It is true. After The Dark Knight Rises, both director Christopher Nolan and actor Christian Bale will retire from the world of Gotham City forever. And Bale has already worn Bruce Wayne's hi-tech costume for the last time.
"I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I'm taking that cowl [Batman hood] off. I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it's all done. Everything's finished. It's me and Christopher Nolan - that will be the end of that Batman era."
The actor went onto say that he's enjoyed the experience of playing Batman, and then broke down the character of Bruce Wayne.
"We always maintained from the beginning that if you wanted to break it down, there are three personas - Batman is sincere, the private Bruce Wayne is sincere. The public version of Bruce Wayne, the playboy, is a completely fabricated performance."
For the first time, Christian Bale opened up about his newest co-stars, Anne Hathaway, who stars as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), Tom Hardy who plays Bane, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who appears as police officer John Blake.
First, Bale praised Anne Hathaway original screen test.
"I had plenty of scenes with Anne Hathaway. And I was there when we did the screen test for her. The thing that I said to Christopher Nolan that day was that there were many very accomplished actresses who had read for the role. I'm terrible at auditions, so I'm very impressed when somebody really seems to acquire an ownership of a character without having worked on it or prepared for some amount of time. I saw that in Anne Hathaway. When Christopher Nolan watched the screen test, he agreed that Anne Hathaway did a wonderful job. In many ways, she has the hardest job. There are a number of people who feel that the Catwoman role has been defined previously. So, I always saw Anne Hathaway's role as being the toughest job of any of us. In my case, I've stopped referencing outside sources. I now reference Chris' own world of Batman as a guide to what I will continue doing."
Christian Bale continued by speaking out on Tom Hardy's performance as Bane.
"(He is) a phenomenal actor. I like working with him a great deal. He goes the whole hog. I know that Bane has been seen in movies before. But, in my eyes, Tom Hardy is essentially creating Bane for the first time so there's great freedom for him to be able to do so.
Lastly, Christian threw some praise in the direction of newcomer Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who is playing police officer John Blake.
"Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a very intriguing guy. I would see Joseph's performances in other films while we were filming. He's somebody who truly seems to love acting. He's a good, smart guy. He did a very good job in the movie."
The recent images of Bane and Batman from Empire Magazine have also been made available in Hi-Res. Check them out below. And to read more from Christian Bale:
The Dark Knight Rises was released July 20th, 2012 and stars Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan.
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Dfella504
ikr no more reboots!!!!!!! keep it going if bales out go a new actor an i have 1 name to replace nolan..who's jus as good m. bay!!!!!!!!!!!
1 year agoby @dfellaFlag
Ghostman
@slysnide If it's a complete collection then I'm sure it'll be a large hardcover graphic novel broken down into 3 sections of the book.
1 year agoby @ghostmanFlag
slysnide
@ghostman: Also, when at "B&N," they carried "Knightfall" parts 1 & 2, titled "Broken Bat" which ended with Bane breaking Batman, and "Who Rules the Night." However, they didn't carry part 3, which online was titled "Knightfall Part 3: Knight'sEnd," but that would exclude all of "Knightquest" which according to wikipedia takes place after "who rules the night" making it technically part 3. They even only chose certain comics from "Knight'sEnd" to include in that trilogy set, so why would they exclude certain comics from that, plus all of "Knightquest?" Weird. I saw what you were talking about and it seems odd that that trilogy set was complete or competent without it. I guess they eliminated many "unnecessary" side stories to center on the Bane story then? idk, it's bizarre. But with this news, I will cross that trilogy off my xmas list and wait for my birthday next summer. :P I trust this new (hopefully) pack will either be comprised in one giant GN, or a few with a very simple to follow table of contents.
1 year agoby @slysnideFlag
Yveske
i hope they don't reboot after tdkr. just pick another actor and go on to penguin or the black mask
1 year agoby @yveskeFlag
Ghostman
@slysnide Interesting..I'll have to ask at my local B&N store and stop by at A Comic Shop and see what they know. i found this tid-bit of info about a "Complete Collection":
"The entire Knightfall storyline took over a year to complete in the comic book serials, and in later years, the comics were compressed into a series of trade paperbacks, although these paperbacks do not include the Knightquest portion of the story.
