New TDKR Interview With Christian Bale

New TDKR Interview With Christian Bale

Batman himself speaks about Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy coming to an end with The Dark Knight Rises. Bale teases a relationship with Selina Kyle so what does that mean for (not-Talia Al Ghul) Miranda Tate.

By MarkJulian - May 27, 2012 09:05 PM EST
Filed Under: The Dark Knight Rises
Source: Collider



On the amount of IMAX in the film.
Bale: No bloody idea. Ask him about that. I’m not an actor that tends to care. I don’t ask “Is this a close up? Is this a master? Is this a wide? What are you doing?” If I look up and notice the camera I go “Oh, it’s a big one today, must be an IMAX.” And that’s kinda it for me because it doesn’t affect what I’m doing.

On the hype surrounding the film and whether he ever thought he'd return without Christopher Nolan directing.
Bale: I knew it was going to happen for me because I was contracted to do this film. I had no choice, I would have been sued up the ying-yang and be on the street and penniless if I hadn’t done it. Chris, my understanding was, could have chosen not to do it, but he had always talked about this as being a trilogy and he liked the challenge that an awful lot of movies fail on the third one. There are some exceptions but most of the time that’s the tricky one to pull off. And I think he really likes the challenge of that.

On the relationship between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle.
Bale: Have you? You think you have, have you? Aaah, maybe some people are seeing things and they don’t know what they’re looking at? It’s quite interesting to watch and hear what people think we’re doing. You look and go, “That’s not what we’re doing. But never mind, let’s let people think that’s what we’re doing. ”

How much does Bruce Wayne fall in love with Ms. Kyle.
Bale: I’m figuring it all out as I go along. And I’m seeing Chris sitting on this shoulder here and my Emma Thomas sitting on this shoulder right now as you’re asking the question going: “Don’t say anything! You know you’re not allowed to answer that one. ” I think let’s leave that one until you see the movie.

If there's any significance to his hair being longer this time around.
Bale: Yeah, a little. But we’ve always had to mess around… Every single movie that we’ve done for the Batman stuff has always had hair that we’ve had to be able to adapt to different looks throughout. So the longer you keep it the more you can do with it. Am I doing a good job? I’m kinda answering the questions but not really giving you shit.

On where his character is taken in the last outing.
Bale: I have no clue what the audience is going to think about the movie. Thank god I got someone like Chris who is really great at gauging that. He represents the audience for us on the set. So for me, I love the character so much that you’d get a very bizarre Batman movie. People would go, “What the hell? Why are we delving so much into his psyche? ” He is a fascinating character and then Chris just has to tell me the points when it gets tedious and boring and doesn’t want to see what I’m doing. It’s great having someone at the helm who’s – He’s remarkably confident at going with his gut and not desiring any safety net or anything to fall back on. There are a number of times when I say to him: “Are you sure you don’t want me to do a few other variants? I can do this one, and what if later down track you choose to change this part of the story, in that case we need to change the domino effect. If you want I can give you three or four different ways you can play it. ” He’s like: “No, no I know what I want. ” That’s exactly the thing that I need, he’s very firm with it. It is a fascinating character. In honesty, there are probably a lot of stories that can be told with Batman. I like the idea of him growing older and he can’t quite do it as much anymore. But I kind of feel, you have to leave when the going is good and this is when Chris wants to wrap it up. And it’s the right time.

On Batman's motivation. Is it still his parent's death or a greater sense of responsibility to the city of Gotham.

