Latest news with #BatmanBegins
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Christian Bale's latest transformation has fans screaming - is that really him as Al Davis in Madden?
Christian Bale is back on his method-acting madness, spotted on the Atlanta set of Madden looking nothing like himself, and everything like the late, legendary Raiders boss, Al Davis. Receding hairline? Check. Bleached eyebrows? Yup. Rings that scream 'Super Bowl royalty'? Oh, absolutely. It is giving full of Al Davis fantasy. From Batman to football boss, Bale's got range like wi-fi Dressed in a retro v-neck, leather jacket, slacks, and those era-defining dress shoes, Bale looks like he time-travelled straight out of a 1983 press conference. Fans can barely recognise him — and honestly, that is the brand. Bale is not out here playing roles; he is out here absorbing souls. Can't get enough of these Christian Bale photos as Al Davis for the John Madden movie. A legacy of physical insanity This is not Bale's first ride on the transformation train. The man basically starved for The Machinist, beefed up for Batman Begins, got big-belly energy for American Hustle, and morphed into Dick Cheney with full posture-shift for Vice. That last one even earned him a Golden Globe, and a million gasps. Al Davis: the NFL's original rebel with rings Al Davis was more than a football exec — he was a firestarter. As Raiders owner from 1972 until his death in 2011, he clashed with NFL suits, promoted diversity before it was buzzworthy, and brought home three Super Bowl titles. His swagger and defiance were the stuff of legend, and Bale is clearly channelling every ounce of that. The first-look at Nicolas Cage as John Madden and Christian Bale as Al Davis for the upcoming film 'Madden'. Madden is more than just football Directed by David O. Russell (yup, the mastermind behind The Fighter and American Hustle), Madden follows the rise of NFL coach-turned-broadcast-king John Madden, played by Nicolas Cage. And yes, Cage has been seen on set looking equally bananas in a blonde wig and aqua tracksuit. I know Christian Bale is going to do his thing as Al Davis, but I'm becoming more and more confident with Nicholas Cage as John Madden. A stacked cast, but make no mistake Rounding out the cast are John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden, and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis. But no shade — this is Bale's arena now. When this man commits to a character, he does not just deliver; he detonates. Bale sets fire to expectations Once again, Christian Bale has taken a role, drowned it in commitment, set fire to it with method acting, and strutted off into the cinematic sunset like the Hollywood legend he is. Give him the Oscar. Or at least a lifetime supply of hair dye and knee braces.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Christian Bale looks unrecognisable as he transforms into Al Davis for Madden; see pics
Hollywood actor Christian Bale has once again left fans stunned with a dramatic transformation for his latest role. The Oscar-winning actor was recently spotted on the Atlanta set of Madden, looking nearly unrecognisable in character as late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. The 51-year-old actor, sported a receding hairline wig and bleached eyebrows while dressed in a white v-neck shirt, leather jacket, black slacks, and dress shoes. His look was topped off with several large championship rings — an unmistakable nod to Davis' legacy with the Raiders. This kind of physical commitment is nothing new for Christian, who is widely regarded as one of Hollywood's most dedicated actors. He famously dropped over 60 pounds for The Machinist, then bulked up massively just months later to play Batman in Batman Begins. In American Hustle, he packed on weight and adopted a comb-over to play conman Irving Rosenfeld. And in the Dick Cheney biopic Vice, Christian underwent a complete transformation, gaining weight and altering his posture and voice to become the former U.S. Vice President — a performance that won him a Golden Globe. In Madden, he takes on the role of Al Davis, the flamboyant and fiercely independent NFL team owner known for his slogan 'Just win, baby' and his legendary clashes with the NFL establishment. Davis was a key figure in the rise of the Raiders, serving as their principal owner from 1972 until his death in 2011. Under his leadership, the team won three Super Bowls and became known for its rebel spirit and commitment to diversity. The film tells the story of John Madden's extraordinary rise — from coaching the Raiders to a Super Bowl XI victory in 1977, to becoming one of football's most iconic broadcasters, and finally to lending his name to the iconic Madden NFL video game franchise. Nicolas Cage stars as Madden, also seen recently in character wearing a wavy blonde wig and an aqua blue tracksuit. The ensemble cast includes John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden, and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis. The project reunites Bale with director David O. Russell, who previously helmed The Fighter and American Hustle.
