Christian Bale Not Likely to Return as Batman after The Dark Knight Rises

Posted by on November 29th, 2010   Filed under: Action, Books/Comics
Source: E! Online

I’m not sure how surprising or newsworthy this really is, but since people are always dying for any morsel of information about Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, I thought I would post it anyway. In a recent interview with good ol’ Ben Lyons of E! News, Christian Bale confirmed something that will no doubt bring sadness to the hearts of Batfans everywhere: The Dark Knight Rises will likely be the last time he dons the cape and cowl to play the role of Batman. It will all depend on whether or not Christopher Nolan decides he wants to do a fourth movie, and “unless Chris says different”, Bale will also bow out after part three.

I’m pretty sure that Bale signed a three-movie deal initially, although you have to assume that Warner Brothers will do anything in their power to convince him and Nolan to keep doing more Batman movies after this one. Of course, until we see where the story goes and what they manage to accomplish with the third one, it’s impossible to say if another movie would even make sense. I’m still wondering if Nolan will have the guts to actually kill off Bruce Wayne in this movie to reinforce the finality of it (at least, until they reboot the franchise again).

We have started hearing rumours about a new Batman TV series to air after The Dark Knight Rises, and this would seem to support the theory that Warner Brothers is preparing for Nolan and Bale’s departure. They probably won’t want to immediately walk right over the Batman legacy that has been left behind on the big screen, so TV is a way to do something with the property that is distinctly separate. Word on the street is that they’re eager to re-introduce The Joker as well. Are you disappointed that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale will probably end their Batman journey after three films? Is a new Batman TV series something you’d like to see?



  • Maopheus

    The TV series would be a good idea if they did it on basic cable with a short season, i.e. 10-15 episodes, maybe 2 story arcs, 3 at most. I’d imagine it would have to that given the probable high budget and long production times. For example, do a Joker run for 5 episodes. Take two to tie that up and introduce the next arc. Let that one run the rest of the season and lead to a cliffhanger. It would work if it was a continuation of the Nolan/Bale Batman and characters. I think as long as the writers and show runners are good, and Nolan either backs it or has some kind of final approval, I would accept the show.

  • Matt

    I think a TV series could definitely be interesting, especially with how well a comic book show like “The Walking Dead” is turning out. In my opinion the only complaint I really have with some of Nolan’s movies is that they tend to be a bit too dense for 1 movie and cover too much ground. A format like this could let some of the themes play out a bit more. Hell, I’m sure there are many who would disagree with me but i think a well-made show in the world of Inception, or at least a mini-series, could be way more interesting than a sequel

  • Justin

    I saw the interview and Christian Bale didn’t CONFIRM anything so this is all BS. However, I think we all expect this to be the last anyways, so why would this be news?

  • Captain N

    A TV show could be cool. Particularly on something like HBO where the seasons are shorter and allows for a much richer production value. Though let’s be realistic, the show will be on CW and star models turned actors.

  • Maopheus

    Tonally, a Batman TV series would be awesome on FX. HBO being a Time-Warner company would work also, but they’d have to decide if it’s worth it from a budget standpoint and the smaller audience. The movies are PG-13, so that kind of material is no problem for basic cable. USA wouldn’t work because it’s a Universal network and the shows on that network tend to be very light. AMC is a possibility as well.

  • Ben

    A show would be great but not at the expense of the films.

    I still feel deep down that they NEED to handle the Batman films like the Bond films from here on out. Whoever takes over, just keep it going with a loose but solid continuity.

  • Mark in Ottawa

    Coming soon – Reboot with James Franco in the lead and Todd Solondz directing.

    Evil nemesis ? The Spleen – That’s right Paul Reubens.

  • LA MENTHE

    >”I’m still wondering if Nolan will have the guts to actually kill off Bruce Wayne in this movie to reinforce the finality of it (at least, until they reboot the franchise again).”

    Who said anything about killing off batman? It being the last in the franchise doesn’t tell you anything. Especially not when the end of The Dark Knight is when the real Batman, the Batman we know from comics and such, rises.

  • Jonny Ashley

    Hey, whoa, oversized christian bale picture on the popular posts tag. How you doin’.

  • Derek McFarland

    I enjoyed the Nolan Batman movies, and kinda wanted to see him do one with the Riddler; which I’m sure would have been greatly done. But if the 3rd film is to be the last, I don’t think that, that particular feel of Batman should be thrown straight to T.V. (considering how well his movies were filmed) although it would be kinda cool; not having ta wait years on end; just ta see another Batman story, on the big screen.
    Instead, I think they should just do another take off on the character… maybe like a period piece. Perhaps set in the 1940’s, with a “Sin City” (green screen) comic book type feel
    (more unrealistic). That way they could pull off more “over the top” characters; and get away with it (without the logical police bashing it) like, Clay Face, Killer Croc, Robin, and even a new & more so theatrical monstrous version of the Joker (like he looks in the comics)
    The ending of one franchise and the beginning of a new one. Give the job to Robert Rodriguez and Tarantino, and I assure you it will be as, or even more entertaining than Nolans. Nolan went for realism, which was an awesome pull off, but Robert and Tarantino seem to like, thinking outside the box, and are very traditional; especially in the comic book world.
    But that’s just my opinion.

  • For some reason I just can’t get with Bale as an actor. I think he is just too intense for me in general and never comes across as a natural in the roles he plays.

    That’s not to say I hate his films or don’t admire the effort he puts into his craft but bottom line for me I rarely ‘feel’ his films.

    The Batman films have been ok so far but I’ve always been wishing that Nolan would take it to an even darker place. I guess such a mainstream film has to balance things out ultimately.