For the last few months, film crews from the upcoming Batman bonanza have taken over Chicago. They imploded the Batmobile, they flipped a semi-trailer, but that was all small potatoes compared to this afternoon’s outrageous shenanigans. It’s been unclear what the city was planning on doing with Barch’s deserted candy factory on the West Side, but the once epic monstrosity is now reduced to rubble.

Early this morning, producers for the upcoming Dark Knight began dressing the building up to look like Gotham General Hospital. Then the deserted candy company was filled with explosives, and helicopters filmed overhead as it was blown to smithereens. Fox Chicago was able to tape the entire ordeal, and the video is nothing short of cool. I can’t wait to see how the footage is used next year.

The Dark Knight stars Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, and Morgan Freeman among others. The blockbuster will open sometime next summer and is expected to make an absolute fortune. Presale tickets aren’t on sale yet, but I’d recommend getting your seats early because the entire theater will be full. To check out today’s destruction, check out Fox Chicago’s website.