Christian Bale opens up about leaving musicals in the past

Christian Bale has revealed there is one film genre he has no intention of returning to — musicals.

The 52-year-old actor reflected on his early career role in the 1992 musical Newsies while discussing a scene in his upcoming film The Bride!. 

During an interview with BuzzFeed, Bale responded after a journalist drew comparisons between the two performances.

“I would never have thought anybody would relate Newsies to The Bride! — that’s hysterical,” Bale said, quickly clarifying the difference between the films.

“But wait, big difference. Newsies is a musical. This is not a musical.”

Bale emphasized that the energetic movement seen in the new film should not be mistaken for a musical-style performance. 

Instead, he described it as an intense expression tied to the story’s dramatic moments.

“This is something where it's just a ridiculously energetic expression, with possession,” he explained, adding that audiences would better understand the moment once they see the full film.

The Oscar-winning actor made it clear that musicals are firmly behind him.

“I don't think I'll ever step foot in a musical again in my life,” Bale said. “Of course, never say never, but almost never say never on this one.”

In The Bride!, directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Bale takes on the role of Frankenstein’s monster, known as Frank. 

Transforming into the character required extensive prosthetics and makeup, a process that reportedly took up to six hours each day.

The lengthy sessions became so frustrating that Bale developed an unusual routine to release his pent-up energy.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the actor revealed he would scream loudly during his time in the makeup chair.

“I would scream like crazy every day,” Bale said, explaining it helped him release the tension of sitting still for such long periods.

He avoided screaming on the drive to set for safety reasons and didn’t want to do it alone for fear people might think he was “going nuts.” Instead, the practice soon turned into a shared ritual with the film’s crew.

According to Bale, members of the hair and makeup team began joining in, eventually turning the daily screaming sessions into a bonding activity.

“By the end, there were like 30 people who would hear us and run to the make-up trailer to be a part of it and scream as well,” he said, describing the unexpected tradition as a memorable part of filming.