"Dark Knight Rises" director Christopher Nolan just released the following statement regarding the massacre in Colorado:

"Speaking on behalf of the cast and crew of 'The Dark Knight Rises', I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community.

I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. 

The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me.

Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families."

The studio behind "The Dark Knight Rises" is removing all images and references to guns from all "Batman" movie trailers ... TMZ has learned.

Sources tell TMZ ... the honchos at Warner Bros. gave the order just a few hours after the shooting in Colorado this morning.

We're told the studio is hoping to replace the current made for TV trailers with the gun-free version as soon as possible.

We've called Warner Bros. for comment -- so far, no word back.