Batman has some of the best villains of any comic book hero, but I’m shocked that the DC Universe has failed to give a good and faithful adaptation of one of their most popular villains, despite the fact that he has appeared in at least four different iterations. With the enormous upcoming DC slate, the franchise seems to have plans to revisit this villain, and I hope that the studio plans on adapting him more faithfully. However, the success of some of these previous adaptations makes me worried this may not happen.
Given James Gunn’s horror movie history, it seems that the new DC Universe will be able to play with style and tone in a way that has not yet been done in such a large-scale cinematic universe. As the franchise plans to give some of Batman’s villains, including Clayface, their own films, there is a great focus on fleshing out many DC characters. Even after Joker 2 bombed at the box office, there is still a great deal to explore with these villains. I hope that this famous foe will be given another chance to shine.
Bane Has Gotten Some Truly Questionable Adaptations Over The Years
One Of Batman’s Greatest Foes Has Been Used In Some Strange Ways
Bane has appeared in various forms throughout DC media, and almost all of these seem to deviate wildly from his comic book origins. This began with his appearance in Batman & Robin, where Bane was presented as a brutish, dumb thug who does not speak. This strange path continued with the character’s adaptation in Gotham, where his origin was transformed, and the hulking villain’s cheap design did not live up to the terrifying potential of the character.
Bane is great in Harley Quinn, but the character is also drastically changed from his comic book counterpart. While Bane is supposed to be a cunning villain with overwhelming strength, the animated series instead also made him quite simple-minded. Working less as an adaptation of Bane from the comics, and instead being made into a parody of the iteration from The Dark Knight Rises, even this successful character is a poor adaptation of Bane.
Even Bane’s Best Live-Action Adaptation Is A Long Way From A Full Comic-Accurate Character
Tom Hardy’s Bane Is A Successful Villain, But Is Not Entirely Faithful
Many enjoy The Dark Knight Rises and much of that appreciation comes from Hardy’s Bane being so memorable and entertaining. Tom Hardy is an excellent performer, and he brings much of his ability to the role, crafting a terrifying and unsettling villain. While this Bane is certainly strong, and certainly intelligent, much of the character’s comic book design and incredible rage are lost. Some of this may have to do with Tom Hardy’s stature, standing at about 5’9″.
Conversely, the comic book Bane is enormous. He is depicted as a hulking mᴀss of muscle, and stands at 6’8″. While this does not mean that a shorter actor cannot play him, it is notable that Bane resembles Dave Bautista more than Tom Hardy. Bane is also supposed to have a Latin heritage, and his mask is based on a Luchador mask. None of these elements align with the Hardy version of the character, and it is strange that they were avoided so entirely.
Bane Is Such A Useful Batman Villain Despite Never Quite Getting The On-Screen Limelight
Bane Is One Of Batman’s Greatest Physical Threats
Many terrifying Batman villains have been used throughout the years multiple times and with different iterations. Jack Nicholson’s Joker was much different from Heath Ledger’s Joker, yet both were faithful to different eras from the comics that inspired them. It is strange, with so much legacy behind Batman on film, that Bane has never been featured in a truly accurate depiction. The character’s size and intelligence could craft a truly menacing force for the Dark Knight to contend with.
There are few foes in Batman’s pantheon that can pose as much of a physical challenge as Bane. Famously, he broke Batman’s back in the comics, putting the hero out of commission for an extended period. Tackling stories like this, and allowing a villain that has both the brilliance and the terrifying violent potential of Bane, could make for excellent cinematic stories. Fortunately, there may be plans for the villain to be used once again soon, hopefully in a faithful adaptation.
The DCU Has The Perfect Chance To Finally Do Right By Bane
A Bane And Deathstroke Movie Seems To Be In The Works
The new DCU seems to be working on an unтιтled Deathstroke and Bane movie, although this may still be a ways away. However, this would be an excellent project and could give the perfect opportunity for the underused Batman villains to shine. Bane certainly has the style, charisma, and character to lead a film, and it would be so exciting to see him built up throughout the franchise. Hopefully, this could lead to future clashes between Bane and Batman himself in the future.
Many had hoped for Bautista to play Bane in the film, although that no longer seems likely after the actor slimmed down significantly. However, this does speak to the desire for actors who fit the physical needs of the character, while also having great strength as an intelligent performer.
There haven’t been many faithful Bane adaptations in the past, but there could still be many in the future. The new DCU seems to have a great appreciation for the characters from DC’s comic book history, and if they use Bane, they will likely handle him with care. Whatever project this character winds up being a part of, Bane would be a great entry to the DC Universe, and his being featured there could help make up for the ways that the character has been misused in the past.
DC Universe
- Created by
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Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- First Film
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Man of Steel
- First TV Show
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Peacemaker
- Cast
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Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Cara Delevingne, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Zachary Levi, Dwayne Johnson, Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett, Rosie Perez, Ella Jay Basco, Ali Wong, Ewan McGregor, Idris Elba, John Cena, Michael Keaton, George Clooney, Xolo Mariduena
- Character(s)
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Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Shazam, Darkseid, Amanda Waller, Lex Luthor, Doomsday, ᴅᴇᴀᴅsH๏τ, Deathstroke, Black Canary, Black Adam
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Upcoming DC Movie Releases
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Superman
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
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Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow
- Release Date
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June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
- Release Date
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October 1, 2027
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