Christian Bale has one condition to return for The Dark Knight 4, and he is not the only one involved with the Batman franchise to have commented on a possible comeback. Bale was cast as Bruce Wayne for director Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, beating other candidates like Cillian Murphy, who would play Scarecrow in Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, and Jake Gyllenhaal, who is currently one of the most popular candidates in the eyes of fans to play the new Batman of James Gunn’s DC Universe. Bale brought the goods, easily becoming one of the best live-action Batman actors.

Bale was helped by some amazing villains and supporting characters. Chief among them was Heath Ledger’s Joker, with the actor delivering one of the most iconic performances in movie history as the Clown Prince of Crime, with Ledger’s The Dark Knight role leading to a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the star. With so much talent in the franchise and Nolan’s Batman movies being beloved by fans and acclaimed by critics, there has always been a desire for The Dark Knight 4 to happen. Recently, that movie got a hopeful update, and Bale has one condition to return.

Christian Bale Would Only Return For The Dark Knight 4 On 1 Condition

The Batman Actor Has A Point

Bale’s last time as Batman came in 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. The movie gave the perfect ending to his version of Bruce Wayne, who saved Gotham City but was able to escape the cycle of violence in his life, going away to live with Anne Hathaway’s Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and leaving his life as Batman behind. With such a definitive ending to The Dark Knight trilogy, it would be hard to bring the franchise back; however, Bale has revealed that he would be game to don the Batsuit again on one condition.

For The Dark Knight 4, Bale would return as Batman if Christopher Nolan was involved. Nolan, who recently won the Oscar for Best Director for the first time with Oppenheimer — which starred The Dark Knight trilogy alum Cillian Murphy — was the creative force behind Bale’s Batman. As such, the actor told Screen Rant, “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.” The actor also revealed that he and Nolan had always planned for just three movies.

Bale’s condition to return as Batman being that Nolan would also need to come back is understandable. After all, it was their joint effort — and that of the rest of The Dark Knight trilogy’s cast and crew — that led to the Batman movies standing not only as some of the best for the character, but also for DC and superhero films as a whole. At 50, Bale could still have one or two good Batman outings in him, and the actor’s recent role in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder shows he is still open to superhero movies.

What Christopher Nolan & Other Creatives In The Dark Knight Trilogy Have Said About Returning

The Dark Knight 4 Recently Got A Hopeful Update

Bale is not the only one involved in The Dark Knight trilogy to have talked about a possible return for The Dark Knight 4. While not being directly asked about helming The Dark Knight 4, Nolan has made his stance on directing any new superhero movies clear. Speaking to HugoDécrypte, Nolan was asked whether he would want to direct another superhero movie after his Batman trilogy, to which the director bluntly said, “No.” Based on Nolan’s firm stance regarding the topic and Bale’s one condition for a Batman return, The Dark Knight 4 happening is complicated.

However, there is hope at the end of the tunnel for fans of The Dark Knight trilogy. Recently, Jonathan Nolan claimed it would be a dream to return to the Batman franchise. Jonathan, who is Christopher Nolan’s brother, worked on all three The Dark Knight trilogy movies as a writer. Jonathan, whose work includes fan-favorite projects like the TV series Westworld and Fallout, could convince his brother to return for another go at the Caped Crusader. Perhaps, even if Christopher Nolan did not return, he could pass on the Batman torch to Jonathan, and that could get Bale on board.

What The Dark Knight 4 Could Be About

There Are Two Exciting Stories For The Batman Film

The Dark Knight Rises‘ ending set up possible stories for a fourth movie. At the end of the film, Bruce has retired from his role as Batman and gone to Italy to live with Selina. The Dark Knight 4 could see him return to Gotham. However, this time, Bruce would not be Batman. DC has been trying to get a Batman Beyond live-action adaptation running for some time, and Michael Keaton’s version of Batman almost succeeded in doing so. The Dark Knight 4 could be a full-on Batman Beyond adaptation with Bale’s older Bruce Wayne mentoring a young Terry McGinnis.

