Tom Hardy Dishes On Playing Bane In The Dark Knight Rises, The Joker And More!

Tom Hardy Dishes On Playing Bane In The Dark Knight Rises, The Joker And More!

Ultimately sharing thoughts on portraying the musclebound villain 'Bane' in The Dark Knight Rises, actor Tom Hardy also dishes on whether theres any pressure from the Joker!

By DCMarvelFreshman - Aug 01, 2011 05:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman
Source: Total Film



The folks from Total Film recently caught up with the actor behind 'Bane' in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, Tom Hardy. And discussing playing the villain, donning his mask, among other things, check out what he had to say.

Reminiscing Nolan calling him, he says...
‘Hang on a minute. You’re asking me to come round the world with you in a Batman movie, playing a villain, and the only downside to it is I have to wear a mask? Hmmm, let me think. I’ll get back to you… No, I’m [frick]ing there, man! Anything you need.’”


When asked if Batman will suffer any Back injuries, he says...
“Mmmmm… Good lead-in, but all I can say is that Chris has a plan up his sleeve that’s not at all disappointing. And that is a definite choice that’s watertight in every respect. I think Bane’s [frick]ing cool so I’m really excited to play him. It’s not the guy in Joel Schumacher’s film, but it shouldn’t disappoint fanboys…”


On any pressure from the late Heath Ledger's 'Joker', Hardy says...
"No, none at all. Brilliant actor, brilliant work – that’s it. I’ve got a job to do. It’s the same with Mad Max & Mel Gibson. I’m not here to engage in a competition with their talent. It’s to play the character that I’m given.”


And finally, on donning Bane's mask, he says...
“Any time you put something over your face, you’re going to adopt a personality and a physicality that has nothing to do with acting. It allows a performance to be free.”


For much more from Tom Hardy, be sure to pick up the latest issue of Total Film magazine.


The Dark Knight Rises' story details are being kept underwraps. Although, the films stars Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Marion Cotillard, Josh Pence, Nestor Carbonell, Michael Caine, Alon Aboutboul, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, the film releases 20 July, 2012!

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CraptainAmerica
CraptainAmerica - 8/1/2011, 6:00 AM
I like it. Short, simple. Hardy's a true pro.

My mates company was doing the 3D scans of Bane and he was there with his family. The guys said he was such a nice bloke!...even if he couldn't keep still ;-)
ROMACK
ROMACK - 8/1/2011, 6:17 AM
Cool. Seems like he's pretty laid back. He shouldn't feel any pressure from Ledger. He is playing Bane, not Joker.
GrimeKid
GrimeKid - 8/1/2011, 6:19 AM
Hey guys check this out.
DarthDan
DarthDan - 8/1/2011, 6:19 AM
Hardy was a brilliant choice for Bane... Its yet to be seen if Nolan can execute him well on screen.
airbeyonder18
airbeyonder18 - 8/1/2011, 6:24 AM
He's going to do a fine job. I'm not worried.
FireKnightRises
FireKnightRises - 8/1/2011, 6:27 AM
"It’s not the guy in Joel Schumacher’s film, but it shouldn’t disappoint fanboys…”

yeah man I'm glad he know the character he played
and from his statement looks like we will got bane from comic

seriously it's like have doomsday in the third superman film, I just hope new superman film can be this epic
THEHAWK
THEHAWK - 8/1/2011, 6:30 AM
A good actor, but I am still a bit worried about how his portrayal will be. Mainly because of his stature and the costume they have created. But I am going to reserve my final opinion for when I see him in a trailer or on screen.
Really
Really - 8/1/2011, 6:30 AM
I like his take on Heath's Joker and Mel's Mad Max... Stay focused on who YOU are playing and don't worry about what's been done before you! Great answer!
cconnolly12
cconnolly12 - 8/1/2011, 6:37 AM
I want to hear Bane's voice. The mask will muffle it, but is going to do an accent of any kind or just do the British thing, to match Liam Neeson's Ra's
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 8/1/2011, 6:37 AM
Remember, you´re there to defeat Batman, not Captain Picard. And don´t be a close talker and try not to kiss the hero either.
VictorHugo
VictorHugo - 8/1/2011, 6:39 AM
Hey, what british accent, isn´t he a central american character?
BFGLOOM
BFGLOOM - 8/1/2011, 6:40 AM
He sounded taken back by the back breaking question.....Could Nolan be planning that? I hope not.
FireKnightRises
FireKnightRises - 8/1/2011, 6:43 AM
I just hope catwoman looks is right like the comic, too much dosis of realistic is bad for cbm

I mean u got a guy dressed as bat and called himself BATMAN but a girl dressed as cat and called herself catwoman is not "realistic"??
batmanrises
batmanrises - 8/1/2011, 6:54 AM
@Grimlock20 "Anyone who knows me on here knows I'M A HUGE BANE FAN"

Ironic coming from the guy who got his Troll Badge for saying "Bane Sucks" yesterday. By the way, thanks for reporting me! I almost enjoyed having the Troll Badge for the ten seconds I had it!
InFamouslyCool
InFamouslyCool - 8/1/2011, 6:59 AM
...nolan has yet to disappoint so i don't know why anyone would doubt him.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 8/1/2011, 6:59 AM
sounds good
batmanrises
batmanrises - 8/1/2011, 6:59 AM
I am not 100% behind Bane's look and I'm still not even behind Batman's suit all the way...But The Dark Knight amazed me and became my favorite movie anyways. Anything looks stupid standing still. Hell, Captain America's suit looks ridiculous - didn't stop me from thinking that it's the best CBM of 2011.

