Bale won’t be in ‘Justice League’ film

Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Tom Hardy stars as Bane in
Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Tom Hardy stars as Bane in "The Dark Knight Rises."
  • Christian Bale officially opted out of playing Batman in the 'Justice League' movie
  • Bale said he would only reprise the role if Christopher Nolan directed the film
  • "The Dark Knight" screenwriter said the new Batman would be a rebooted character

(CNN) -- We already knew that Christian Bale probably wasn't going to show up as Batman in the upcoming Justice League movie, the Avengers-style supergroup of DC heroes. First, Bale said that he wouldn't do another Batman movie unless Nolan opted for a fourth Dark Knight chapter, which Nolan says isn't happening. Then 'Man of Steel' and 'Dark Knight' screenwriter David S. Goyer confirmed that the Justice League's Batman would be a rebooted character. So that pretty much closed the book.

Still, with news like this, sometimes you just have to hear it from the man himself.

Why the next nemesis for 'The Avengers' may be the 'Justice League of America'

"We were incredibly fortunate to get to make three [Batman films]. That's enough. Let's not get greedy," says Bale, who called EW to promote his upcoming revenge drama 'Out of the Furnace' (in theaters Nov. 27). "Chris [Nolan] always said he wanted to make it one film at a time. And we ended up sitting there looking at each other, saying 'We're about to make the third.' We never really knew if we were going to get to be there, but if that was how it was going to be, this was where it should end as well."

Henry Cavill talks 'Justice League': It won't be right away

The actor says he hasn't even been involved in official talks about a Justice League movie. "I have no information, no knowledge about anything. I've literally not had a conversation with a living soul. I understand that they may be making a Justice League movie, that's it." But he says he's not sad to pass Batman's cowl into new hands: "It's a torch that should be handed from one actor to another. So I enjoy looking forward to what somebody else will come up with."

See the original story at EW.com

CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly

© 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

CNN.com - Entertainment