CONFIRMED: Bale in talks for TERMINATOR 4

UPDATE: The Hollywood Reporter have confirmed that Christian Bale is in talks for a role in TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE FUTURE BEGINS. He is likely to be the new John Connor. Is the script and story better than we all imagined it could be? Has Bale being offered a HUGE amount to star in this flick, or is he doing it because of his passion for the project?Whatever the case, it's a huge coup not only for director McG but the Halcyon Co. too.Last week we heard the rather shocking but probably false rumor that fan favourite and critically admired British actor Christian Bale was up for the role of John Connor in the upcoming TERMINATOR SALVATION: THE FUTURE BEGINS. Rather unsurprisingly, that rumor got the web talking about the picture again and many started to once again take notice of this new start in the franchise after disregarding the new movie once they heard that CHARLIE'S ANGELS director McG had jumped aboard to helm. There's more rumors about Bale's involvement in the new TERMINATOR movie across the web today, which I found over at Filmstalker though it looks like it could have originated over at CHUD. The rumors are making us think, just for a second.... What if Bale is actually, the new Arnold Schwarzenegger... i.e. THE TERMINATOR himself...

There's certainly something rigidly strikingly and dark about Bale and his method way of acting that you could almost believe that he could be a machine. I mean it's that dark side that got him the part of Batman in the first place and previously his performances in AMERICAN PSYCHO and EQUILIBRIUM showed a guy totally void of all humanity for many parts of both films. In the opening scenes of YUMA too, his expressive eyes and intensity did all the work for him. He's one of the best actors today at using his face, eyes and stance to express his meaning. Just look at the opening to this scene to the geek favourite EQUILIBRIUM. Look at the way he walks. Look at those eyes, his movements. He could do this TERMINATOR role in his sleep...

And remember not that long ago, we heard the news that this new TERMINATOR franchise would be a new beginning (just look at the new title) and that characters like John Connor would be a thing of the past. They would only influence the events of this new film.

I don't think Bale is being touted for Connor at all. Hell that character probably won't even be in the new movie.

I think they want him as the TERMINATOR, and you know it might not just be beyond the realms of possibility.

Before Bale got famous for his role in Batman, he was only a semi-known British actor more with a cult following than any worldwide recognition. Similar to that of Gerard Butler or Daniel Craig before they got their big two outings in the last 12 months with BOND and 300.

Bale wasn't afraid to do geek projects either and of course he still isn't. We have already spoken about EQUILIBIRUIM, but let's not forget he did the British apocalyptic movie REIGN OF FIRE, damned nearly killed himself for THE MACHINIST, starred in the Indie movie HARSH TIMES and was in a Western this year with 3:1o TO YUMA and the little seen war flick RESCUE DAWN.

All those movies were risks in their own rights and many of them were very much geek or cult projects with Bale seeing the potential for quality over the potential of a box office return. And in some cases that's exactly what he got.

Hell, even BATMAN BEGINS was a risk. Adam West, Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer's careers were never the same once they donned that dark cape and cowl, with ironically only George Clooney's work and status not being effected in Hollywood with the worst movie and performance in the series history with BATMAN & ROBIN.

Agreeing to BATMAN BEGINS for a semi-known British director with no other cast members on board (this was well before the coup's of Neeson, Caine and Freeman) was no easy decision I'm sure.

Bale takes risks. Bale is a fucking winner.

If he see's a chance here to play a character he has most likely grown up with and enjoyed (he was 10 when the first movie was released) and to blow us away with his intensity and commitment to playing the role right... then I think he could be on board here.

Offer him as much money as humanely possible to get him in this. If the material for your film is only half-good, he will b able to transform it into the next dimension of awesomness. You will probably never get the chance to sign up Bale for this film again, the window of opportunity has to be now.

Sure I'm certain the material they have for this new TERMINATOR movie will be piss-poor, but hell I would far rather see this movie with Bale as a Terminator than some male model.

So let's look at this...

Would you mind Christian Bale as TERMINATOR although he is already Batman?

Remember this TERMINATOR will not be the one Arnie played in three movies. This is a new start, a new villain.

Or do you think he would work better as a new hero for the movie, in a John Connor esque role?

Or how about Bale staying as far away from this movie as possible?