Tom Hardy talks about playing ‘Bane’ in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises

Last Updated on July 23, 2021

We’re still a whole year away from Christopher Nolan’s THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and we’ve already had over 2 dozen articles on the thing! Come on now! That’s just insane.

But alas the fun won’t be stopping anytime soon, especially not today because the guys over at Total Film recently caught up with DARK KNIGHT RISES star Tom Hardy and asked him what it is like playing the villainous ‘Bane’ for Christopher Nolan. Apparently Nolan had called Hardy while he was filming THIS MEANS WAR and asked the talented actor if he’d like to star in the next BATMAN film as ‘Bane’.

“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 fucking there, man! Anything you need.”

Needless to say that was Hardy’s response. Who in their right mind wouldn’t respond like that?! If Christopher Nolan wants you in his film, you drop everything and say yes! At least that seems to be the smart move thus far. When asked if Nolan’s ‘Bane’ will mimic the comics at all, in which ‘Bane’ broke ‘Batman’s’ back, Hardy responded:

“Mmmmm… Good lead-in, but 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 think Bane’s fucking 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…”

And in regards to wearing the mask:
“Any time you put something over your face, you’re going to adopt a personality and a physicality that has nothing to do with acting. It allows a performance to be free.”

So there you have it folks! I don’t know about you guys but I’m even more excited after hearing Hardy talk ‘Bane’, even if he kind of has to talk it up regardless. To check out the rest of the interview, where Hardy also talks about following up Heath Ledger’s amazing ‘Joker’ performance, you can pop on over to Total Film.

Along with Hardy THE DARK KNIGHT RISES also stars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard (below), Juno Temple, Josh Pence, Daniel Sunjata, Nestor Carbonell, Matthew Modine, Tom Conti, Joey King, Brett Cullen, Chris Ellis and Josh Stewart. It’s filming in Pittsburgh as we speak with a July 20, 2012 release date already pegged. Needless to say the DARK KNIGHT RISES updates will keep flowing for the next year so I hope you’re ready!