The Dark Knight actor Christian Bale refused to make a cameo in The Flash

The Flash was filled to the brim with cameos and returning DC icons, with the notable exception of The Dark Knight himself Christian Bale who apparently refused to return several times.

Warning, this article will address The Flash spoilers. After Barry Allen inadvertently breaks the space-time continuum by trying to change the past, the DC universe essentially fractures, opening up the multiverse and allowing a variety of new and returning characters to cross over with each other.

Of course, the most substantial return was Batman, who was once again played by Michael Keaton after last playing the role in 1992 for Batman Returns. He wasn’t the only familiar face though, as we also saw Nicolas Cage as Superman, Teddy Sears as the original Flash, Jay Garrick, and at the end of the film, we saw George Clooney return as Bruce Wayne.

Take a look at The Flash in action below.

That’s right, despite being traumatised by the disaster that was Batman & Robin in 1997, Clooney found the courage to reprise his role for a very brief appearance before the credits rolled. However, it turns out he wasn’t the first choice, as DC originally wanted Christian Bale to cameo instead.

Filmmaker and comic fan Kevin Smith recently discussed the cameo on TikTok, stating Clooney wasn’t who DC initially wanted to appear in the film. Smith said: "Warner Bros. asked Christian Bale for months and months hoping he would break down and he was like 'no,' … So [Warner Bros.] was like, 'Let's pivot, let's get another Batman,' and they just grabbed George Clooney."

Christian Bale last played Batman in The Dark Knight Rises in 2012, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. He’s been repeatedly asked if he’d ever return to the character over the years, most notably on the red carpet for Thor: Love and Thunder, where he said: "If Chris [Nolan] came to me and said, 'I've got a new story,' I'd be interested. But other than that, I don't think so.”

While it would have been great to see Bale put on the cowl and cape once again, Batman fans can’t be too disappointed by his absence in The Flash, as we did get to see the OG Michael Keaton’s Bat get nuts one last time.

Speaking of The Flash, the film’s release has been quite a poor send-off for the DCEU, with its box-office earnings dropping by 72% in its second week.