I think Nolan and his team have proven that they can alter a character's look and still come up with a roller coaster ride of a summer movie that has some great moments in between the explosions and gunshots. I have faith in what he's trying to accomplish and I'll be the first to say it sucks if it really does suck.
Forilaz
Forilaz - 8/1/2011, 7:05 AM
It's NOT going to be like Bane in Batman & Robin?!

Consider me disappointed, sir!
cconnolly12
cconnolly12 - 8/1/2011, 7:06 AM
VictorHugo - Yeah he is, but that's what I mean. What direction are they going to go with? I'm sure that Nolan is going to put his own twist on the character, to fit his story.

I'm also wondering if Bane is going grow up in the same prison that Bruce was in, in BB. That would be an interesting tie-in.
Digitaria51
Digitaria51 - 8/1/2011, 7:10 AM
Did I miss something or is he hinting toward a Mad Max remake with him in the lead? Anyway, I'm looking forward to TDKR more and more every day
ROMACK
ROMACK - 8/1/2011, 7:15 AM
I don't think we are gonna see a HUGE envenomed Bane. Nolan grounds his movies in reality. Sure there will be a Venom formula that may make Bane much stronger, but For him to grow in size? I don't see Nolan doing that. He will use "forced perspective" where possible. You know? Put Bane in the foreground and shoot over his shoulder to make Batman look smaller.
moneybanks
moneybanks - 8/1/2011, 7:20 AM
Its about time this guy did an interview humans can understand!! And a good one too at that..

Still a douche though..

Frick the mask..

TMNTDude
TMNTDude - 8/1/2011, 7:21 AM
I think we will see Bane transition into the big bad ass Bane from the comics by the end of the movie. It would make the more epic for him to get giant in the final fight scene.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 8/1/2011, 7:24 AM
That.man.is.Bane...
ROMACK
ROMACK - 8/1/2011, 7:38 AM
That.Man.Is.Short...
JosePetrelli12
JosePetrelli12 - 8/1/2011, 7:39 AM
I wanna see this movie more than the Avengers!!!!
bilkil92
bilkil92 - 8/1/2011, 7:40 AM
I am guessing that bane gets his hand on three tumbler prototypes halfway through the film and use it at the prison break, so i'm guessing batman will get a new batmobile after all.
JosePetrelli12
JosePetrelli12 - 8/1/2011, 7:40 AM
@ Teabag -
Thanks for the pic, sir. You never disappoint!
DarthTesla
DarthTesla - 8/1/2011, 8:07 AM
Awesome. He seems genuinely into the character and comics.

Here's hoping it somehow manages to trump the Dark Knight.
GUNSMITH
GUNSMITH - 8/1/2011, 8:08 AM
I'M JUST CURIOUS...HOW IS NOLAN GOING TO GIVE US BANE? I MEAN HE TOTALLY SURPRISED US WITH JOKER..


WE WERE SO SET IN THE ROUTINE OF "JOKER FALLS INTO CHEMICALS COMES OUT WHITE SKINNED AND GREEN HAIRED AND PSYCHOPATHIC INSANE" AND WE GET THAT BUT TWEEKED IN A REALISTIC DARKER WAY..AND IT WAS COOL.

BUT WHAT WILL HE DO FOR BANE?..HE LOOKS WAY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'D EXPECT TO SEE, NO LUCHEDOR MASK OR VENOM SHOOTING TUBES OR IMMENSE MUSCLES...HOW'S HE GOING TO DO THIS?..

marvel72
marvel72 - 8/1/2011, 8:15 AM
shit mask & not big enough.
Vafrous
Vafrous - 8/1/2011, 8:32 AM
I'm glad that Nolan changed his appearance. Bane in the comics looks like a WWE reject...
parafonia
parafonia - 8/1/2011, 9:51 AM
I watched this guy blister every single scene in Bronson. If his Bane is half as intense, manic, stubborn, clever, and sadistic as Bronson then we all will blown away.
The facial gear, (I wouldn't think of it as a mask. More like a designer respirator), doesn't concern me. Neither does his size. I kind of like the idea of a healthy but normal size man going bezerk with super human strength and rage. Remember Chris Benoit? Terrible and horrific tragedy but he was a small and well built rage infested psycho. That is the kind of Bane I suspect Nolan is going for.
I don't quite understand the camouflage choice. It seems to me in an American urban environment the best camo would be the gray and black style. That looks more like desert style camo.
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