On the set of The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale was no longer as humble as during the filming of Batman Begins, but he was not reckless either. Having collaborated with Duke on two films, he clearly understood what kind of director he was dealing with, and his position on this set might not be as influential as those long-time assistants.
In fact, Christian Bale's thoughts were not wrong. If an incident like that on the Terminator 4 set occurred, Duke would never have removed his cinematographer or any other team member—only Christian Bale could be replaced, even if it required casting another actor.
Overall, communication between Duke and Christian Bale was very smooth. Compared to Joseph McGinty Nichol, the director of Terminator 4, the difference was at least three levels apart.
"Since losing his love, Rachel, Bruce Wayne has felt isolated. Harvey Dent's death and the subsequent uncontrolled events plunged Bruce Wayne into confusion. He constantly blames himself, wondering if becoming Batman caused all this misfortune."
Holding the script, Christian Bale discussed his role with Duke. "His faith begins to waver, leaving him mentally and physically strained. But how long can he endure this pain? Will these events truly affect him for life? Over time, could they lead him toward self-destruction?"
Duke's understanding was that after years of retirement and abandoning the role of Batman, Bruce Wayne had sacrificed the two identities he once possessed.
"This time, returning to Batman, we are portraying a man who has lost his purpose—no mission, no steadfast goal he once pursued."
Sitting behind his desk, Duke looked at Christian Bale and said, "My approach to shaping Batman has always been based on the idea that aside from his wealth, he is a superhero without superpowers. His uniqueness ultimately comes from extraordinary motivation and absolute dedication. These two elements make him great."
"One defining trait of this character, often overlooked, is his immense wealth."
Closing the script, Christian Bale continued Duke's thought. "The resources available to a wealthy person are rarely fully understood. The rest, from an emotional perspective, is easier to comprehend."
He thought for a moment and added, "I will gradually grasp the emotional scope of the character, naturally expressing his different states at each stage. For his true feelings, I will devote myself to exploring and studying them. Bruce Wayne is no longer young. Many doubts still trouble him. This performance requires meticulous subtlety."
Duke nodded in agreement.
Although his temper had increased, Christian Bale's dedication was unquestionable. Since receiving Duke's notice earlier in the year, he had been gaining weight, training muscles, and undergoing necessary combat training with Jimmy Carter.
Shortly after Christian Bale left, Duke summoned Gal Gadot, who was training in hand-to-hand combat.
Physically, Gal Gadot was very suitable for Selina Kyle, though acting was her weak point.
"Sit, Gal."
"Thank you, Director Rosenberg."
Once the Israeli actress sat down, Duke went straight to the point, discussing her character. "I need to find a balance between this classic character image and a credible personality that can easily win audience favor. You must combine the different sides of this character naturally and organically, without a sense of split, coexisting but not conflicting. This will create a complementary effect between Catwoman and Batman."
Gal Gadot nodded eagerly.
"The true influence on Bruce Wayne does not come from Selina Kyle herself, but from years of loneliness."
After a moment's thought, Duke continued to Gal Gadot. "He unexpectedly meets an intriguing and charming woman in his own home. He suddenly realizes that he has been searching all along, even if unconsciously… He has lost everything once full of color in his life and needs contact with normal people."
Duke asked her, "Has Anna given you the character script? Have you read it? Any thoughts?"
"Yes, I have read it."
Recalling the script, Gal Gadot reflected. "I believe Catwoman's worldview and moral compass are gray. It is this gray morality that resonates with Batman. From a somewhat unconventional perspective, Catwoman's aura corresponds perfectly with Batman's. Their subtle, well-timed interaction harmonizes their energy. Selina Kyle always teases Batman subtly, stirring a certain sentiment between them. Considering Batman's dark personality, Catwoman's interactions add a bright note, alleviating the oppressive atmosphere."
"Exactly," Duke nodded in approval. "If you have questions, come to me anytime."
Although he did not particularly like Gal Gadot personally, Duke did not treat her differently professionally.
Another important character was Bane. However, Dwayne Johnson had only passed the audition and had not yet signed a contract, so he did not have the full script. Duke was not in a hurry.
Although Bane was not as well-known as Catwoman, his atrocious actions against Batman made him infamous among all comic Batman fans. Physically and psychologically, he would pose the greatest possible threat to Batman.
This character also had a striking feature: the enormous contrast in voice and physique.
In Duke's words, Bane is articulate yet possesses a gorilla-like body. So beyond displaying his eloquence, his entire presence is imposing and magnificent.
Then there was the old butler, Alfred. He would reveal a cruel truth in the film: Gotham now offers Bruce Wayne nothing but pain and disaster.
In some ways, Alfred's viewpoint is accurate. To the audience, Alfred represents the viewers' perspective—a spokesperson for the audience.
Unlike some who remain unyielding, his reaction is what any normal person would have under such circumstances.
While Duke prepared the film, as usual, Warner Bros.' marketing and publicity were already ahead. Since it was not yet suitable to reveal much about the film or characters, Warner Bros. focused promotion on Duke himself. Over the years, the market had proven the strength and consumer power of "Duke hype."
Under a joint campaign by Warner Bros. and Panny Kallis, some of Duke's past statements were compiled as "Duke Rosenberg Quotes" and shared online, especially on instant sharing platforms, becoming widely reposted.
These "Duke Quotes" indeed reflected some of Duke's genuine thoughts.
"I would rather make a film that 1,000 people eagerly want to see than a film that only ten consider highbrow."
"Most comics nowadays are like soft-core erotic magazines. I still miss the traditional storytelling methods. Do you know what else I miss? Superpowers. Why can everyone now manipulate their body's molecules, as if a lightning strike turns everyone into Doctor Strange? The girls in comics also wear less and less, looking like they all had breast implants. I know I sound like a stubborn old man, but it's true."
"I make movies for the side of myself that is a fanatical fan; I make movies to give myself strength; I make movies to experience the lives of characters; I make movies to explore things that would normally scare me; I make movies to do all the things that moviegoers fantasize about when they see a story."
"I love fantasy films, action films, and sci-fi films. I am fascinated by things that cannot happen in real life because they are an interpretation of real life. But ultimately, what interests me most is the adventure and thrill that movies can bring."
"Every time I kill someone on screen, I feel refreshed, lighthearted, and happy. Don't call me a 'character killer'—Shakespeare did this far more than I ever did."
"I originally thought I came to this Earth solely to make movies. But in the same year, I saw Star Wars, and then I realized, oh, what I was meant to do, George Lucas has already done. So my existence on Earth seemed meaningless; I might as well wait to die. It wasn't until many years later that I finally mustered the courage to truly step into the film industry."
"This era is chaotic and disorderly. Everything I create is meant to show the audience how humans struggle and fight to live a dignified, noble life in such times. It is a very difficult process; we often fail, but we never give up. For me, this is the most important message I will always strive to convey."
"The past two years, I have endured tremendous pressure. It's like I was originally a sketch artist, but now I am forced to paint in oils, and every decision carries hundreds of millions of dollars. Sometimes I just want to forget it all."
"No matter what people say about the benefits of leaving suspense, in my movies, I want everything to be a complete experience. If I dig a hole and then leave it, f**k me."
...
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