Christian Bale Takes a Bow as Batman

The Dark Knight will rise for the last time in 2012. Christian Bale recently confirmed that ?The Dark Knight Rises? will be the last time he?ll play the Caped Crusader.

Bye bye, Bale

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the English actor let the bat out of the cave in regards to the series? future:

?I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I?m taking that cowl [Batman hood] off,? he said. ?I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it?s all done. Everything?s finished. It?s me and Chris (Nolan) ? that will be the end of that Batman era.?

Gotham City will have to find a new hero. TheAcademy Award-winning actor will be busy filming the upcoming ?Lawless? and ?King of Cups? with director Terrence Malick.

Bale?s sign-off on the series has nothing to do with any kind of animosity with Nolan or his co-stars. Unlike the filming of ?Terminator Salvation,? in which the English actor went on an angry tirade against the film?s director of photography Bale?s time on the set of ?The Dark Knight Rises? was agreeable. The star had nothing but good things to say for his co-stars and commented that playing the character ?was enjoyable.?

If you?re a fan of the series, don?t worry. Nolan?s ?Batman? series proved the character still has plenty of life in him; there?s certainly going to be more Batman films in the future. Though I seriously doubt 61-year-old Michael Keaton is going to (or could) climb back into the Batmobile.