Back after the comic book movie recession (thanks Schumacher) a number of franchises were being looked at for feature films. One approach was to bring back Batman and Superman in a single film where they faced off against each other. On the final shortlist for Superman in that film?
Christian Bale.
In 2003, before Bryan Singer’s “Superman Returns” and Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins,” director Wolfgang Petersen was set to direct “Batman vs. Superman,” a big-budget outing that set two of DC Comics’ biggest superheroes against each other. Now for the first time, MTV News can reveal that one of those on the shortlist for Krypton’s favorite son was none other than Christian Bale.
The other name on the list was Josh Harnett also bidding for Big Blue. Imagine how different a look or feel the movie might have had with these two working together.
I think a Batman vs Superman story would be great as long as it was The Dark Knight Returns. It would have to be a story told after DC/WB finishes with their master plan they DIDN’T tell us all about 2 months ago.
However, now with Nolan setting the tone for Batman (which he will likely finish after 3) and now the godfather of the Superman franchise, I would love to see him take the two characters just as he set them up, and face them against each other.
Obviously that would put some finality on the characters as the Dark Knight Returns features a future storyline in which Superman decides the status is not quo and he just needs to rule it. Batman is once again considered a criminal and Superman is called to confront him, but Batman beats his old ally.
