![EE British Academy Film Awards 2014 - Red Carpet Arrivals EE British Academy Film Awards 2014 - Red Carpet Arrivals](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/christian-bale1.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
You’d think that after three movies with the comic-book character that Christian Bale would be ready to let go of playing Batman. Bale thought that too, but he recently admitted he was feeling “jealous” that Ben Affleck was cast as the caped crusader for the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
“The fact that I’m jealous of someone else playing Batman … I think I should have gotten over it by now,” he told Empire magazine.
Bale says he hasn’t spoken with Affleck about the role, but he has emailed him with advice.
“I’ve got to admit initially, even though I felt that it was the right time to stop, there was always a bit of me going, ‘Oh go on… Let’s do another,'” Bale said elsewhere in the interview. “So when I heard there was someone else doing it, there was a moment where I just stopped and stared into nothing for half an hour.”
Meet All the Actors Who Have Played Batman and Robin
![Lewis Wilson And Douglas Croft In 'Batman' Lewis Wilson And Douglas Croft In 'Batman'](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![MBDNEAD EC016 MBDNEAD EC016](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-05.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BATMAN AND ROBIN BATMAN AND ROBIN](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Adam West in Batman Adam West in Batman](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Batman And Robin Batman And Robin](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![MCDBARE EC003 MCDBARE EC003](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/252595_full.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![M2DBAFO EC002 M2DBAFO EC002](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/83964_full.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-04.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![MSDBAAN EC024 MSDBAAN EC024](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/318390_full.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![MCDDAKN EC079 MCDDAKN EC079](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/490461_full.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/batman-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Lego Batman](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/batman.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race , Endorses Harris to Replace Him
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com