Dispelling the rumors: Christian Bale is not and should not play Batman again

There's been a lot of rumors about The Superman and Batman movie. Lots of rumors about who is going to be Batman, who is going to be Lex Luthor... in fact this is happening a lot when it comes to any superhero movie these days. There were rumors about Vin Diesel playing a Marvel character or two. I have to say it would be very fun to be an actor or a movie producer, or hell even Zach Snyder or Joss Whedon in the next coming years because until they release the cast for these movies, they're just going to be fucking with fanboys and enjoying every minute of it.

The most recent rumor is back to Batman and speculation that Christian Bale is being offered a hefty paycheck to return as the caped Crusader. I don't think for one minute that these rumors are true but let's just say for a minute that they are. For all the people who say that it is a good idea for Christian Bale to reprise his role as Batman (regardless of whether or not these rumors are true) This post is for you.

In case you haven't guessed, I have taken a break from the Batman movies. I guess I underestimated the effect of Batman and Robin on me. But I don't need to re-watch the Dark Knight Trilogy to tell you that I freaking loved Christian Bale's Batman. He's obviously the best Bruce Wayne and I'll go into why when I start Batman Begins.

That being said, I do NOT want to see him come back at Batman.

Christian Bale's Batman belongs in a universe with characters like a Ras al Ghul that was just a criminal mastermind with advanced martial arts training... he didn't need a Lazarus Pit, he just needed his intellect and Liam Neeson good looks. Characters like a Harvey Dent/ Two-Face who actually looks like a man who half his face was burnt... not... pink

Yeah... looked silly

Bane was a mastermind criminal who exchanged his Venom addiction for a Sean Connery voice... (All jokes aside I liked Bane a lot) 

And this is just talking about the villains, Batman himself is realistic! He'd be a master crime fighter, fighting criminals from our world... but this Batman could not exist in a world where superpowers, magic, or aliens would exist... you know... like Superman... Not only could he not exist he shouldn't exist in that universe!

And by the way, Christopher Nolan stated that he does not want any of that stuff listed above in the Dark Knight Trilogy. He wants that trilogy to stand on its own and not crossover with Superman or Wonder Woman or anything I have already mentioned

But let's just say we're going to stomp on the creative desires of a brilliant man just because we don't want to put a new actor in the role... because we're dicks like that... Let's just imagine this Batman in the same world as Superman, even the Superman established in Man of Steel. 

Bruce Wayne was a broken man at the end of The Dark Knight Rises. Sure he had a magic leg brace but he had his back broken, he had awful nerve damage... Dark Knight Rises was his last adventure... it just made sense. And then suddenly he comes out of that retirement? Why? Even if he distrusts this alien from another planet (which I mentioned in another post) He's got a good thing going with Selina Kyle, Bruce Wayne according to the world, is dead. You also have to address the fact that Joseph Gordon Levitt looked as though he was going to take up the cowl... so why does Christian Bale need to come back? 

But let's look past the fact that Nolan's Batman universe doesn't mesh with the Man of Steel universe, lets look past the fact that Christian Bale doesn't want to go back to the role, let's look past the fact that Christian Bale's Batman wouldn't want to come back, I must ask... Why?

Why can't we just leave that Batman alone? Why can't we just leave it on the note it was left on which I personally think was a very strong note? Sure The Dark Knight Rises wasn't the best of the trilogy, that's a whole other conversation (I will address in my Dark Knight Rises review), but I still think the conclusion of that movie wrapped up the Dark Knight Trilogy perfectly, why do we need to disrupt that?

This question is going to be brought up a lot with movies I review. I like sequels but I do not think they're always needed. If a trilogy or even a single movie can standalone there's no need for a sequel. This Batman does not need to continue. 

As the rant closes I'll just say, I don't want Christian Bale to return as Batman. I loved his performance but for the purposes of respecting Bale's wishes, Nolan's creative intent and just for things to make sense it won't make sense for him to return as the Batman he played in Nolan's trilogy.

And I don't think its a very popular notion but some people might ask why you don't reboot the Batman franchise, like they're going to, but just have Bale play the new Batman... reread that and think about that for a second. You want Christian Bale to not only go back to a character he said he would never play again and start that character off from scratch in a totally different movie, a totally different universe! Not only does that sound insane from an acting standpoint, try thinking about that from an audience standpoint. The only way that would make sense is if before the movie Christopher Nolan appears and has to explain that the Batman you're about to see, is not the same Batman from the Dark Knight Trilogy. He's a Batman that had a career in a world where the supernatural exists, etc... but its the same actor... just typing that feels weird. So rebooting the character without a new actor doesn't make sense, keeping the same character doesn't make sense... Christian Bale as Batman doesn't make sense!

This is going to be a tall order. Think about it. It's been a year since the Dark Knight Rises was released and we're already talking about a totally new Batman. This has never been done before. Val Kilmer and George Clooney had to make Bruce Wayne their own character but they were drawing from their predecessor. Whoever takes over as Batman in 2015 has to totally reinvent Batman right after Bale already did it.

I commend anybody that can do it.

So I want to hear from you now. What is your favorite of the Dark Knight Trilogy? Who do you think should take over the role of the caped Crusader. Comment below and let me know.