Digital Trends
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
5 movies leaving Netflix in May 2025 you have to watch now
May belongs to Vince Vaughn and the grandmothers. Nonnas, which premiered on May 9, has become a hit on Netflix and remains in the top 10 most popular movies list. From the kitchen to the football field, Untold: The Fall of Favre is a fascinating look into two notorious scandals involving Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. Nonnas and The Fall of Favre will remain on the streamer when the calendar changes from May to June. Unfortunately, these five movies are departing the service. One of them is Batman Begins, the first movie in the spectacular Dark Knight trilogy. Check out the rest of the picks below. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Batman Begins (2005) In 2025, Christopher Nolan is the top filmmaker in Hollywood concerning power, notoriety, and recognition. 20 years ago, Nolan did not have the same juice he has now. However, Batman Begins is arguably the movie that changed his career. The previous Batman movies treated Bruce Wayne like a comic book character. Nolan crafted a more grounded and nuanced version of the character, starting with a gritty origin story in Batman Begins. After years of training and traveling globally, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns to Gotham City and becomes Batman, the masked vigilante intent on ridding the city of crime. Batman's foes include his former mentor, Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), and Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy), two men who believe Gotham isn't worth saving. After watching Batman Begins, stream The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, which also leave at the end of the month. Stream Batman Begins on Netflix. Den of Thieves (2018) What a comeback year it's been for Den of Thieves. The cult classic's popularity led to a sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which premiered in January. Plus, a third movie is now in the works. However, these sequels would not have been possible without the original from 2018. Written and directed by Christian Gudegast, Den of Thieves is a heist film set in Los Angeles that pits the cops against the robbers. The lines are blurred as neither side is good nor evil. The police are led by Big Nick O'Brien (Gerard Butler), a renegade cop who frequently breaks the law to apprehend the enemy. The outlaws' leader is Ray Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber), a former Marine and mastermind of a heist crew. Merrimen's group plans to hit the Federal Reserve Bank, and Big Nick plans to stop it. It's going to get loud, violent, and chaotic once these two sides battle. Stream Den of Thieves on Netflix. Pride & Prejudice (2005) 'You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love you.' Jane Austen fans will recognize that iconic line from Joe Wright's terrific adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. In the English countryside live the five Bennet sisters: Jane (Rosamund Pike), Elizabeth (Kiera Knightley), Mary (Talulah Riley), Kitty (Carey Mulligan), and Lydia (Jena Malone). The girls have been pressured by their father to find a suitable husband, particularly a wealthy one. The free-spirited Elizabeth has no plans to marry for money and will hold out for love. Could that man be Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen)? Good luck not falling in love with the will-they-won't-they dilemma between Elizabeth and Darcy. Stream Pride & Prejudice on Netflix. GoodFellas (1990) Martin Scorsese's greatest movie is about to leave Netflix, which is a crime against humanity. The late Ray Liotta plays Henry Hill, a Brooklyn teenager who advances within the ranks of the Mafia to become one of its top lieutenants. While working for the mafia, Henry becomes closely associated with Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro), an Irish-American gangster, and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci), a fiery criminal. The trio reaps the rewards of being in the mafia — money, drugs, and power. These items also lead to their demise. The brilliance of Goodfellas is how Scorsese divides the story into two halves. The first half glamorizes the mafia lifestyle, while the second half explores the dark consequences of being a gangster. Describing Goodfellas as a masterpiece does not do it justice. Stream Goodfellas on Netflix. Two Weeks Notice (2002) Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant starring in Two Weeks Notice is equivalent to Captain America and Iron Man joining the Avengers. Bullock and Grant became two of the '90s biggest names, especially in rom-coms. The stars aligned in Two Weeks Notice, Marc Lawrence's take on the opposites attract trope. Lawyer Lucy Kelson (Sandra Bullock) will do whatever it takes to protect the environment. Billionaire George Wade (Hugh Grant) only cares about himself and his money. Lucy works for George after he promises to save a community center. At first, oil and water are a better mix than Lucy and George. Over time, the duo come to appreciate one another's company and gain feelings. Even with a predictable ending, Two Weeks Notice will satisfy anyone who loves on-screen chemistry between the leads. Stream Two Weeks Notice on Netflix.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I started an activewear business and now partner with Marvel and Disney. Tariffs are testing our success.
