Oscar winner and four-time nominee Christian Bale joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe this year playing sympathetic villain Gorr the God Butcher in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” It was a welcome addition for many, but according to a new interview in GQ magazine, the actor had some qualms with the filming experience, particularly while filming against green-screen.
“That’s the first time I’ve done that,” Bale said. “I mean, the definition of it is monotony.”
Nodding to some of Marvel’s more seasoned stars, he added that “you’ve got good people. You’ve got other actors who are far more experienced at it than me.”
But he had trouble finding his place on the project.
“Can you differentiate one day from the next? No. Absolutely not,” Bale said. “You have no idea what to do. I couldn’t even differentiate one stage from the next. They kept saying, ‘You’re on Stage 3.’ Well, it’s like, ‘Which one is that?’ ‘The blue one.’ They’re like, ‘Yeah. But you’re on Stage 7.’ ‘Which one is that?’ ‘The blue one.’ I was like, ‘Uh, where?’”
Asked if he employed his famous Method acting techniques in preparation for the role, Bale admitted that “Love and Thunder” didn’t get that treatment because he would have found that pitiful.
“That would’ve been a pitiful attempt to do that, as I’m trying to get help getting the fangs in and out and explaining I’ve broken a nail, or I’m tripping over the tunic,” Bale said.
“Thor: Love and Thunder” stars Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman, and was directed by Taika Waititi. It is currently streaming on Disney+.
