The Spotlight: Christian Bale opens up on infamous on-set 'Terminator' meltdown, missing out on 'SOLO' and hoping for another chance at 'Star Wars'
Christian Bale actually agreed to star in McG's Terminator Salvation out of spite.
He was so tired of his team telling him not to take the role that it only emboldened him. Well, if you've seen the move you know how that all turned out. If you haven't, good for you because Bale refers to the 2009 project as "a great shame" and "a thorn in his side."
You might not remember the plot of Terminator Salvation, but I bet you're familiar with the leaked audio of Bale's infamous on-set verbal beatdown and humiliation of cinematographer Shane Hurlbut.
Speaking with Josh Horowitz on his podcast Happy Sad Confused, Bale reflected on the incident and insists it didn't affect his on-set reputation moving forward.
"No, because that was a very unusual occasion," says Bale. "Great learning lesson for me. Remember that scene where Linda Hamilton is really going nuts in Terminator 2? We said, 'We're going to channel that at some point in the film,' and that was a scene where we were channeling it. Great lesson for me of no matter how much you lose yourself in a scene that you *do not* allow yourself to behave that way. Of course, I've got enormous regrets about it."
Bale moved right along to David O. Russell 's The Fighter where he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. It sounds like he reverted back to a "less is more" approach on future sets.
"No, in honestly it was more humor," Bale said of playing off the incident. "The crew laughed about it but they could also see that that isn't me because the next film that I did was The Fighter. So of course, people still make fun of me today and I deserve it and I like it. It's funny. I'm actually genuinely the complete opposite of that because there was something I really learned when I made The Machinist. Unfortunately I didn't maintain that lesson for *that* moment. But when I made The Machinist I was so hungry and exhausted and had so little energy that I literally didn't talk to anybody whilst I was making the film.
"There was something incredibly satisfying about just communicating with people in the scenes. It taught me that quietness is the way to go. You know the old cliche that anger only causes you to lose power, which it did exactly in that situation."
Terminator didn't exactly pan out but Bale has his eye on another massive sci-fi franchise.
"Star Wars, I'm a huge fan," says Bale. "Yea, Star Wars really interests me. I've still got the Millennium Falcon. I've got the AT-AT. My daughter, her first love was Darth Vader."
Bale was in the running to join the case of Lucasfilm's upcoming Star Wars standalone SOLO before the role ultimately went to Woody Harrelson. Bale's leading role in Adam McKay's 2018 Dick Cheney biopic Backseat shot pretty much parallel to SOLO so scheduling may have been an issue.
"Yes, very tempting," says Bale. "I not only love the films going back to my childhood but I also have a very long relationship with [Lucasfilm President] Kathleen Kennedy and [her husband and fellow producer] Frank Marshall because they did Empire of the Sun from many years back. There was discussion and I hope there will be future discussions."
(image via Warner Bros.)
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Regret.
I regret voicing my doubts & insecurities in public.Creative differences are a common element of any project but usually remain private. All I wanted was to make good movie. I got more than that- @rianjohnson made an all-time GREAT one! #HumbledHamill https://t.co/8ujJfBuEdV
— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) December 26, 2017
Happy holidays.
A very Merry Christmas from me 10 years ago, Santa & an Angel. pic.twitter.com/biPpBkOFBZ
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) December 25, 2017
Christmas visitor !!
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) December 24, 2017
Our friendly neighbourhood Carpet Python returns from dining out.
Merry Christmas from the Australian bush !! pic.twitter.com/6IipS9BHTG
RIP.
ALFIE CURTIS made the #StarWars Mos Eisley Cantina scene (one of the most memorable I've ever been a part of) even MORE memorable. As horrific as he was on-camera, off-camera he was funny, kind & a real gentleman. Thanks Alf- you'll be missed. #RIP ❤️- mh pic.twitter.com/laxKvbGmrd
— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) December 27, 2017
That's nice.
Louisville's own Jennifer Lawrence stopped by Norton Children's today to visit with patients, families, and staff. This visit has become a tradition for Lawrence each Christmas. Thank you, Jennifer! You sure do bring a smile to all! ❤
— Norton Children's (@NortonChildrens) December 24, 2017
Photos courtesy of a @wave3news viewer. pic.twitter.com/faENgYtD6q
Movie magic.
Stay safe.
Together again.
I liked it.
Thank you so much for all the kind words about @BrightNetflix it means a lot. I’m glad people are making their own minds up!
— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) December 27, 2017
