MovieChat Forums > The Flash (2023) Discussion > Warner Bros. begged Christian Bale to ca...

Warner Bros. begged Christian Bale to cameo as Batman in The Flash

posted a year ago by bozo_500 (12536)
9 replies | jump to latest

https://www.moviemeter.com/movie-news/warner-bros-begged-christian-bale-to-cameo-as-batman-in-the-flash-9721

Christian Bale refused to make a cameo as Bruce Wayne in The Flash, according to filmmaker and comic book fan Kevin Smith.

Due to the separate timelines and universes that are featured in the movie, we saw a couple of versions of Batman / Bruce Wayne, played by Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck respectively. It is the first time that Keaton appeared as the character in over 30 years.

Fans were greeted with another Batman cameo in the credits, as George Clooney made a shock appearance. He played Bruce in the infamously panned Batman and Robin.

Originally, though, that cameo was planned for Bale, who featured in Christopher Nolan's hugely successful Dark Knight trilogy.

"Warner Bros. asked Christian Bale for months and months hoping he would break down and he was like 'no,'" Smith said on the Fatman Beyond podcast.

"So was like, 'let's pivot, let's get another Batman,' and they just grabbed George Clooney."

The Flash has received negative reviews from critics and is also set to be a box office bomb for DC and Warner Bros.

[–] DoctorThirteen (11504) a year ago

Thing is, Bale would have had a lot of people hyped. There's no way that WB would have kept his appearance quite. It would have been 'leaked' everywhere in the hope that it would bring in more people. As it is, I managed to go into The Flash without knowing about Clooney so seeing him was a big surprise (and funnier than Bale would have been). So I'm glad they went the way they did.

[–] bozo_500 (12536) a year ago

Yeah had Bale been in it it probably would've been impossible to keep under wraps .

I read a comment on FB about suggesting Clooney might be in it (some dickhead commenting on a joke post I made on Empire Magazine FB about him being the Brave & Bold Batman) but thankfully by the time I saw the movie id completely forgot about it so it was a legit surprise , the other cameos had been reported on by even the major mainstream news outlets way in advance but as id muted a bunch of names and stuff to do with the movie on twitter etc I wasn't too aware of who exactly be in it and how they'd be used. Slater was complete surprise, Cage was kind of surprise (I figured he'd have been the superman in the Keaton Batverse), as was Gadot (as id read the cameo had been cut with Cavils), Aquaman I didn't stay for the end credits (bc went to a late show and had to split asap)

[–] DoctorThirteen (11504) a year ago

Slater was so good to see! I was really pleased they were included. But it is a shame Lynda Carter wasn't. I know they were planning on it at one point.

[–] bozo_500 (12536) a year ago

From what I read they actually created the cameos for deaged Carter WW and Brando Jor-El and others but didn't include them. hopefully they be on the bluray

They definitely should've included Lynda Carter as WW especially as George Reeves Superman and Adam West Batman were there (don't see how/why Brando wouldve been included unless Reeve Superman and Slater Supergirl were originally supposed to be in the crystal Fortress?)

[–] DoctorThirteen (11504) a year ago

'From what I read they actually created the cameos for deaged Carter WW and Brando Jor-El and others but didn't include them. hopefully they be on the bluray'

Fingers crossed!

[–] roxi1st (47) a year ago

Dont wanna rustle any feathers here but whatever I've seen Bale in shows me that he himself is a 'one man show' not a team-player. When you watch his interviews, he comes off as very serious guy to a point that to me seems a bit frightening. He's engulfed in his own ego probably thinking 'oh, I've done this masterpiece with Cristopher Nolan, I'm not about to wreck it's legacy with this garbage'. So he wouldnt be caught filming this because it doesnt revolve around him and because he would have to get off his high horse.

[–] DoctorThirteen (11504) a year ago

Bale has always struck me as someone who is very much up his own tailpipe. I think he's talented, but not infallible. I've seen things he was great in, and things I didn't like. I love his Batman, I don't like his Bruce Wayne. And I very much doubt he's a lot of fun to be around. If the rumours are true that they tried to bag him for The Flash it comes as no surprise to me that he said no.

[–] TheArgentinian (6643) a year ago

There's nothing pretentious about wanting to protect your work's legacy just for a cameo that would make you nerds cum.

[–] Crapshoot (150) a year ago

Kevin Smith was just speculating.