Tickets for next Thursday's midnight showing of The Dark Knight sold out so quickly that Star Cinemas has announced a second sneak peak showing for 3:15 a.m. in the wee hours of Friday, July 18.

The Dark Knight, the sequal to 2005's Batman Begins, officially opens later that day with an 11:50 a.m. showing in the regular 35 mm theatre and a 12:20 showing on an IMAX screen. (The sneak peaks are both on IMAX.)

According to Wednesday morning's New York Times, early a.m. showings of The Dark Knight are scheduled around the country, some even as "late" as 6 a.m.

The film has generated a lot of buzz in the last few months because it reprises Heath Ledger in the role of the Joker. Ledger died in January, and the film's promoters have since refocused their intense viral marketing campaign on the Joker. The film also stars Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anthony Michael Hall and Cillian Murphy.

To get your sneak peak tickets, go to the Star Cinemas box office (6091 McKee Rd, Fitchburg), call the ticket line at 1-800-FANDANGO or go to www.fandango.com.