The epic conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy is one of the most anticipated films of 2012, but moviegoers won’t have to wait until next year to see the six-minute opening sequence of The Dark Knight Rises. The film’s prologue will be unveiled exclusively in select 70mm IMAX theatres worldwide this month! The announcement was made today in an official press release by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The Prologue will be released with select 70mm IMAX prints of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in North America on December 16, and in the UK on December 21, 2011. Additional international dates vary by territory and will be announced soon. You can read the current list in the full story below.

Director Christopher Nolan employed the extremely high-resolution cameras on The Dark Knight Rises — including the film’s prologue — to achieve unprecedented crispness and clarity and a truly immersive experience for the moviegoers.

Our experience on The Dark Knight shooting and projecting IMAX 15 perf 65mm/70mm film was inspiring. The immersive quality of the image goes beyond any other filmmaking tool available, and in revisiting Gotham, we were determined to shoot even more of the movie in this unique format. Giving the fans an early look at an IMAX sequence is a great way to draw attention to what I believe will be an incredible way to experience our story when it comes out next summer.
– Christopher Nolan

Below is a list of the theaters in North America in which the Prologue of The Dark Knight Rises will be revealed on December 16th:

Below is a list of the theaters in the UK in which the Prologue of The Dark Knight Rises will be revealed on December 21st:

The prologue has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for “some violence.” Thanks to Dragon_316ca in the forums for the heads-up!