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ANNE HATHAWAY: Hollywood's Warner Bros. studio says Anne Hathaway will play Catwoman in its upcoming Batman flick "The Dark Knight Rises."

Hathaway, whose film credits include "The Princess Diaries," "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Love & Other Drugs," will play the role of Catwoman previously played by Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar, Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry.

The studio also said it has cast "Inception" co-star Tom Hardy as the villain Bane opposite Christian Bale's Caped Crusader in "Rises," The Hollywood Reporter said.

"I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman's most formidable enemies," Nolan said in a statement Wednesday.

AMERICA FERRERA: Actress America Ferrera and "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening are to serve as judges at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, organizers announced.

Director Kimberly Peirce and writer/director Jason Reitman are also to sit on the panel.

The festival is to begin Thursday. A ceremony honoring the best of the fest is to take place Jan. 29, with actor/director Tim Blake Nelson serving as host, the festival said on its Web site Wednesday.

HILARY DUFF: U.S. actress Hilary Duff is denying a tabloid report claiming she is pregnant with her first child.

Duff, 23, and Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Comrie, 30, married last summer.

"Wow what a way to wake up and find out your pregs!" People.com quoted Duff as saying via Twitter Wednesday.

"It's just a rumor guys! Not true. But thanks for all the good wishes! Lol."

RICKY GERVAIS: British comedian and Golden Globe Awards host Ricky Gervais has taped a cameo for the U.S. version of "The Office," EW.com reported.

Gervais co-created and starred in the British show of the same name. It ran for 14 episodes starting in 2001.

EW.com said Wednesday he will reprise his role of unpopular boss David Brent on the Jan. 27 edition of the U.S. sitcom.

Brent will run into his American equivalent, regional manager Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, in the episode, the report said.

Carell is leaving "The Office" this season, the NBC show's seventh.