Many Batman fans consider Christian Bale to be their favorite actor to ever portray the role, based on his turn as Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises). Though new actors have since slipped into the cape and cowl on the big screen, Bale remains just as popular, and it's easy now to say that going with the acclaimed actor was an excellent choice for Nolan.

But not everyone was immediately sold on Bale as Batman. In a new interview with The Washington Post, Bale explained how people dismissed the idea of him in the role by laughing at him when they first heard about the casting. Because Joel Schumacher's Batman films had been particularly campy, the actor says that people also thought that there was no way that audiences would be able to take the Dark Knight seriously again. As Bale explains, he's happy to have proven his critics wrong.

“I would [tell people] we’re going to sort of do Batman, but take him seriously. I had tons of people laugh at me and just say, ‘Well, that’s just not going to work at all.' So it’s wonderful to be a part of a trilogy that proved those people wrong. I’m not certain if it kick-started [the MCU], but it certainly helped along the way.”

Bale is returning to the superhero genre with the new Marvel movie Thor: Love and Thunder. But even though he has crossed over into the MCU, he hasn't sworn off DC or Batman. Concerning a possible return to that character in a new film, Bale was a bit vague but seemed to leave the door open by suggesting a good story with a good director attached would always be something that would have him interested.

“I don’t have any goodbye and thank you, unless other people say to me ‘goodbye and thank you, please never revisit this again’ then I’ll take their word for it. But otherwise a good story is a good story. A good film is a good film. And a good director is a good director. And I’m open to any of those ideas.”

Related: Thor: Love and Thunder: Why Gorr Is Thor’s Toughest Challenge Yet

Christian Bale Hasn't Written Off a Dark Knight Return

Joker
Warner Bros. Pictures

Last month, Christian Bale teased that he could very well play Batman again, but it could only happen under one condition. Speaking about the possibility with Screen Rant, Bale said he's never been officially approached by Warner Bros. or any filmmaker about playing the role again since The Dark Knight Rises, despite any rumors to the contrary.

"No. No one's ever mentioned it to me. No one's brought it up. Occasionally people say to me, 'Oh, I hear you were approached and offered all this.'And I'm like, 'That's news to me.' No one's ever said that."

With that said, Bale theoretically would reprise that role, but only if it's The Dark Knight Trilogy helmer Christopher Nolan directing the film. As Bale explains, he had agreed to walk away from the franchise with Nolan after completing their trilogy, but if Nolan were to ever get that itch to make a fourth film, he could certainly count on Bale to answer the call.

"I had a pact with Chris Nolan. 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.”

You can catch Christian Bale in Thor: Love and Thunder which officially premieres on July 8.