Bale: To me, he has it all; it’s all in there. The thing is, he is still that child basically. The one thing that I do know, and there’s an awful lot in the graphic novels, which we’ve played with a little bit, is this whole notion of him genuinely being a playboy versus what we’ve done, which is he sort of performs that but his heart’s not really in it. And the eternal problem that Alfred has with watching this guy who has no life. He’s put his entire life on hold because, yeah, he still does. He’s got this fierceness in his mind and emotions that he just will not forget the pain of the parents. With most people it’s like time heals all wounds, but with him it’s like, “No, no, no. ” He doesn’t want to forget it, he wants to maintain that anger that he felt at that injustice but equally he wants to present this very vacuous soulless persona to Gotham so hopefully no one will suspect him but will just think he’s a spoiled bastard. But consequently in his most intimate moments he has Alfred, he has Rachel and there is not a whole lot there, because it’s complete arrested development. And the recognition that at some point he’s got to start living. He is seriously behind in terms of life and enjoyment of life. That’s all been sacrificed and at some point, hopefully it’s Alfred’s wish that he will start to live again. Of course this tragedy has defined him but to a degree he’s sacrificed everything that most people would consider worth living for in life and he’s going to have relearn that, embarrassingly late in life.



Running Time: 2 hrs 40 min [rumored]
Release Date: July 20 2012 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Starring: Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Juno Temple, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Jonathan Nolan (screenplay), Christopher Nolan (screenplay), David S. Goyer (story)


The Dark Knight Rises is an upcoming superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Jonathan Nolan and the story with David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film will be the third installment in Nolan's Batman film series, and is a sequel to Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008). The Dark Knight Rises is intended to be the conclusion of the series. It stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman. The film will take place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight and will introduce the characters of Selina Kyle and Bane—portrayed by Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy, respectively—two villains from the Batman mythology.







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KingEmperor
KingEmperor - 5/27/2012, 9:41 PM
First?
KingEmperor
KingEmperor - 5/27/2012, 9:41 PM
FIRST!!!
GuardianAngel
GuardianAngel - 5/27/2012, 9:44 PM
@KingEmperor Kick your [frick]in @$$! I want you off this [frick]in comment page you prick! No don't just be sorry...
Oxbow
Oxbow - 5/27/2012, 9:46 PM
the arrested development line lets me know bale is really into this character now. This is something the comics don't deal with very well that I have read, the amount of avoidance necessary to hold onto the outrage and anger over his parent's death for a lifetime. If they explore that psyche-emotional aspect in this movie well, then I will be happy. I'm also wishing that Bane somehow has a third act transformation into a really big dude. Hope springs eternal..
KingEmperor
KingEmperor - 5/27/2012, 9:47 PM
I'm reading contradictions here. At first, I read somewhere that Nolan intended to end his Batman with TDK. When you REALLY pay attention to the movie, it did seem like he wanted to end the DK legend with him being hunted down. And he mentioned in an interview about being skeptical about making a 3rd movie, specifically mentioning the dreaded trilogy curse. And now Bale says that Nolan intended for the DK legend to be a trilogy? Hmmm...
Supersonicboobs
Supersonicboobs - 5/27/2012, 9:49 PM
very thought provoking!!...also i'm First ...so i win
Tymminator
Tymminator - 5/27/2012, 9:49 PM
Hmmm.....
BooYah
BooYah - 5/27/2012, 9:50 PM
Really they asked him about his hair? Bale sounds bored with all these questions.
valeriesghost
valeriesghost - 5/27/2012, 9:51 PM
I hope he's right and this one is fonna be good. Nolan is due for a stinker, I hope he has another in him, cause I'm not convinced it is. I'm still looking forward to it though.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 5/27/2012, 9:53 PM
@KingEmperor gay? GAY!!!
TheGambitFreak
TheGambitFreak - 5/27/2012, 9:54 PM
I love how he's always so relaxed and just shows up on set to shoot, then get out. He's a careless [frick]er, gotta respect him.
RR51
RR51 - 5/27/2012, 9:55 PM
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 5/27/2012, 10:00 PM
I refuse to believe that Miranda is not Talia. It may be stupid, but my hope for the movie lies somewhere in Talia's inclusion, and if they truly wasted that opportunity for an original character, then I'll be extremely disappointed.

