Christian Bale Opens Up About Feeling ‘Jealous’ When Ben Affleck Took Over as Batman: “I Just Stopped and Stared Into Nothing”

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Approximately twelve years back, Christian Bale, who portrayed Batman in three remarkable movies, confessed that he felt quite disappointed when Ben Affleck stepped into the same role.

In a conversation with Empire magazine, Bale expressed his initial reaction when he learned that Affleck would be the new Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” According to him, upon hearing the news, there was a period where he simply stood there, lost in thought, for around half an hour.

Bale acknowledged he felt a touch of envy, but realized it was time for him to let go and move forward. In his own words, he said, ‘Given that I’m 40 years old, the fact that I still feel jealous about someone else taking on the role of Batman… I should have grown past that by now.’

Initially, Bale contemplated reprising his role as The Dark Knight. In a conversation with Empire, he acknowledged that there was a desire within him to star in another Batman movie, but in the end, he chose to hand over the responsibility. Showing support for Affleck, Bale emailed him some advice on portraying Bruce Wayne.

He mentioned that he hasn’t had a conversation with Ben, but he sent him an email sharing some tough-learned suggestions. He speculated that Ben is likely working hard to steer clear of any mistakes he made in the past,” he added, also offering Affleck a useful tip regarding the Batman costume.

In an interview with Access Hollywood (through The Wrap), Bale mentioned that he advised the actor playing opposite him to ensure he could use the restroom independently, as it would be somewhat embarrassing if he needed assistance.

It seemed that changing out of his Batman suit during breaks was inconvenient for Bale, and he aimed to spare Affleck from facing the same difficulty. However, Affleck’s tenure as Batman was brief.

Ultimately, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) underwent a major overhaul. Now, James Gunn and Peter Safran are leading the revamped DC Universe (DCU).

In the words of Gunn, the first live-action portrayal of Batman within the DC Universe is set for The Brave and the Bold, a film inspired by the comic books penned by Grant Morrison. This movie will center around Bruce Wayne and his son Damian Wayne, who’ll assume the role of Robin. As such, it promises to be an original father-son narrative, distinct from previous Batman films. While a hint of Batman was shown in Creature Commandos, no actor or voice artist has been officially associated with the character yet.

Andy Muschietti, known for his work on The Flash, has been confirmed as the director for an upcoming project. His sister Barbara will produce alongside Gunn and Safran. However, production has been delayed due to scheduling conflicts and the necessity to keep this film distinct from Matt Reeves’ The Batman sequel. Gunn is currently keeping the name of the screenwriter confidential, and there’s yet to be a decision on who will portray Batman in the DC Universe.

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2025-08-30 11:14