Christopher Nolan: 4 facts you didn’t know about The Dark Knight Rises
![LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Bane costume from the 2012 Dark Knight Rises film worn by Tom Hardy and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Bane costume from the 2012 Dark Knight Rises film worn by Tom Hardy and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/5edf16e9a8d020c41d42f9c7fea87b9898dc1b94150ce1a7fcac0e88d831cd90.jpg)
Bane Wore Lifts
Bane proved to be the most physically imposing threat that Batman ever faced in Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy. That’s impressive – especially when you consider the fact that the actor playing him is 5’9. It helps that he bulked up enough muscle to look scary, but with Christian Bale standing at 6’0, Batman would have towered over the League of Shadows’ favorite son. Heck, even Alfred (Michael Caine) is taller than Bane at 6’2.
So how are Batman and Bane able to stare each other down eye to eye for the entirety of the movie? Simple: Tom Hardy wore lifts. We’re not talking Prince high platform heels here, but Hardy did wear three inch lifts to ensure that Bane was either taller than or as tall as his towering co-stars.
It also helped that Hardy was adamant about packing on 30 extra pounds of pure muscle before filming and studying multiple fighting styles to use while filming fight scenes. Speaking of fight scenes, Christopher Nolan promised Hardy unprecedented access to stunt equipment that he could knock around whenever he wants.
Unsurprisingly, that was just enough to convince Tom Hardy to join the cast before he even read the movie script.