Last month rumors flourished about what role John Levit-Gordon play, about a possible Robin appearance, and that Talia will take over for her father as the leader of the League of Shadows. Thankfully Pence's role helps us better assume that the latter is most likely true.
If you ask me, I think Pence is an incredibly great casting decision for the role of young Ra’s al Ghul. Not only is he a great actor but can easily be perceived as a younger Liam Neeson.
He joins a cast that so far includes Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and, presumably, Marion Cotillard. The Dark Knight Rises opens on July 20, 2012.