Austin Gayne is the founder of SuperX, a superhero and pop culture-inspired gym wear company. He works with brands including Marvel to create merchandise based on characters like Spider-Man. SuperX bought a lot of materials from China, but pivoted in response to Trump's tariffs. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Austin Gayne, the 29-year-old CEO of the sportswear company, SuperX, who is based in Nashville, Tennessee. The following has been edited for length and clarity. When people watch movies like "Batman Begins" and see Christian Bale's physique and Bruce Wayne's work ethic, it's like, "Wow, that's kind of inspiring." It makes you want to either start a fitness routine, be a better person, or just get your adrenaline pumping. This is our secret sauce at SuperX. Although I started SuperX as a supplement company, I pivoted to activewear because nobody was really doing superhero designs. People see the company as a niche clothing brand, or a superhero clothing brand, but I'm transitioning it into a pop culture fitness brand, which understands the connection between customers wanting to feel like these characters. The reason people connect with them is very character-specific. Let's use Spider-Man as an example. The reason so many people resonate with him beyond his cool powers is that they see Peter Parker. He's overlooked, doubted, bullied, and below average, but he rises above it. Many fans relate to him, and they feel they can become something more. So, when we collaborate with Marvel on merch featuring a character, we're really going to tap into that feeling. Everybody wants to be a better person. That's why our slogan is "Be extraordinary." It's not just, "work out and become jacked." If that's what you choose to be, great! But it could be that you want to run a marathon, rank up in your career, be a better spouse, a better father, a better son, a better friend — whatever it means to you. Think of huge companies that own massive properties. Disney owns Marvel and Lucasfilm. Warner Bros. owns DC Comics, "Harry Potter," "Mortal Kombat," and "The Lord of the Rings." These licensers have their own set of guidelines and rules for each brand. So, for example, Disney's rules for Marvel are different to Lucasfilm's for "Star Wars." From my perspective, licensing is very challenging because a third party has to approve your products and marketing, which adds another layer of complexity to your business. We're trying to master that approval process. Yes, licensing gives you a direct connection to the characters, which is great and comes with certain freedoms. It allows us to use superior details in our designs in unique ways, instead of just slapping a print on a T-shirt. However, licenses also mean you effectively have a new business partner who makes product and creative-related decisions, which can make the process more complicated than creating things in-house. And for businesses that are trying to expand, the recent tariffs will make things even harder. The moment we heard about the tariff increase, we immediately freaked out because we thought, "We have to adapt to this quickly." For a couple of days, I wasn't optimistic because I've never faced this before. With the margins we have, there was no way that we could continue doing business the way we did. I immediately started calling different companies in different countries. We found a manufacturer in the USA who could make one of my products, and a handful in other countries, instead of getting all of our supply from one place. Fortunately, we didn't have any shipments in the water when the tariffs were announced. I have immense sympathy for anyone who did, because if you had a shipment on a boat and it landed, you would be screwed. You would have to pay that amount, or you would just dock it and have to figure it out. These tariffs are changing on a near-daily, if not weekly, basis. We just don't know how long they're going to be in place. They're going to ruin hundreds of thousands of middle to small-tier businesses because there isn't enough time to divest their manufacturing and supply chain from China to different countries. However, the ones who survive will become better, leaner, more efficient, more tactical, and wiser operators. It's kind of like Charles Darwin's theory. It's not the smartest or the strongest who are going to survive, but it's those who are most adaptable. I'm not the smartest or the strongest, but I'm definitely one of the most adaptable. You just say, "Hey, I'm going to figure it out. I'm going to lace up my boots. We'll figure this out, and eventually this too shall pass. When it does, I'm going to be better for it." No amount of business books will teach you how to become an efficient operator. There's no amount of podcasts you can listen to figure out how to avoid all the mistakes. I use these types of situations to offer encouragement to people in my situation. You have to think: "Okay, if I can get through this and make it on the other side, I should be wiser, more disciplined, and ultimately have a better and healthier business." Essentially, our approach to navigating the tariffs all comes down to "Be extraordinary," which forces us to be innovative disruptors. