Christian Bale recently revealed he would return to playing Batman under one condition — if Christopher Nolan asked him to. Bale, who is set to make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Thor: Love and Thunder, previously played the DC billionaire vigilante for three Batman movies. In Love and Thunder, he will play the film’s villain, Gorr the God Butcher, who vows that all gods will die.
Before joining the Thor: Love and Thunder cast, Christian Bale made his big mark in comic book movies with director Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. He played Bruce Wayne/Batman. The critically acclaimed trilogy, which included Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, released from 2005 to 2012. The middle installment, The Dark Knight, released the same year has Marvel Studios’ first film, Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr. and directed by Jon Favreau. Some fans and critics went as far as comparing The Dark Knight to The Godfather Part 2. The late Heath Ledger won an Oscar for best-supporting actor for his portrayal of the Joker.
Since Christian Bale hung up the cape, Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson have played the iconic DC superhero on the big screen, but Bale’s version seems to remain the favorite among audiences. Original big screen Batman actor Michael Keaton is set to reprise his role as the Caped Crusader in Andy Muschietti’s The Flash as part of a multiverse plot. There has been questions raised if there are any chances Bale will put on the cape and cowl again.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant while doing a press junket for Thor: Love and Thunder, Bale finally gave his fans an answer. According to the actor, no one has brought up the idea of him returning to the DC role. Even if there were any offers, he makes it clear that he would only revisit Batman under one condition. Bale’s answer to Screen Rant is below:
No. No one’s ever mentioned it to me. No one’s brought it up. […] Occasionally people say to me, “Oh, I hear you were approached and offered all this.” And I’m like, “That’s news to me. No one’s ever said that.”
I had a pact with Chris Nolan. We said, “Hey, look. Let’s make three films, if we’re lucky enough to get to do that. And then let’s walk away. Let’s not linger too long.” In my mind, it would be something if Chris Nolan ever said to himself, “You know what, I’ve got another story to tell.” And if he wished to tell that story with me, I’d be in.
While Bale is open to revisiting the Batman role, it’s not that easy. Nolan is no longer actively involved in any DC Films as Warner Bros. is moving forward with the DCEU. It’s also been reported that WB is in talks to reboot the entire DC Extended Universe. And with Affleck and Keaton returning as Batman in the The Flash movie, Bale’s return is more unlikely to happen. If anything, Bale seems like he’s talking more about returning if Nolan is comes back as a director for another Batman film.
See Christian Bale as the MCU’s Gorr the God Butcher when Thor: Love and Thunder debuts in theaters only on July 8.
