Posted by: Zack Bruce
When it comes to any Christopher Nolan film, there is often little said about the plot, characters, or anything else. If it wasn’t for sneaky photographers, we wouldn’t even get set pics of the actors on location. So it’s really a privilege when someone from one of the director’s films wants to talk about anything.
Case and point, Tom Hardy is opening up a bit on his character in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: Bane. He starts off by telling the story of when Nolan called him on the set of THIS MEANS WAR to ask if he would be interested in the role, ‘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 [expletive] there, man! Anything you need.’”
The most anticipated scene for fans would be when Bane breaks Batman’s back, but will viewers be seeing that? “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.” The actor also notes that Nolan’s Bane is miles away from the one we saw in BATMAN & ROBIN, “I think Bane’s [expletive] 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…”
Does Hardy feel pressure about following Heath Ledger’s villainous performance as Joker in THE DARK KNIGHT, “No, none at all. Brilliant actor, brilliant work – that’s it. I’ve got a job to do.” He continues, “It’s the same with Mad Max and Mel Gibson. I’m not here to engage in a competition with their talent. It’s to play the character that I’ve been given.”
The mask doesn’t bother the actor either, “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.”
Source: Total Film
