April 2004
April 30th, 2004
And even more photos on www.batmanbegins.com!!!
The first picture of Christian Bale as Batman is released. Check out SuperHeroHype for a scan of the Entertainment Weekly article!
April 23rd, 2004
Gazz at Film Rotation had the following to report (not verified yet):
I was sat up last night watching some old movies and getting a 'touch drunk' (don't you just love having long weekends off work?) when I caught the tale end of an interview here in the UK with Christian Bale regarding his new movie The Machinist on TV.
At the end of the interview he was asked a couple of questions regarding Batman Begins. He made a veiled dig at Mr Knowles and AICN stating that the production has "to be careful and tight security wise in what we are doing otherwise, before you know it, you're getting reviewed and torn to strips by the 'ain't it not cool' community before even a strip of film has been shot!".
Best of all though, he rather angrily denied that he was making a "comic book movie" and said that that was actually an insult to the millions of fans out there. He said "We're making a film based on a much loved graphic novel. I think to use the term 'comic book' really under values the source material!"
And at the interview's end, Bale said that he cannot say much at all about the project but that if he had to describe it, he would say - and get this for uber-coolness - it "is a cross between Serpico and The French Connection mixed with a really fucking cool samurai, kung fu movie, and there's like some really strong 70s conspiracy movie vibes in their too! It is definitely not a Batman that you've seen on screen before"
This film cannot happen soon enough!
UPDATE: Director Christopher Nolan was on BBC Radio 2 this morning and stated that photos leaked of Bale "in costume" would have to be fakes, seeing as the ones that are out there show a costume similar to the style of previous movies -- and he confirmed that the batsuit for Batman Begins is "fresh, unseen by an audience and really just Batman in his experimental, early stage!"
April 23rd, 2004
Batman Begins production is shooting at Mill Hill today.
April 22nd,2004
According to www.superherohype.com Warner Bros. will be filming Batman Begins at University College London tonight.
Filming for Batman Begins is taking place Thursday night (April 22nd) at University College London on Malet Place and University Street WC1
Batman is filming tonight, 22nd April, at University College London... They're setting it up as I write. The Science Library is 'Gotham Press', the Biosciences Building is 'Gotham Police Department - 37th Precinct' and there are cop cars, taxis, red american fire hydrants, NY phone booths, newspaper stands and street signs all down the street...
April 21st, 2004
Animal rights activists line up against Batman
It was finally confirmed this week that director Christopher Nolan will be bringing a star-studded cast to the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) in Mill Hill to film part of the Hollywood blockbuster Batman Begins.
But film company Warner Bros is already in talks with Barnet police to establish what security arrangements can be made when filming begins at the institute, which uses animals for research into diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
Amid threats of protests by the Mill Hill Anti-Vivisection Alliance, Warner has made staff at the NIMR sign a confidentiality agreement to keep the date of the filming under wraps.
You can see a picture of the building here
April 17th, 2004
According to www.superherohype.com an anonymous source can confirm that Warner were filming Batman outside City Point London EC1, opp Moorgate station on the 3rd and 4th of April. Shooting was carried out at night and the Brewery (the old Whitbread brewery, now a venue) in Chiswell street was used for makeup and catering.
April 12th, 2004
Bale strips down for his latest role
Duncan Higgitt, The Western Mail
BATMAN star Christian Bale has told how he shed a third of his bodyweight for
the lead role in a new thriller.
Christian, 30, stars in new thriller The Machinist where he plays Trevor Reznik - a man haunted by a terrible secret.
And the dedicated actor lost more than four stone for the demanding role.
Welshman Christian said, "This was just a really special project for me and I wanted to delve into it more than any part I'd done for a long time.
"So I thought I'd give it a crack and see how low I could get.
"I went to a nutritionist and she said, 'you can get down to about 140lb and still be all right'."
But he admitted shedding 60 pounds for the role was difficult and meant starving himself for days.
Christian said, "I never realised how much pleasure I got from food until I was on that extreme diet for such a long time.
"When you're not eating, 24 hours is an eternity. But I realised I could do it."
Hollywood star Renee Zellweger was forced to gain a stone-and-a-half for her role as Bridget Jones and Oscar-winner Charlize Theron put on more than two stones to play serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster.
Christian shot to fame as a child actor in Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun and followed it up with parts in films such as American Psycho and Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
He is currently shooting the fifth Batman film in London with co-stars Michael Caine, who plays butler Alfred, Liam Neeson, Rutger Hauer and Katie Holmes.
The Machinist is released later this year and Batman Begins - which follows the Caped Crusader as a young man - is out next year.
BAT OF A DO AT PLATEAU
Wharf is Gotham City on Thames
PLATEAU set a table aside for Batman last weekend as the Wharf became Gotham
City.
The superhero's alter-ego Bruce Wayne, played by Christian Bale, was at the Canada Square Park restaurant filming scenes for $150m blockbuster Batman - Intimidation.
Cast and crew took over the Conran restaurant from around 5pm on Sunday night (April 3) until 6.30am on Monday.
And Plateau general manager Bertrand Pierson made his Hollywood debut - playing maitre d' to Bale and a bevy of beautiful ladies for the restaurant scene.
A set insider said: "Christian Bale was a real gentleman. It's a big role but he seemed very comfortable and really looked the part."
A plunge pool and a bar were added to the outside terrace overlooking Canada Square Park.
The film, due for release in July 2005, will also star Dawson's Creek actress Katie Holmes as the love interest and Oscar winner Michael Caine as butler Alfred.
Last month The Wharf revealed Batman's famous car had been filmed racing around ExCeL.
Conran declined to comment.
April 4th, 2004
Here are the first pictures of Christian as Batman !!! (Well, um - Bruce Wayne!)
April 3th, 2004
The recent report on www.superherohype.com seems to back up my little theory that the filming at the Plateau is going to take place this weekend. As I already mentioned some weeks back, it really wasn't hard to figure that one out at all ...
April 1st, 2004
According to HSX the release date of Batman Begins (Bat5) will be June 17, 2005.