Bale to be the new Batman

Christian Bale is to be the new Batman, Warner Bros has announced.

The American Psycho star saw off other hopefuls including Irish actor Cillian Murphy and Jake Gyllenhaal, Joshua Jackson, and Eion Bailey for the role after auditioning for the director Christopher Nolan.

Bale succeeds Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney as the latest incarnation of Bruce Wayne in what was the studio’s biggest franchise until Harry Potter came along.

As yet no title has been decided for the new film, which will follow the early career of the Caped Crusader, and Bale’s role is only for one installment.

“What I see in Christian is the ultimate embodiment of Bruce Wayne,” Nolan told reporters.

“He has exactly the balance of darkness and light that we are looking for.”