Christian Bale Exits Michael Mann Movie Over Weight Gain Concerns

Oscar-winner and 2016 nominee Christian Bale had dropped out of Michael Mann’s Enzo Ferrari movie after concerns over the weight he’d have to gain.

In order to portray the iconic carmaker, Bale would have to pile on the pounds to look like the overweight character he was set to play.

The report on Deadline says: “The start date of spring this year was simply too soon for the ‘Big Short’ actor to get that out of shape again.”

Above: Enzo Ferrari (Credit: Associated Press)

But the actor’s no stranger to extreme weight gain or weight loss.

Back in 2000 he bulked up to play egomaniac Patrick Bateman in ‘American Psycho’, only to turn skeletal for ‘The Machinist’ in 2004.

He then beefed up for ‘Batman Begins’ in 2005. A year later he was extremely thin portraying a prisoner of war in ‘Rescue Dawn’, only to then reprise his Batman character for ‘The Dark Knight’.

Since that, his weight has also fluctuated for his Oscar-winning role in ‘The Fighter’, ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, and ‘American Hustle’.

However, amidst fears the continued, rapid weight loss and gains could seriously damage his health, the Welsh-born star won’t risk it this time.

WatchFit say that this type of extreme pressure he’s putting his body under could lead to heart attacks, depression, and problems with his immune system.

With Bale currently in the headlines for his Oscar nom in ‘The Big Short’, it seems like a wise decision. However, it doesn’t help director Mann out, who is now frantically looking for a replacement lead before the film begins shooting this summer.

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Picture credits: Warner Bros., Filmax Group, Muse Productions