Batman Set Visit Interviews: Bale, Hathaway, And Hardy

We’ve been getting a lot of images and several TV spots for Christopher Nolan’s final installment in his Batman trilogy The Dark Knight Rises recently. While we do know a few details about what’s going on in the final chapter, everyone is remaining very tight lipped about specifics. Recently the embargo lifted on set reports and Collider was on hand to interview the Bat, the Cat, and Bane. Of course they remained silent on a lot of questions but they did open up and talk about what it’s like to film the finale.

Up first is the man of the hour, Christian Bale. Below are a few interesting points from the extensive interview. Bale touches on the Wayne/Selina Kyle relationship and playing Batman three times.

Can you talk about Bruce’s relationship with Selena in this movie? We’ve seen pictures of them holding hands.
Bale: Have you? You think you have, have you? Aaah, maybe some people are seeing things and they don’t know what they’re looking at? It’s quite interesting to watch and hear what people think we’re doing. You look and go, “That’s not what we’re doing. But never mind, let’s let people think that’s what we’re doing.

There is a lot of hype about this film. Was there any doubt in your mind to make another with Chris Nolan again?
Bale: I knew it was going to happen for me because I was contracted to do this film. I had no choice, I would have been sued up the ying-yang and be on the street and penniless if I hadn’t done it. Chris, my understanding was, could have chosen not to do it, but he had always talked about this as being a trilogy and he liked the challenge that an awful lot of movies fail on the third one. There are some exceptions but most of the time that’s the tricky one to pull off. And I think he really likes the challenge of that.

Are you going to miss playing Batman after this?
Bale: Course I will, yeah. Yeah, definitely.

Next is one of the new arrivals, Anne Hathaway. She was a pretty big Catwoman fan as a child and was thrilled to get the chance to play the part. While the film will have a touch of the comics, Catwoman’s character will be more about fitting in with Nolan’s universe than making a direct leap from the pages of the comics.

Can you talk about stepping into the shoes of such an iconic character? A lot of people grew up with Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and Eartha Kitt. How does it feel to be Catwoman?
Hathaway: Well the first thing you have to say is what an honor. It was funny for me because when I got my start, I kind of got my big break with The Princess Diaries and during the press rounds for that everyone asked me: “Did you always want to be a princess growing up?” And the truth was, no I wanted to be Catwoman. And I think a lot of women feel that way. And the fact that I am actually her is such a dream come true. It’s such a pinch me moment. And the fact that I am Catwoman in Chris Nolan’s Gotham to Christian Bale’s Batman is unbelievably cool…I loved Catwoman’s sense of humor. I love how sly she is. I love how she, to use a cat metaphor, walks the fence and you don’t know which side she’s going to come down on. She’s totally independent. And let’s face it, she’s badass.

How does this version of Catwoman differ from previous versions?
Hathaway: Specifics? As much as I can say? She fits into the Gotham that Chris has established.

Finally, the big bad of the film, Bane. Tom Hardy will be wreaking havoc on Gotham this time. Hardy remained even more tight lipped than his other cast mates, but he did touch on a few points about the role. He talks about the comics and following off from Heath Ledger’s Joker.

Were you familiar with the character Bane? Did you go back and read up on him?
Hardy: I had no immediate knowledge of the world of Batman at all. I’m quite incubated. I just keep myself to myself and my dog. He’s not with me anymore. And if something comes in, it’s always a neat experience. So it started when I first got the part.

Did you have any apprehension for being the guy that would follow Heath Ledger’s Joker?
Hardy: No, I don’t think absolutely. That would be putting myself in a competition with somebody who’s clearly brilliant. And it’s not a question of whose talent is greater or whose work is greater. It’s just trying to be the best that we can be, rather then trying to be better then somebody else. I’m not trying to be better than somebody else. What he did was amazing. That’s that. I’ve got a part I’ve got to play, and I want to play my part.

Overall, the third film draws on several comic storylines (though they wouldn’t mention which ones) but mostly it wraps up the Nolan films and the world they created. It was mentioned that Bane was chosen not only to be an intellectual match for Batman but a physical one as well. Bane does indeed use Venom. He needs it to survive, it is pumped in through his mask. You can check out the full interview by clicking here. The Dark Knight Rises opens July 20.

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Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell

Senior Writer & Assistant Managing Editor at ComicBookTherapy

I'm a comic book and movie nerd who loves to share news I find interesting and hope you do as well. I'm a big Doctor Who fan and sci-fi in general. My favorite comic characters you ask? Well Thor, Wolverine, and Daredevil.

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Source : Collider