‘Dark Knight Rises’ star Michael Caine talks Christopher Nolan, Alfred and the end to the trilogy
“The Dark Knight Rises” is only a couple of weeks away and the fan frenzy is fueled by swirling rumors and comments from interviews with the cast. Michael Caine has been a part of all three Christopher Nolan Batman films and praised the “Inception” director.
Warner Bros
Empire has posted a new interview with Sir Michael Caine on Thursday, who’s marking his fifth collaboration with Nolan on the film. Caine talks about working with Nolan as Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler, guardian, father figure, and above all, friend.
“I’ve played him three times. His role in Batman is to be your reality. When you get into the fantasy, suddenly you’ve got the butler there saying exactly what you’re thinking – “you can’t do that! You can’t go flying up in a bat suit in here! What are you, nuts?!” He is the foot on the ground and that’s what was always important to me. And I played it that way. I remember once when Chris told me this would be the last one I said, “if they’re doing another one I’m going to play the butler if it’s any good and if they offer it to me.” He said, “I want ten percent.” I said, “No, you’re not getting it!”. It’s that sort of relationship…”
The famous British actor described how Nolan approached the “Dirty Rotten Scoundrel” actor to play Bruce Wayne’s servant.
“He just said, “I’d like you to play the butler”. I mean, I don’t come in and say, “dinner is served” or anything. The butler is an essential character in the whole movie; he’s not massive but that pleased me. I don’t want to do massive.”
One of the appeals of Nolan’s Batman films is the realism. Caine assures fans and praises the similar approach used on “Rises” as the epic battle between Batman and the terrorist Bane encompass the city.
“it was incredible because the great thing about it was – and the secret of the success of this picture as opposed to those massive blockbusters out there – is the stunts and special effects are real. There is very, very little computer generated imaging in it. All these other ones you see a million people marching towards you, you know they’ve photographed ten and just kept doubling it up and up and up. In ours, when the stuntman falls off the roof, it’s a real man falling off the roof and hitting the bottom.”
In fact, Caine continues when asked how Christopher Nolan is different on “Dark Knight Rises” shoot compared to the first film, “Batman Begins,” the actor says little has changed.
‘It’s always the same. He’s got an overcoat on and a flask of tea in his pocket. He’s very quiet and he just wanders around looking at everything, and then he comes up and whispers something to you and everything is very controlled. Everybody knows exactly what they’re doing… With the exception of me! (laughs). Its true, I think he’s the great new director of our time.”
“Rises” concludes the Nolan Batman trilogy as Bane terrorizes Gotham City as Bruce Wayne has retired from Batman after taking the blame for Harvey Dent’s rampage and death.
Caine returns with Christian Bale, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman to reprise their roles from the first two films. Newcomers Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway will play Bane and Catwoman. Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, co-stars with Caine on Nolan’s “Inception,” join the cast with Josh Pence, Juno Temple, Matthew Modine and Joey King.
“The Dark Knight Rises” opens July 20, 2012.
