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Christian Bale’s presence as Batman in Christopher Nolan’sThe Dark KnightTrilogy is possibly his most recognized blockbuster role. The actor who had once stated that he wasn’t a big fan of appearing in sequels, made an exception for Nolan and the decision paid off richly. ButThe Dark Knighttrilogy isn’t the only film for which Bale broke his no-sequel rule. TheAmerican Psychostar also played a prominent part in the reboot of the iconicTerminatorfranchise as the adult John Connor in 2009’sTerminator: Salvation.
As the highest-paid actor at that time to take on the character, Bale’s inclusion was an attempt to resurrect a cult franchise. During the production though, the star created a stir by making a few controversial statements about the film and theTerminatorfranchise’s original talisman, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Also Read:Clint Eastwood Nearly Crashed Christian Bale’s $2.4B The Dark Knight Trilogy With Unreleased Batman Beyond Movie
“The Franchise Doesn’t Need Schwarzenegger”, Said Christian Bale
Referring to James Cameron’sTerminatorfilms is incomplete without talking about Arnold Schwarzenegger’s hulking presence. The action star who was the face of the franchise, was one of the pivotal reasons for the cult status of the film series.Terminator: Salvationwhich was an attempt at recreating theTerminatorlegacy, was the first movie that did not feature the famous Austrian star. ButChristian Balewho was part of the film, made a bold statement about the absence of Schwarzenegger and the impact he wielded.
We’ve seen so many guys who imitated him and it just became a little passe. [The franchise doesn’t need him now] because you may’t just keep rehashing the same plot. Yes, Terminator is known for having this one singular figure of villainy that is constantly pursuing but how many times can you keep on doing it? … I don’t think anyone really had an interest in just imitating the movies that had come before.”
Despite Bale’s controversial claim that Arnold Schwarzenegger was redundant in theTerminatorfilms,Terminator: Salvationdid not back up the actor’s opinion. The film failed to set the box office on fire and did not receive favorable responses from critics as well thereby crushing Bale’s theory that Schwarzenegger’s towering presence was not needed for the film’s success.
Also Read:“That’s the film they want to talk about”: Christopher Nolan Believes His $113M Thriller is His Best Work Instead of Christian Bale’s Acclaimed The Dark Knight Trilogy
Christian Bale Had A Showdown On The Sets OfTerminator: Salvation
Being a uniquely talented performer also comes with a few quirks in personality. Despite gaining recognition for his performances, Christian Bale is also known for a few outbursts on the sets of his films. One incident that earned the actor a dubious reputation happened during the filming ofTerminator: Salvation.
Midway through a particular scene, Bale reacted violently towards a cinematographer who happen to walk in front of him thereby disturbing his focus. A leaked video of Bale’s tirade quickly became viral causing the actor to do damage control with a public apology. Using the scene with co-star Bryce Dallas Howards as an excuse, Bale said,
[That incident] wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t been playing that scene, for Christ’s sake, between John Connor and his wife, which is probably the most intense one in the movie. … I’d definitely say that that guy who was yelling was at least half John Connor, and the rest was Christian Bale.”
After the failure of the film and his angry outburst on the sets, Bale subsequently ended his relationship with theTerminatorfilms and did not commit to any more sequels afterTerminator: Salvation.
Also Read:The Tumbler: Christian Bale’s Dark Knight Trilogy Batmobile’s Price is So Exorbitantly High Christopher Nolan Demanded it Remain a Secret
Source:Cheatsheet
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
