Christian Bale says he is open for another Batman after 'Rises'

Director Christopher Nolan has mentioned that the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises will be his last Batman film, but according to an interview with Empire Magazine, Christian Bale has said he is not opposed to returning as the caped crusader, that is, if Nolan decides to change his mind. 

"All I know is the likelihood that this will be the last one, " he said. "Well, I wouldn't say definitely. If Chris goes, 'Hey, I've got another story I think could be interesting,' then yeah, great, I'd go do that. I always assumed it would be three, but I could be wrong. I don't know if there's something wrong with me, but I don't feel any pressure."

For upcoming film, it has been officially stated that Anne Hathaway will play Catwoman and Tom Hardy will play Bane, the villain responsible for breaking Batman's back in the comics.  Bale has said, "[Tom Hardy] seems like he's balls-out, doesn't he? Like he really goes for it.He looked like a guy that was happy to go to extremes, to really push it. Looks like he could go the distance..."

This sounds strangely like the description many gave of Heath Ledger when he played the Joker.

Given how the recent Batman films have adapted the title of Dark Knight, one can't help but be reminded of a famous graphic novel by Frank Miller called Dark Knight Returns, which featured Batman in his 50's, returning from a period of retirement to fight mutants, Joker...and finally, start a little fist fight with Superman. Could there be a chance that we might see this novel adapted down the line?  Only time will tell.

Starring Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and directed by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises arrives at Orange County theaters on July 20th, 2012.