Ever since Batman was introduced, he became an iconic character that is instantly recognized by everyone. The tragic origin story of the character and the morose hero with a strong moral code has resonated perfectly with the fans for decades. Batman movies are visually stunning, and a variety of actors like Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson have played the role of the Caped Crusader.
Christian Bale, who is known as one of the most iconic characters on the list believes that he saved the character after Michael Keaton’s mediocre performance of the character. Many fans believe that the American Psycho actor has given an intense performance, displaying physical transformation and the iconic Batman voice.
Christian Bale’s Initial Opinion of The Bat of Gotham
In an interview included in the book 100 Things Batman Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, The Prestige actor stated that he found Batman movies to be quite uninteresting. However, Bale’s perception of the superhero changed when he discovered Frank Miller’s work.
“It was exactly the point that I had a problem within all of the other Batman movies. Especially after reading Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One and various other graphic novels. I asked myself, “Well, how come it’s always been that he’s the most boring character?” I’d never found him to be intriguing at all. Whereas these graphic novels depicted him as by far the most fascinating of them. I feel like we gained that back with Batman Begins — that he’s a character with substance.”
It is no surprise that Frank Miller is the most influential comic book writer, and his contribution to the Batman comics has made a massive impact on the character. In addition to Christian Bale, other actors like Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson were inspired by the artist’s work.
Christian Bale’s Inspiration for His Version of Batman
After Batman & Robin starring George Clooney was obliterated by fans and critics, Christopher Nolan was unsure about the qualities required in the actor to make the actor memorable and iconic. The Tenet director chose Christian Bale to be the next Batman.
Batman Begins, the first installment of the trilogy focused on Bruce Wayne’s fear, and he must harness it to become Gotham’s guardian. However, the Amsterdam actor stated that he drew inspiration to play his version of the character from his previous thriller film American Psycho.
Needless to say, the actor gave an exemplary performance and his portrayal of the character was original, showcasing as if he is living the character. Moreover, his physical transformation in the movie, while showing the fictional character’s emotional turmoil with ease made his version, one of the most memorable characters.
The Dark Knight can be streamed on Netflix.
Source: 100 Things Batman Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
