Director Christopher Nolan has released the following statement regarding the shooting at a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Colorado early Friday morning. It follows Warner Bros. decision to cancel the Paris Premiere of the film in the wake of the tragedy

 ”Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of The Dark Knight Rises, I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to  know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.”

While millions of fan around the world watch the final installment of the Dark Knight saga, we join Christopher Nolan in offering our deepest sympathies to those who have had their lives touched by this tragedy.