Christian Bale Says He Would Return As Batman… But Under One Condition

Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in
Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in "The Dark Knight." Photo by Snap Stills/REX/Shutterstock (2103279ac)

It’s been an entire decade since the last time we saw Christian Bale play Batman, but will we ever see him protect Gotham from evil again? The Oscar-winning actor said he would be willing to return as the Dark Knight again, but under one condition – Christopher Nolan would have to sit in the director’s chair.

Bale is set to join the MCU as the main villain Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love and Thunder. This role marks his return to the superhero genre, so it’s not a shocker to see questions about his potential return as Batman pop up during a recent interview with ScreenRant.

Bale revealed that he’s never been approached with the offer to play Batman again despite constant rumors, adding he would only come back if Christopher Nolan asked him to.

“We said, ‘Hey, look. Let’s make three films, if we’re lucky enough to get to do that. And then let’s walk away. Let’s not linger too long.’ In my mind, it would be something if Chris Nolan ever said to himself, ‘You know what, I’ve got another story to tell.’ And if he wished to tell that story with me, I’d be in,” explained Bale.

Bale played Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson followed in his footsteps in the years to come.