The Dark Knight trilogy redefined the superhero movie as we once knew it. The films managed not only to entertain, but to address profound human themes like heroism, integrity, and justice. The quality of the films is best represented in the numbers–with Batman Begins (2005) raking in $350 million, The Dark Knight (2008) setting three new box office records by grossing over $1 billion worldwide, and The Dark Knight Rises (2012) becoming the tenth highest-grossing film ever.
The trilogies record-breaking success can be attributed in large part to its superhero, Christian Bale, the longest-tenured Batman in the history of the franchise. But despite being praised universally for his role in the three films, in a recent interview with Yahoo! Movies, the 42-year-old Bale admitted that he isn’t quite content with his character’s portrayal.
“I didn’t quite manage what I hoped I would throughout the trilogy. Chris [Nolan] did, but my own sense of self is like, ‘I didn’t quite nail it.’”
“I found, when I put on the suit, I just went, I’d just feel like a bloody idiot if I don’t use this a means of, kind of, it’s his true, monstrous self that he allows to come out in that moment.”
Bale’s critical self-assessement of his role could be attributed to the awe-inspiring performance of The Joker, his nemesis in The Dark Knight, played by Heath Ledger–a timeless performance that won him a posthumous Oscar.
“Heath turned up, and just kind of completely ruined all my plans,” Bale said. ‘Because I went, ‘He’s so much more interesting than me and what I’m doing.’“
Obligatory Joker GIF:
Bale’s Bruce Wayne character will be inherited by Ben Affleck in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, out March 25, and Bale gave Ben a crucial piece of advice upon running into him at a costume shop in Hollywood:
“Make sure you can piss in that suit!”
Don’t be so hard on yourself, Christian. You’re still bro AF.
[h/t Yahoo! Movies]