"According to Amazon, DC is planning to release in May 2012, a newer, more complete collection of the KnightSaga alongside their re-issue of No Man's Land. This collection will, for the first time, include KnightQuest"
1 year agoby @ghostmanFlag
slysnide
@ghostman: That's what I've been hearing and seeing. Crisp copies at Barnes & Noble last night. They were never there before, and were $20 each (too pricey for me) as there was no trade paperback of the whole thing. Whereas a few weeks ago new & used copies on amazon were ranging from $70 and higher. Now new copies there are around $11 plus S&H. So I'm putting all 3 parts on my Xmas list.
1 year agoby @slysnideFlag
Ghostman
@slysnide they're reprinting Knightfall? I would much rather see the other comic it's based on, No Man's Land repreinted---that has never been fully collected in it's completeness ;)
1 year agoby @ghostmanFlag
slysnide
Glad to see they're reprinting "Knightfall" amidst the content of this film. Hopefully "Prey" is soon to follow. Given the description of Bane's mask as an anesthetic, then that's not very 'mad scientist' like, so I still believe Hugo Strange is in this. Based on video & images of Alon Aboutbul from other stuff, I can easily picture him in the role. Hopefully he's in the upcoming teaser trailer to rush reprints of "Prey," but I doubt it.
1 year agoby @slysnideFlag
Ghostman
@k-man I've known about the attached TDKR trailer for Sherlock Holmes 2 and it's 6 minute prologue when you see M:I 4 in IMAX, but I can't wait to see those! and about that Prometheus trailer----omg it's really happening now!!! So excited :D
1 year agoby @ghostmanFlag
Nicholaus XX
@bawnian-dexeus -- I'm still skeptical about it. I must really see it to believe it.
1 year agoby @XxNickTheFilmCriticXxFlag
Summit10
BRING IT ON BAT SHRIEK!!! Seriously, this film is going to be an EPIC finale!
1 year agoby @summit10Flag
incmob
@jimthar personally i would rather see them end on a good note then milk the franchise that lessens the value of the first three. Batman and robin did it... superman did it, spider man did it, even xmen did... before essentially the "'rebooted" batman, hardly anyone had heard of either bale or nolan, and no one knew what to expect from it, batman begins was a surprise success and could have failed as easily as it succeeded. to say that nolan and bale need to continue for the sake of "the fans" is not a valid point. they are artists, and desire to do other things. i respect that. that is like saying spielberg should make 5 or 6 more of the indiana jones films. Trilogies are the quintessential for most books, and film, because they are the first, second, and third acts. nolan knows this, bale respects the idea, i see no problem giving someone else a chance like wb and the fans did for nolan, i still even love batman and batman returns, maybe not to the degree of nolans films, but on different levels they are both great interpretations from two good directors. I do agree though that i think bane came in too soon, but hopefully the plan pays off.
1 year agoby @incmobFlag
bruce_ha
After reading The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller i can see that the mutant leader probably influenced Christoper Nolan into making the final part of his trilogy about Bane.
Or atleast i hope that's the case, the story in that book was amazing.
1 year agoby @bruce-haFlag
ejk1
We'll see how "sincere" Nolan and Bale are after WB offers them obscene deals for the fourth. If they walk, I respect them for sticking to their guns. If they bite, I respect them for doing what's right for themselves economically.
1 year agoby @ejk1Flag
Sean
@k-man
Oh, okay. I'll be going to the theaters then, to see the Dark Knight Rises trailer and Sherlock Holmes 2, when it's released to theaters next month.
1 year agoby @themoviefanaticFlag
Jimthar
@incmob i see your point here but this series WAS the reboot. so now they're going to reboot the reboot?? that, to me, is just stupid. as is ending these movies after only 3 films, with so many more stories to tell and villains to see. i still think they're bringing bane in TOO EARLY. (like B&R did and how SM3 brought venom in too early.) it's still too early in the lives of these characters to be bringing in such formidible and life altering foes. hell bane KILLED batman so this seems like a misstep to me, unless bale dies at the end of this one. now if nolan didn't return to direct, he could at least produce and make sure any future sequels would follow the same lines and tone of the first 3. and i really dont know why bale wouldn't do another one. these movies are gold for him. and it's not like many of his other movies are big hits. maybe it's just a case of 'pretentious actors disease' or something. personally i dont see a "reboot" doing very well. i mean, does ANYONE out there think that they are going to top these 3 movies? or even come close? and i see what you mean by saying that every story has a beginning, middle, and end but that doesn't mean that those 3 parts HAVE TO be in exactly 3 movies either. who's to say where the end is? as long as the movies are still good, go on, i say! go on.
