Actor Tom Hardy also insists fans have absolutely nothing to worry about

Apr 13, 2012 11:57 GMT  ·  By
Tom Hardy, Chris Nolan say fans have nothing to worry about Bane's voice in “TDKR”
   Tom Hardy, Chris Nolan say fans have nothing to worry about Bane's voice in “TDKR”

In early December, ahead screenings of “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” Warner Bros. ran a 6-minute prologue from Chris Nolan's upcoming “The Dark Knight Rises,” prompting a lot of talk about whether Bane's lines would be clear enough to be understood. Don't worry about it, Nolan says.

The summer movie preview issue of Entertainment Weekly brings not only plenty of new pics from the insanely anticipated film but also an interview with some of its stars, director Nolan included.

As we also noted back in December, fans complained that Bane's (Tom Hardy) face mask, which he wears at all times and through which he breathes a gas that gives him superhuman strength, was making him almost inaudible.

Because of the mask that covered half his face (and thus muffled sound) and to the post-production work done on his voice, there were moments when no one seemed to understand what he was saying.

Nolan wants fans to know they have no reason to worry about that – as also does Hardy himself.

“He represents formidable physical strength, combined with absolute evil of intention,” the director says of the villain that has been described as the most brutal and evil Batman has ever had to face.

The British star who plays him also joins in, saying that those complaining about the muffled audio jumped the gun on this one, based on what they saw in the prologue.

“It’s a risk, because we could be laughed at – or it could be very fresh and exciting,” Hardy chimes in, adding that he created the voice from “a desire to honor the comic book character’s brains and Caribbean heritage.”

“The audience mustn’t be too concerned about the mumbly voice. As the film progresses, I think you’ll be able to tune to its setting,” the star says.

Or, perhaps, Nolan went back on his initial decision, and provided “cleaner” audio, voices online are saying.

Shortly after the debate on Bane's voice started, rumors were making the rounds that various IMAX theaters running the prologue had received cleaner audio for it, which meant Nolan had gone back on his decision of not “compromising” his vision and had agreed to make Bane more audible.

Whether that ever happened, we'll probably be able to tell when “The Dark Knight Rises” arrives in theaters, on June 20. In the meantime, below is the trailer.