Here’s how Heath Ledger messed up Christian Bale’s “Batman” plans

The latest Batman trilogy isn’t one we’ll soon forget. From the characteristic voice of Bane (Tom Hardy) to Christian Bale’s brooding portrayal of Bruce Wayne, many of us watch the films on repeat whenever we’re getting a Gotham craving. However, in an interview with Yahoo Movies, Bale admitted that, despite the trilogy’s success, he doesn’t feel as though he brought enough to the table. . . at least, compared to the performance of the late Heath Ledger.

Batman is a “very dark, messed up character,” Bale explained — and he wanted to make sure his performance honored that. In fact, it was the only way he was able to put on the Batman suit and not feel ridiculous. “I found when I put on the suit, I went, ‘I just feel like a bloody idiot if I don’t use it as a means of. . . it’s his true monstrous self that he allows to come out in that moment,” he said.

So he set to work preparing for the dark, brooding character of Bruce Wayne. . . but Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker put a wrench in his strategy. “Heath turned up, and just kind of completely ruined all my plans,” Bale told Yahoo. “I went, ‘He’s so much more interesting than me and what I’m doing.’”

Although we think Bale did fabulously, we totally understand his perspective. After all, it would be a little overwhelming to act next to Ledger, whose chilling performance posthumously won him dozens of awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Although he didn’t “quite manage what [he] hoped [he] would” throughout the trilogy, he has no plans to revisit the role. “Enough’s enough, we did our thing,” he said. “It’s done, I’ve got nothing else to offer it.”

Check out the full interview below. It’s OK, Christian — we thought you were a totally rad Batman.