Christian Bale Explains Why He Can't Watch 'The Dark Knight Rises'

Every once in a while, the real world enters the frame of the movies, reminding us that all the squabbles about superheroes or arguments about cinematic canon are ultimately unimportant. On July 12, 2012, that bracing lesson came to light when a mass shooting unfolded inside a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado during a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises,” leaving a dozen dead, and seventy wounded. It’s an event that still haunts Christian Bale to this day.

Chatting with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the actor revealed that he hasn’t watched Christopher Nolan‘s movie since because the events of that day still linger over his memories of the film.

READ MORE: Christopher Nolan Explains His “Advantage” That Made ‘The Dark Knight’ Trilogy A Unique Success

“Very sadly, I have not been able to watch that film since because of the whole tragedy of Aurora,” Bale explained. “I have not been able to sit down and see it without thinking of that. I’d love to be able to, one day.”

Generally speaking, Bale doesn’t watch superhero movies anyway, but it might explain why he’s been reluctant to join any franchise ever since. The actor recently revealed he met with Disney about “Solo: A Star Wars Story for the role that ultimately went to Woody Harrelson. Taking on those kinds of blockbuster gigs means being part of a bigger piece of moviemaking machinery that draws in rabid fans and, obviously, a very select few unhinged types. Perhaps for Bale, staying in a smaller world of make-believe is a bit more emotionally safe.

The actor’s latest movie, “Hostiles,” is now playing. Listen to the full talk below. [Comic Book]