Bale also let on that Bruce has gotten old and less capable. This is a bit strange considering he's still something of a novice. I mean it won't make a difference in the long run since Batman will likely be rebooted in 5 years, but I think it's weird.
Coachella
Coachella - 5/27/2012, 10:06 PM
July 20 feels like forever
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 5/27/2012, 10:06 PM
You know what, screw it. I'm fine with them doing whatever they want. I've got Arkham City, and it ventures where no movie will ever be able to go.
AsianVersionOfET
AsianVersionOfET - 5/27/2012, 10:07 PM
Christian Bale can have my baby...and I'm a dude.
goatmilk
goatmilk - 5/27/2012, 10:10 PM
It's awesome how much Christian Bale respects Nolan , it definitely pays off collaboration-wise. I think that it's too easy to underestimate just how thoughtful Nolan is with these movies, how good all the decisions are along the way and the balance that happens between the realism and the source material (and don't say there isn't faith to the comics, just in the trailers for this one alone I can detect references to knightfall, no mans land, year one, and dark knight returns).
AztecaAguilar04
AztecaAguilar04 - 5/27/2012, 10:11 PM
@ KingEmperor Nolan, Bale, Caine & Oldman All Originally Signed On For Three Films Before They Started Shooting Batman Begins. Remember Nolan Likes To Throw People Off. That Tricky Bloke lol.
SCURVYDOG619
SCURVYDOG619 - 5/27/2012, 10:20 PM
Bale...Ah,the man who despises the whole interview game.


Because he's a professional.


And he'll trash your lights if you think different.lol


With his comments about liking the idea of Batman 'getting older',expect the rumours of a live-action Dark Knight Returns to start up again...
acidbath
acidbath - 5/27/2012, 10:49 PM
he always comes across like a smug prick but his batman voice aside damn he can act
GiantNerd
GiantNerd - 5/27/2012, 10:50 PM
"Do you want me to [frick]in trash your lights"

Sorry, that is just so damn funny to me.
GiantNerd
GiantNerd - 5/27/2012, 10:51 PM
Dammit Scurvy beat me to it. :(
Ranger14
Ranger14 - 5/27/2012, 11:06 PM
I had to laugh, as I really don't care how much of the film is shot in iMax either,
Comix
Comix - 5/27/2012, 11:33 PM
Who cares after this movie me and Bale are done professionally!
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 5/28/2012, 1:10 AM
That's a sick ass banner.
TheDetectiveComicRises
TheDetectiveComicRises - 5/28/2012, 5:30 AM
A true professional Bale has become my favorite actor & Batman/Bruce Wayne in the past decade I would luv to see him as Batman in Justice League but hey at least we got him as The Dark Knight 3 times :)
Shaman
Shaman - 5/28/2012, 6:19 AM
Well thank you Bale, you've just proven my point by thoroughly explaining WHY i hate Bale's Bruce Wayne portrayal. I've been saying this since Batman Begins. I don't mind Bale as Batman, even with his cancer voice, but i've ALWAYS hated his Bruce Wayne BECAUSE he plays at being a complete douche in the public eye. Why? There is no reason why he would ever need to because in the books he NEVER HAD TO. I'm not saying he never did, but most of the time (like 90% of it) he relies on public relations so it would go against his plans to do so. That is why i will always prefer Keaton's charming industrialist portrayal over Bale's douchebag playboy version, regardless how short Keaton is in real life. Keaton was menacing as Batman, charming as Bruce Wayne AND pulled off the tortured orphan behind closed doors better than anyone in any batsuit before. Michael Keaton reigns. Now let's move on with the reboot.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 5/28/2012, 8:57 AM
Wow. After that last answer, I'm liking Bale again.
It wasn't really that stress period, where he had a tantrum on the set of Terminator and accosted his family members over money, in public. It was his terrible Batman voice in The Dark Knight that made me dislike him. But this reminds me why I jumped for joy the day I heard that he was teaming with Nolan on Batman Begins. He's awesome. Truly. I just hope he doesn't channel the bat-cowl-headache to the point of ridiculous pantomime voice, in this one. It worked when he was interegating Flass. It didn'ty work at any other point.
ISleepNow
ISleepNow - 5/28/2012, 3:02 PM
Very good interview. I would have asked him to clear up whether he would have done the film if he was Not already under contract though
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