Collider is reporting that Batman might be looking to switch sides. Yes, Christian Bale is apparently in serious talks to join Thor: Love and Thunder, the fourth entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor franchise. Taika Waititi is returning to the director’s chair after the excellent Thor: Ragnarok and he’s bringing along Thor veterans Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman for the ride.
It’d be an interesting move for Bale, who seemed well and truly finished with superhero movies after becoming a mega-star as the lead of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. He reportedly turned down an immense sum to return to Batman for Zack Snyder’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and has been much more interested in meaty Oscar fare over the last decade, winning Best Actor in 2019 for his portrayal of Dick Cheney in Vice.
There’s no word on which comic book character Bale would play in the movie. Speculation ran from the villainous evil corporate billionaire/minotaur Darrio Agger to the valiant horse-faced alien Beta Ray Bill, who has a mythical lightning hammer of his own. Whatever the character, it’d have to be pretty compelling to get an actor of Bale’s caliber interested.
But then, the MCU powers-that-be have a knack for talking serious actors into one-and-done roles. The Thor movies alone have featured Anthony Hopkins (one Oscar) and Cate Blanchett (two Oscars). Come to think of it, Portman’s got an Oscar too, meaning Thor has one of the most awarded casts of any franchise out there. If Bale does end up joining, he’ll be in good company.
