Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight." (Stephen Vaughan / Warner Bros. Pictures)
Christian Bale is hanging up the cape after “The Dark Knight Rises,” the star said, proclaiming “the end of that Batman era.”
After more than seven years as Bruce Wayne and his Caped Crusader alter-ego in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of Batman films, Bale will not be returning to Gotham.
“I wrapped a few days ago, so that will be the last time I’m taking that cowl off,” Bale told the Philippines Daily Inquirer, reports Ministry of Gossip, our sister blog for all things star-studded.
Bale talked about the complexities of playing such a multifaceted character, and gave props to Anne Hathaway for taking on the “toughest” role of Catwoman in the face of many skeptics who see the role as previously defined. Read more here.
“The Dark Knight Rises,” which stars Bale and Hathaway, as well as Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hardy as Bane, is slated to hit theaters July 20.
– Noelene Clark
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Can't comment….weeping….
I'm awed by the fact that the LA Times has to get a scoop second hand from the Philippines Daily Inquirer. CB is just awesome.
I'll miss Nolan more than I'll miss Bale. These are great films, but Bale's Batman portayal isn't very good. Batman doesn't growl every word like a dog with rabies. He intimidates, but isn't an animal. He should have studied Kevin Conroy a bit.
Michael Keaton willmalways be Batman!
He is not a convincing Batman.
Michael Keaton was?
YES!!!
He doesnt make that growling sound, they manipulate his voice when they edit.
Bale is an amazing actor, your prolly just some old fart who thought Adam West could act. No one els to this point has matched his performance or character of the batman, maybe in the future there will be someone, but not up to this point has there been any one better for the part.
agreed.
It would have been nice to see the Riddler
And Michael Keaton was???
Nostalgia is great and all…but Keaton is not on Bales level as Batman…
Bale was amazing.
Keaton was good.
The brave souls who take on the Batman property after Nolan’s run is going to have a very rough time of it. I just hope Warner Bros are smart enough to pick the right people.
so I guess, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is going to be nightwing or something. If bale is really done with being batman. If bane breaks batman's back and needs to to continue on and leave the door open.
Im so sad to see Nolan & Bale leave the franchise. Nolan done such a great job in bringing back my all time fav super hero. Hats off to Bale for his skills as The Dark Knight. Nolan & Burton are a complete 180° of eachother but I rather have Nolan. Cant wait to see Ann TRY to be better than Michelle & Hale as Catwoman. Man I cant wait til June. Bale & Nolan, I will miss u both. C’mon just one more?
I'm just glad that Nolan & Bale made batman realistic for me. Nothing against Tim Burton, but Nolan's outlook on batman is exactly how I always invisioned batman as a kid. The caractors are believable, batmans equipment and rides are believable, and lastly so is the plot. Thank you Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale for bringing back batman and making him a hit again! You guys are awesome!
So, a multimillionaire playboy socialite hits the street at night and beats the hell out of people in order to “keep his city straight” and many of you think he should talk in his normal speaking voice in order to protect his identity???
Geniuses.
These are the same people that were content with a spit-curl and glasses concealing Clark Kents Superman persona.
Bale is irreplaceable as Batman. They should end this series now rather than ruin it with some other actor who could never fill Bale's mask.
I agree…It won't be the same without Bale's mournful and intense presence. His eyes bely the burden of his life and choices to save others at great cost to himself. I hate it when movie franchises continue on for the dollars but without the first star
Yes. Nolan and Bale. Who can beat it. They the best.
We can argue all we want about how convincing Bale is as Batman.
But casting him as Bruce Wayne was epic.
Let's face it. Batman is the suit.
But Wayne was the first "American Psycho."
everyone did a good job accoridng to the current trends, and perceptions of crime fighting in society and econimies
I always cry when i realize all of them ( Nolan, Bale,Zimmer, Pfister, Freeman, Caine and Oldman) will split after this last adventure. But for sure they will still be working a lot with Nolan in the near future and that´s when we all can smile again !!!! Congrats to Nolan and his entire gothic crew for such an amazing trilogy !!! Hats off to all of them…and reverences to the Gotham´s Cape Crusader…….we really need him…!!!!