1 year agoby @jimtharFlag
K-Man
@themoviefanatic - Yeah, expect all those trailers to be released online on the same day, but the first movie to have the new Dark Knight Rises Trailer, as well as The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey trailer, attached to it in theaters will be Sherlock Holmes 2.
And by the way, I may have been wrong about the Prometheus trailer.......we may have it even sooner than that (in HD). As soon as I posted that comment below, I headed over to comicbookmovies and saw this!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3idSf4q2fVI
Take a look fast, it wont be up very long (its in very low res....but holy sh*t is it AMAZING)
1 year agoby @k-manFlag
Sean
@k-man
So, what you mean is that they will be showing a new Dark Knight Rises trailer, at the showings of only Sherlock Holmes 2 in theaters one the day that movie is released ?
1 year agoby @themoviefanaticFlag
TheDude1
I could honestly see Nolan and Bale coming back...... Having said that the only way that would happen to me is if WB agreed to take a break for awhile. At least 5 to 10 years. Something I highly doubt they would even consider, considering how huge TDKR will be at the box office. A sequel or a reboot will probably happen within 3 to 4 years.
1 year agoby @thedude1Flag
Black Jesus
I will CRY when I see this. No doubt.
1 year agoby @black-jesusFlag
K-Man
Damn this movie is going to be badass! I think the only way you can describe the look of what we have seen so far is: EPIC.
@ghostman@themoviefanatic - You'll be getting another trailer on December 16th and it will be attached to Sherlock Holmes 2......so get ready!!! You'll also get the first trailer for The Hobbit on the same day!
Dont be surprised if we also manage to get the Prometheus trailer and a second Amazing Spiderman trailer on the same day because I know they should be coming out in December too. If not on the 16th, expect these to be released on the 23rd!!
Not to mention the *possibility* of teaser trailers for Jack the Giant Killer, 47 Ronin, Total Recall, World War Z, Argo, The Gangster Squad, Cogan's Trade and Gravity!! I can tell you one thing for sure, it's going to be a good month for trailers and films!
1 year agoby @k-manFlag
incmob
@jimthar I agree this will not be the last... but will be for bale and nolan. I think they are sincere in saying that they had a story to tell, and this will be the end... at least of that story. every story has a beginning, middle and end, however i do think that WB will either continue the franchise or reboot it in a few years after this one concludes... possibly like marvel has done, by setting things up for a justice league.
I still hold my breath for a frank miller "dark knight returns" or possibly a "kingdom come" type story or meshing the two with a batman beyond. We always see the now of bruce wayne but never the later or future bruce wayne to see how the war on gotham has taken its toll on bruce, not to mention that it would be an easy way to skip out on robin having a place in this darker world nolan has started.
1 year agoby @incmobFlag
ROFLitschristian
IT CAN'T END! NUNCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1 year agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag
skywise
WOW! Just...wow! This is going to be huge (as if it even needs to be said)
1 year agoby @skywiseFlag
Sean
@ghostman
Yeah, that would be great if another trailer was released for The Dark Knight Rises already. Maybe in December there will be another trailer for it, or maybe around the time that the next superbowl game happens it could be possible that by then, another trailer would be released for it.
1 year agoby @themoviefanaticFlag
Jimthar
this wont be the last one. i guarantee it. with the amount of money this is going to make, you're almost assurred there will be at least one more. if not two. there are too many villians that haven't been seen yet.
1 year agoby @jimtharFlag
Ghostman
OMG....this is incredible! just give me the trailer already! :D
1 year agoby @ghostmanFlag
MovieManiac
I have honestly never been more excited for a movie in my life.
1 year agoby @moviemaniac66Flag
BERSERKER
I wonder what WB will do with the Bat franchise after this?
1 year agoby @Number1WolverineFlag
Waseem Abbas Burfat
Christian Bale nice job
1 year agoby @Waseem-Abbas-BurfatFlag