We know that Tom Hardy has it in him to bulk up for a role (Bronson) and we would hardly expect Christopher Nolan to take a “Vinnie Jones in a muscle suit as Juggernaut” approach to Bane for The Dark Knight Rises and it therefore comes as no surprise at all to hear that Hardy is getting himself in shape in time to play Bane when shooting starts in late spring.
While appearing on Alan Carr: Chatty Man in the UK, Hardy confirmed that he would not be going for the gimp-mask look used by Joel Schumacher in Batman & Robin and that Nolan will “revisit that territory entirely”. Apparently he is planning to add about 30 pounds to his body weight and you can see the beginnings of his new exercise regime in the clip below. If you cannot view the Hardy interview with Alan Carr on the Latino Review site, then click here to view it through the Channel 4 website. The Hardy interview begins at about 15 minutes in.
The Dark Knight Rises starts filming in the late spring and is due for release in July 2012.
