A few months ago we profiled the hidden star of The Social Network, Josh Pence. He played opposite Armie Hammer as one of the Winklevoss twins, but with face replacement technology he was covered up. THR now reports he will have a chance to shine, in an even bigger film than David Fincher‘s masterpiece.

Josh Pence has been cast in Christopher Nolan‘s The Dark Knight Rises as a young Ra’s Al Ghul. He joins the cast the includes Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and newcomers to the franchise Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Juno Temple and Marion Cotillard.

Liam Neeson played Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins, and it is said that Pence will appear in flashback scenes “that take place 30 years prior to the present story.” This strongly hints that a leaked plot outline is correct. Spoilers below, I suppose.

Selina Kyle/Catwoman – who’s already been confirmed to be played by Anne Hathaway – will end up being an ally to Batman, and not an antagonist as many people suspected. They’re teaming up to take out The League of Shadows, containing Talia al Ghul (Cotillard), Bane (Hardy), and a character that Joseph Gordon-Levitt will be playing, that possibly being Black Mask. While none of this is confirmed, we can definitely speculate at what is in store.

We’ll find out if this is true and more when The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters July 2012.

What do you think about Pence joining The Dark Knight Rises? What about the possible storyline?