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I started an activewear business and now partner with Marvel and Disney. Tariffs are testing our success.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Austin Gayne, the 29-year-old CEO of the sportswear company, SuperX, who is based in Nashville, Tennessee. The following has been edited for length and clarity. When people watch movies like " Batman Begins" and see Christian Bale's physique and Bruce Wayne's work ethic, it's like, "Wow, that's kind of inspiring." It makes you want to either start a fitness routine, be a better person, or just get your adrenaline pumping. This is our secret sauce at SuperX. Although I started SuperX as a supplement company, I pivoted to activewear because nobody was really doing superhero designs. People see the company as a niche clothing brand, or a superhero clothing brand, but I'm transitioning it into a pop culture fitness brand, which understands the connection between customers wanting to feel like these characters. The reason people connect with them is very character-specific. Let's use Spider-Man as an example. The reason so many people resonate with him beyond his cool powers is that they see Peter Parker. View this post on Instagram A post shared by SuperX™ (@superxapparel) He's overlooked, doubted, bullied, and below average, but he rises above it. Many fans relate to him, and they feel they can become something more. So, when we collaborate with Marvel on merch featuring a character, we're really going to tap into that feeling. Everybody wants to be a better person. That's why our slogan is "Be extraordinary." It's not just, "work out and become jacked." If that's what you choose to be, great! But it could be that you want to run a marathon, rank up in your career, be a better spouse, a better father, a better son, a better friend — whatever it means to you. Getting permission from brands like Marvel and DC to make merch grew my business — but it's a complex partnership. Think of huge companies that own massive properties. Disney owns Marvel and Lucasfilm. Warner Bros. owns DC Comics, " Harry Potter," "Mortal Kombat," and " The Lord of the Rings." These licensers have their own set of guidelines and rules for each brand. So, for example, Disney's rules for Marvel are different to Lucasfilm's for " Star Wars." From my perspective, licensing is very challenging because a third party has to approve your products and marketing, which adds another layer of complexity to your business. We're trying to master that approval process. Yes, licensing gives you a direct connection to the characters, which is great and comes with certain freedoms. It allows us to use superior details in our designs in unique ways, instead of just slapping a print on a T-shirt. However, licenses also mean you effectively have a new business partner who makes product and creative-related decisions, which can make the process more complicated than creating things in-house. And for businesses that are trying to expand, the recent tariffs will make things even harder. Trump's tariffs will affect smaller businesses, but it's also a learning opportunity. The moment we heard about the tariff increase, we immediately freaked out because we thought, "We have to adapt to this quickly." For a couple of days, I wasn't optimistic because I've never faced this before. With the margins we have, there was no way that we could continue doing business the way we did. I immediately started calling different companies in different countries. We found a manufacturer in the USA who could make one of my products, and a handful in other countries, instead of getting all of our supply from one place. Fortunately, we didn't have any shipments in the water when the tariffs were announced. I have immense sympathy for anyone who did, because if you had a shipment on a boat and it landed, you would be screwed. You would have to pay that amount, or you would just dock it and have to figure it out. These tariffs are changing on a near-daily, if not weekly, basis. We just don't know how long they're going to be in place. They're going to ruin hundreds of thousands of middle to small-tier businesses because there isn't enough time to divest their manufacturing and supply chain from China to different countries. However, the ones who survive will become better, leaner, more efficient, more tactical, and wiser operators. It's kind of like Charles Darwin's theory. It's not the smartest or the strongest who are going to survive, but it's those who are most adaptable. I'm not the smartest or the strongest, but I'm definitely one of the most adaptable. You just say, "Hey, I'm going to figure it out. I'm going to lace up my boots. We'll figure this out, and eventually this too shall pass. When it does, I'm going to be better for it." No amount of business books will teach you how to become an efficient operator. There's no amount of podcasts you can listen to figure out how to avoid all the mistakes. I use these types of situations to offer encouragement to people in my situation. You have to think: "Okay, if I can get through this and make it on the other side, I should be wiser, more disciplined, and ultimately have a better and healthier business." Essentially, our approach to navigating the tariffs all comes down to "Be extraordinary," which forces us to be innovative disruptors.
