The Insider.com

After being overcome with emotion during The MTV Movie Awards, Christian Bale made it clear the presence of Heath Ledger still looms large over his Batman brethren.

• June 05, 2012First Look: Thomas Dekker's 'Squatters'
• June 04, 2012First Look: Lindsay as Liz Taylor
• June 04, 2012New 'Perks of Being a Wallflower' Trailer
• June 04, 2012'Iron Man 3' - First Look
• June 03, 2012'Snow White' Trumps 'MiB 3'
• June 01, 2012New Games: Jennifer Lawrence's Haunted 'House'?

VIDEO - Christian Bale Breaks Down Over Heath

But many wondered if the late actor's iconic character would play any role in July's cinematic conclusion, The Dark Knight Rises.

VIDEO - New Dark Knight Rises Trailer

An issue director Christopher Nolan, who steered all three installments, tackled head on in the new issue of Empire Magazine (via). "We're not addressing The Joker at all," Nolan said. "That is something I felt very strongly about in terms of my relationship with Heath and the experience I went through with him on The Dark Knight. I didn't want to in any way try and account for a real-life tragedy. That seemed inappropriate to me."

POLL - Which Catwoman is Best?

Heath, who died on Jan. 22, 2008 from an accidental prescription drug overdose, won a posthumous Oscar for his transcendent performance in The Dark Knight.