Bale almost played Superman, but as Batman, he humanized the hero in a way never done before in cinema. Petersen's canceled Batman vs. Superman movie could have changed the DC movie landscape in the early 2000s. Bale's portrayal of Batman under Nolan's direction solidified him as the perfect Caped Crusader, far better than as Superman.

Christian Bale reinvented Bruce Wayne and his caped persona for a newer generation in Batman Begins, but the Oscar-winner was very close to essaying the role of another quintessential DC hero. While Bale broke out as a child star in movies like Steven Spielbergs Empire of the Sun, the English actor took on challenging and diverse roles in the late 1990s and early 2000s. From playing a mild-mannered music journalist in the glam-rock classic Velvet Goldmine to the reckless namesake of American Psycho, Bale was already a critics heartthrob even before he was cast in Christopher Nolans Dark Knight trilogy.