As a big fan of The Dark Knight, it’s hard for me not to get overly excited for The Dark Knight Rises. Over a year ago I wrote an article headlined “Does ‘Inception’ Face Unfair Expectations?” and next June I could probably write the same thing about The Dark Knight Rises, probably even more so. But, we can’t change what we’re looking for and a few comments from Tom Hardy, who plays the villainous Bane in the upcoming third Batman feature, may get you even more excited.
Talking with Total Film about the role which began with a question of how director Christopher Nolan offered him the part and his reaction to Nolan’s phone call, “‘Hang on a minute. You’re asking me to come round the world with you in a Batman movie, playing a villain, and the only downside to it is I have to wear a mask? Hmmm, let me think. I’ll get back to you… No, I’m f–king there, man! Anything you need.'”
As for the character, “I think Bane’s f–king cool so I’m really excited to play him. It’s not the guy in Joel Schumacher’s film, but it shouldn’t disappoint fanboys…”
They also asked him about the comic book issue in which Bane’s character breaks Batman’s back over his knee and whether the story would take that direction. Obviously he wasn’t going to answer the question in any details, but he did say, “[All] I can say is that Chris has a plan up his sleeve that’s not at all disappointing. And that is a definite choice that’s watertight in every respect.”
I also thought I’d point out this quote from Jeff Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere who recently say Hardy’s upcoming MMA film Warrior in which he plays one of two brothers who face the fight of a lifetime – and the wreckage of their broken family – within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting. The film hits theaters on September 9, but Wells got an early look at it and had this to say about Hardy’s performance.
Tom Hardy is the shit in this thing. The instant he appeared on-screen I knew he was up to something extra-special and quite fierce. He gives one of the most intense burn-through, seething-machismo performances I’ve ever seen in a mainstream feature.
Hardy’s Warrior character is an AWOL Marine who eats his MMA opponents in the cage. He’s a quiet animal in a hoodie, he’s Bane, he walks like a f–king musclebound gorilla, he’s bruised and compassionate and crying inside, and he’s really something else.
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy,
Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar winner Christian Bale (The Fighter) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.
Returning to the main cast, Oscar winner Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.
The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on Batman Begins and the record-breaking blockbuster The Dark Knight. The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.
