According to both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, former Dawson's Creek star Katie Holmes has been offered the part of Rachel, the Caped Crusader's love interest, in the new Batman film, which Memento director Christopher Nolan is helming for Warner Bros.  Holmes is to do a screen test with the new Batman (Christian Bale) with director Christopher Nolan behind the camera.  If she does get the part, which is considered likely, Holmes will be the third actor cast following Christian Bale (see 'American Psycho Star Is Next Batman') and Michael Caine (Alfred, see 'Alfie To Play Alfred'). 

Holmes, who has worked with topflight directors including Curtis Hanson, Ang Lee, and Sam Raimi, has done an excellent job of managing the often difficult transition from television to film.  She is starring in two recently released films, The Singing Detective and Pieces of April.  Current plans call for Nolan to start shooting the new Batman film (from a script by David Goyer) sometime in 2004 for a summer 2005 release.