As many people know, Tom Hardy will be playing Bane in the upcoming Batman movies by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises. There has been much speculation about how the character will look and what he will do in the film. Today we got our first look at Bane, and it looks very cool and interesting.
For those of you who do not know who bane is I will give some back story. First, I will give you his looks in comparison to the comic book. In the released Photo Bane is wearing a stylized mask that looks a bit different from the comics. In the comics his mask covers his whole head, white on the face, black everywhere else. There is a tube that connects to the base of the mask where the neck is, it runs down to his forearm and a wrist mounted device that injects a serum known as Venom. This makes him super strong. The rest of the costume is black and looks like something Andre the Giant would wear, but with black pants. Bane is about 6’8″ to 7′ tall, 380 pounds.(DC Encyclopedia )
In the movie his mask only really covers his mouth and the back of his head almost like that mask you see Anthony Hopkins wearing in Silence of the Lambs. But the part that is covering his mouth and nose looks like tubes. I am guessing but this is how he may be getting his venom. The mask itself looks mechanical in nature with what looks like another tube coming from the nose to the back of his head. Tom Hardy is about 5’10” in the photo he looks like he packed on an extra 100 pounds of muscle. He probably weighs 250 as Bane. He is not wearing a shirt and his pants are black but barely visible. I think they may be made for combat.
If you remember Bane was also in the last Joel Schumacher Batman movie; Batman & Robin. In that he was just a no talking, brainless brute who did what he was told to do. In the comics he is no one’s slave. Known as The Man Who Broke the Bat, he orchestrated that very feat. But not just through brute force. By the time Batman actually faced off against Bane he was already defeated. Bane is a genius level intellect that is capable and skilled at many things.
Under the guidance of Christopher Nolan we just might see the Bane we deserve. Bane will be joined by Catwoman played by Ann Hathaway but it is unclear if they will be working together or not. Also announced is actor Josh Pence who will be play a Young Ra’s Al Ghul. In the comic Ra’s Al Ghul uses what is known as a Lazarus pit to keep himself young and immortal. But with Christopher Nolan’s pension for a pseudo realistic Batman movie this will most likely be flashbacks.
Hopefully more pictures will be released of both Bane and Catwoman as time goes on. I can’t wait for the movie to come out. The Dark Knight Rises July 20th 2012. See you in the theater.
