Christian Bale ditched a project worth millions because loyalty held more value to him than a stack of bills, and you can’t even get a text back?
While The Dark Knight Trilogy ended with 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises, Warner Bros. had pitched the proposition for a fourth film to the director. Sources claim that doing a fourth Dark Knight film could’ve apparently gotten Bale a fat pay-check of $50 million. But because Nolan wasn’t open to the idea of adding a fourth movie to the trilogy, the Amsterdam star didn’t push it either, even if it meant saying goodbye to that monumental sum. All for the sole reason of sticking by Nolan’s side.
But while Bale’s devotion to the British-American filmmaker and their project was solid as steel, Robert Pattinson didn’t have the same dedication, given how he went to audition for The Batman whilst he was still actively filming Nolan’s Tenet.
Christian Bale Said ‘No, Thank You’ to $50 Million All Because of Loyalty
It’s been nearly two decades since Batman Begins made it to the silver screen, and yet Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece starring Christian Bale is still hailed after all these years.
The Dark Knight Trilogy was a massive commercial success and the audience loved Bale’s Caped Crusader, so much so that WB wanted Nolan to make a fourth film too. And why wouldn’t they? With the three films collectively earning a whopping sum of $2.4 billion at the global box office, it would’ve been a clear win for the studio.
However, the Academy Award-winning director had been adamant about wrapping up The Dark Knight film series as a trilogy from the very start, leaving no room for a fourth film. And the American Hustle star respected his decision to not move ahead with a new Batman movie. According to reports, that single decision cost Bale $50 million, the figure that he was apparently getting for doing a fourth film.
Speaking to Toronto Sun, Bale had revealed how he’d rejected the studio’s offer, asking them to “stick to Chris’ dream” and not “stretch too far and become overindulgent and go for a fourth.”
Alexa, play LOYALTY by Kendrick Lamar.
Robert Pattinson’s Commitment towards Christopher Nolan Wasn’t Nearly As Strong
Sure, both Bale and Pattinson have portrayed Bruce Wayne on the screen. But that’s where their similarities come to a sharp end. Because while one turned down millions without even flinching as a question of loyalty, the other secretly auditioned for another movie whilst still working with Nolan on Tenet.
Back when Robert Pattinson was still filming Nolan’s 2020 sci-fi action thriller, he’d fabricated a lie about having a “family emergency” when in reality he was on his way for The Batman‘s screen test. Albeit, the Interstellar director caught up with his lie almost immediately, it’s still a matter of principle.
“As soon as I said ‘it’s a family emergency’ he said, ‘You’re doing the Batman audition, aren’t you?” Pattinson told Irish Times.
The Dark Knight Trilogy can be streamed on HBO Max.
Tenet is available on Netflix.
Source: Showbiz Cheatsheet
