Because it is our duty to report every time someone sneezes on the set of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, we have some “news” regarding Matthew Modine’s involvement in the anticipated sequel.

Showbiz 411 is reporting that the character actor best known for a role in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket will play a corrupt politician named Nixon in the film. The story goes on to call Modine’s character “a key villain,” though that means he’ll be competing for screen time with Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman, Tom Hardy’s Bane, and the Gotham police force in the anticipated sequel.

How many villains will Nolan’s next Batman film have? Didn’t the previous Batman films -- The Dark Knight, included -- suffer from too many villains gumming up the works? I know, I know … in Nolan we trust. And we’re certainly keeping an open mind to see how the director fits all of these new characters alongside franchise staples Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman and Michael Caine. Showbiz says Modine will film his scenes as part of the Dark Knight London shoot. The film will be in theaters on July 20, 2012.