Could a huge payday lure Christian Bale back into the cape and cowl to play Batman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel?
By Trevor Dueck — Staff Writer
Follow on Twitter @TrevDueck
There still might be hope that Christian Bale may dawn the Dark Knight costume once again but for a very hefty payday. Now according to an insider of an insider at Legendary Pictures, there could be a dollar amount attached to Bale returning as Batman in the future Batman/Superman flick set to be released in 2015. “Beyond Batman: The Unauthorized True Story of Christian Bale and His Dark Knight Dilemma,” suggests the actor could be offered up to $50 million to reprise his role of the Caped Crusader.
It’s tough to say how much fact there is in this rumor but $50 million seems like the going rate for big stars to continue as the lead role in super hero films. For instance Robert Downey Jr. was given that amount of cash to reprise his role as Iron Man in last year’s Avengers film which raked in a big 1.5 billion dollars when it was all said and done.
Nobody at Warner Brothers can confirm the amount and to be honest this is total speculation. However, the following excerpt from the book written by Vincent Russel says the following, “Sources close to Christian Bale have reportedly begun expressing their suspicions that Bale now views the Batman films in the same light that Robert Downey Jr views the Iron Man films.” Which would be a big step in the right direction considering Bale was pretty clear that he was done with the Batman.
The writer/insider goes on to say that Bale could be in the movie for twenty minutes and he would still get a big payday. I highly doubt that Batman will only make a twenty minute appearance in a film where he is supposed to be the star along side Superman. I’m sure Warner Brothers are open to all kinds of ideas to keep Bale on as Batman just not that one.
Yet, the American Psycho star remains publicly adamant that he will only do another Batman or Justice League film if Christopher Nolan is involved. That could be a negotiation tactic. Something tells me that if big cash is offered to one of Hollywood’s best method actors, he would probably have a hard time refusing what could be one of the biggest grossing films in cinematic history.
Meanwhile Marvel/Disney Studios have done a great job of hanging onto actors and keeping storylines intact. DC/Warner Brothers needs to do their best to keep Bale interested because I really don’t want to see, as Entertainment Weekly is suggesting, middle-aged actors like Joe Manganiello (True Blood) and Ryan Gosling in the role as the Caped Crusader. Both are capable actors but DC really needs to follow what Marvel is doing and keep some symmetry and continuity.
Usually where there is smoke there is fire and it seems there is some kicking of tires going on between actor and studio. Meanwhile Bale needs to understand that he took on the role as the Caped Crusader and with that comes great responsibility to the Nerdcore Movement.
Let’s go with what was said in Batman Begins, “The will is everything. If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, you become something else entirely. Are you ready to begin?”
Please Christian make us nerds happy—devote yourself to the ideal.
