In the 1980's Steven Spielberg had a particular talent for finding young, unknown actors and launching their careers in major feature films. Two prominent early examples were Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore in E.T. Child actor Christian Bale was another great Spielberg find for Empire of the Sun. At the time, most of young actors, after brilliant performances in $100 million plus films, went the way of Henry Thomas' career - which is to say nowhere. (After a much publicized bout with alcohol & drugs, Drew Barrymore went onto a very successful movie & producing career).
Christian Bale's rise as the first action star of the 21st century was surprising to me. After a number of very good acting roles in independent films, Mr. Bale's career really took off as a major movie star after he was cast as Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. With The Dark Knight released in Summer 2008, Bale had arrived as a major action movie star. Not only is he the new Batman, now he is also the new action hero John Connor in Summer 2009's Terminator Salvation.
All of which makes the release last week of his on set blow up tape to media all the more baffling. I have NO inside information on this, but I find it strange that a tape made in July 2008 during filming should show up in February 2009 - 2 months before the release of the movie. Why was it released now? It wasn't good publicity for the film. WB & Sony will launch the theatrical campaign in March to coincide with the NCAA's March Madness to target the key male audience. February's tape release was too early. Also, both studios must be angling for a hard PG-13 rating to attract the widest possible audience, so this explictive laden tape would not help with the rating or marketing campaign.
My guess, which I have not seen a report anywhere in the media on, is that his talent representative's were asking for a major pay raise to reprise his role in Terminator 4. The producers balked, released the tape to counter the negotiations and get his asking price down to what the studio thinks is a reasonable level. Obviously his agents have seen the film and know it is going to be a major money maker. This release only serves to embarrass Christian Bale, and reinforce a negative image campaign that began by his own family asking him for money and him flatly turning them down. That led to his own mother and sister having him arrested and brought in for questioning by the London police (he was released in 4 hours and no charges were filed). The release of the tape only serves as leverage.
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