Batman: All 10 Bane actors ranked from worst to best
1. Tom Hardy
It’s funny that Bane is such an iconic character in the comics and yet some of his more successful live-action adaptations have been when they tried something a little bit different. There is no greater example of that than Tom Hardy’s portrayal in The Dark Knight Rises.
Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy was renowned for its realism, so there were no tubes and no venom in sight. Instead, Bane was an expertly trained warrior raised by the League of Assassins who, after rescuing Ra’s Al Ghul’s daughter from a prison, was seriously injured and excommunicated from the League. After that, he wore a protective mask to alleviate the lifelong pain.
Hardy’s performance was downright chilling. That much was clear from the trailers for the movie, as his cold, muffled voice bellowed through the mask, indicating what a force he was set to become. And that’s exactly what he was, because with his chiseled and imposing physique, Hardy was truly a sight to behold.
Bane’s first cinematic appearance since Batman and Robin, The Dark Knight Rises made a clear effort to get him right, bringing all of his cunning and strength to the screen. It allowed Tom Hardy to flourish in one of his career-best performances and gave us a Bane that, in spite of some noticeable differences, felt incredibly true to the character.
Which portrayal of Bane is your favorite? Is he your favorite Batman villain? How did you celebrate Batman Day?