgan Freeman at a packed press conference, Bale said he would be shooting on the top of Hong Kong's tallest building, the 90-storey IFC2.
Hong Kong suffers both serious water and air pollution that on many days leaves the famous skyline clouded in haze. Much of it is caused by local power plants and emissions from factories in nearby southern China.
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