Another possible story that could bring back the franchise could happen even if Bale does not return as Bruce Wayne and/or Batman. The Dark Knight 4 could instead focus on the most likely new bearer of the mantle after the events of The Dark Knight Rises. At the end of the film, it was revealed that the full name of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character was Robin John Blake. That clear nod to DC’s Robin and the fact Blake found the Batcave point to him being Bruce’s natural successor as Batman and the possible lead of The Dark Knight 4.

Will The Dark Knight 4 Ever Happen?

There Is A Demand For The DC Movie

Based on Nolan’s lack of desire to direct another superhero movie and how Bale would only return as Batman if the director signed on, The Dark Knight 4 is unlikely. Jonathan Nolan’s new comment and the fact that the Batman universe could continue with a new Dark Knight makes the new movie possible even if Bale and Nolan were not to return. However, at that point, it would be a hard ask to get fans to care about The Dark Knight 4 if the lead actor and director who made the DC franchise so iconic were no longer present.

Adding to that, there are already too many live-action Batmen to add another to the table. Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne will continue in his standalone The Batman universe under director Matt Reeves. At the same time, James Gunn’s DC Universe will introduce a new actor as Bruce Wayne. The DCU’s Batman will debut in The Brave and the Bold movie. With two live-action movie franchises for Batman, The Dark Knight 4‘s chances of happening are minimal.

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  Batman Begins

  Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman’s origin story sees Christian Bale take up the mantle of the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins follows young Bruce Wayne who, reeling from the murder of his wealthy parents, decides to become a vigilante in order to save Gotham City. This pits him against the mysterious League of Shadows, an organization intent on destroying Gotham with the help of the villainous Scarecrow and his powerful fear toxin.  

  Director

  Christopher Nolan

  Release Date

  
  June 10, 2005
  

  Writers

  Bob Kane
  , David S. Goyer
  , Christopher Nolan

  Cast

  Ken Watanabe
  , Liam Neeson
  , Gary Oldman
  , Tom Wilkinson
  , Linus Roache
  , Christian Bale
  , Katie Holmes
  , Mark Boone Junior
  , Michael Caine
  , Rutger Hauer
  , Cillian Murphy
  , Morgan Freeman

  Runtime

  2h 20m

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  The Dark Knight

  Christian Bale once again embodies the man behind the mask in The Dark Knight, reuniting Bale with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman has been making headway against local crime—until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace—Batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet—he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront his beliefs if he hopes to stand a chance against the Clown Prince of Crime.

  Director

  Christopher Nolan

  Release Date

  
  July 18, 2008
  

  Writers

  Christopher Nolan
  , Jonathan Nolan
  , David S. Goyer

  Cast

  Nestor Carbonell
  , Morgan Freeman
  , Ritchie Coster
  , Cillian Murphy
  , Chin Han
  , Gary Oldman
  , Eric Roberts
  , William Fichtner
  , Aaron Eckhart
  , Maggie Gyllenhaal
  , Christian Bale
  , David Dastmalchian
  , Michael Caine
  , Anthony Michael Hall
  , Heath Ledger

  Runtime

  152 Minutes

  Expand

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  The Dark Knight Rises

  The Dark Knight Rises is the final chapter in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy, with Christian Bale donning the cape and cowl once more to save Gotham City from certain destruction. Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Batman has left the public eye after taking the fall for the crimes committed by a twisted Harvey Dent. However, he is called back into action when a mysterious villain named Bane arrives to bring disorder to Gotham, forcing him to confront deeper, darker recesses of his past to be able to face a challenge he may not be ready for.

  Director

  Christopher Nolan

  Release Date

  
  August 16, 2012
  

  Writers

  Christopher Nolan
  , Jonathan Nolan

  Cast

  Christian Bale
  , Anne Hathaway
  , Michael Caine
  , Gary Oldman

  Runtime

  2h 45m