Christian Bale Asked To Return As Batman, Here’s His Response
Is Christian Bale coming back as Batman?
This article is more than 2 years old
Christian Bale hasn’t been Batman on the big screen since 2012’s trilogy-capping The Dark Knight Rises, but if new reports are to be believed, Warner Bros. really wants him back in some capacity. Sadly, though, the actor’s response makes it probable that his days (or nights, rather) as the Caped Crusader are definitively over. A shame, too. He was my favorite live-action Batman.
Insider Daniel Richtman, who has previously revealed information about new Disney princesses and the Terminator franchise’s supposed genre switch-up, brings word that Warner Bros. approached Christian Bale with an offer to appear in the upcoming The Flash. When he refused their initial offer, they attempted to change his mind with more money. I would bet that Warner Bros.’ attempts will continue to be futile, but hey, crazier things have happened in the last week. The prospect is exciting, but it’s important for me to manage my expectations and not hope too hard for Bale’s return. He seems pretty dead-set on not coming back.
A few years back, Warner Bros. offered both Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan the chance to return for a fourth Batman film, but the two refused. Nolan turning down the offer is much less surprising and fairly on-brand for him. Bale seems a bit more difficult to predict, especially because he has proven himself to be a versatile actor with an astounding range. Still, it’s interesting that the studio keeps trying so hard to get him back in the suit. Maybe they’ve got bigger plans for him than they’re letting on. We will see! They’ve got to get past initial discussions with him before anything else can move forward.
If Christian Bale were to appear in any DC Extended Universe film, it would make the most sense for him to show up in The Flash. So that part checks out. What’s more, the Speed Force basically allows for any number of multiverse-bending directions in which the movie can take its plot. It’s one of the best aspects of any Flash story and a must-have for anyone looking to bring characters in from beyond the current canon. A live-action adaptation of Flashpoint wouldn’t be an awful idea. It boasts a brutal but accessible plot and really changes the game for every story that succeeds it. Who knows? Nothing is off the table here.
But what do you think? Would you enjoy seeing Christian Bale cameo in The Flash? Or should the film just stick with showcasing Michael Keaton’s confirmed return? What do you think of Ray Fisher’s very recent departure from the film? Let us know! We’ll keep you posted on whether or not he changes his mind! If it does end up happening, chances are good that it will be a fleeting cameo. But if WB wanted to be really mean, they’ll make it a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance. Surely Bale can come to the set for a day to get that done, right?
Oh, and for a complete list of what DC has planned for 2021, check out IGN’s recent breakdown of the company’s lineup. There’s some great stuff to which we can look forward!
