Talk about beating a dead horse. Since rumors of a Justice League movie began to circulate, talks of Christian Bale reprising his role as Batman have run rampant despite reports where David Goyer explains that ‘Man of Steel’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy take place in different universes. But just as the internet tends to do, it holds out hope until the very last second that their conquering hero could return. But that lingering hope for another go with Bale under the cowl might be shattered after this.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor restates that he isn’t involved in any of the ‘Justice League’ talks at all in any way, shape, or form:

“I have no information, no knowledge about anything. I’ve literally not had a conversation with a living soul. I understand that they may be making a ‘Justice League’ movie, that’s it.”

Furthermore, he adds that it’s someone else’s turn to take up the mantle of the Caped Crusader on the silver screen:

“It’s a torch that should be handed from one actor to another. So I enjoy looking forward to what somebody else will come up with.”

Finally, so as to not be completely soul crushing, he expressed his great gratitude that he even got to play Batman as long as he did:

“We were incredibly fortunate to get to make three [Batman films]. That’s enough. Let’s not get greedy. Chris [Nolan] always said he wanted to make it one film at a time. And we ended up sitting there looking at each other, saying ‘We’re about to make the third.’ We never really knew if we were going to get to be there, but if that was how it was going to be, this was where it should end as well.”

While Bale and Nolan’s version of Batman was groundbreaking and very enjoyable as a whole (and extremely profitable), it most certainly is time to move on. By the sounds of these comments, even the Dark Knight himself agrees. Now all we can do is wait and see what DC and WB comes up with when they finally pull together this Justice League project.

Were you holding onto the hope that Christian Bale would reprise his role as Batman in ‘Justice League’? Since that shipped has sailed, who do you think should be next to don the cowl? Share your picks in the comments.