Revealed: Christopher Nolan talks Christian Bale's audition tape for Batman Begins... featuring Val Kilmer's old Batsuit

Christian Bale might be leaving Batman behind him as Ben Affleck picks up the mantel of the Dark Knight, but his fans will get one last look at the Oscar winner in the early days of the film franchise.

In their review of The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition box set, Batman News posted a behind-the-scenes clip featuring Bale's audition tape for the role of the Caped Crusader in Batman Begins.

In the clip, Bale wears Val Kilmer's old Batsuit from Batman Forever as he runs lines with future The Fighter co-star, Amy Adams.

Revealed: Christopher Nolan talks Christian Bale's audition tape for Batman Begins... featuring Val Kilmer's old Batsuit

Christian Bale might be leaving Batman behind him as Ben Affleck picks up the mantel of the Dark Knight, but his fans will get one last look at the Oscar winner in the early days of the film franchise.

In their review of The Dark Knight Trilogy: Ultimate Collector’s Edition box set, Batman News posted a behind-the-scenes clip featuring Bale's audition tape for the role of the Caped Crusader in Batman Begins.

In the clip, Bale wears Val Kilmer's old Batsuit from Batman Forever as he runs lines with future The Fighter co-star, Amy Adams.

First attempt: Take a look at Christian Bale's audition tape for Batman Begins, courtesy of Batman News

Beginning Batman: 'Christian figured out before the screen test that you could not give a normal performance'

'Well, the testing process on this kind of performance is not about acting ability or chemistry or any of those things,' said director Christopher Nolan. 'It about being able to project this extraordinary iconography from the inside.

'Christian figured out before the screen test that you could not give a normal performance, an ordinary performance,' continued the 43-year-old Nolan. 'You had to project massive energy through this costume.'

Nolan continues to praise the 39-year-old Bale, including the fact that the Oscar-winner was the one who decided to create a distinct voice for the superhero.

Talking tough: It was Christian Bale's idea to give Batman a distinct voice

Holy screen test, Batman! Christian Bale's audition for Dark Knight features Amy Adams and Val Kilmer's old batsuit

'It’s about a feeling and a voice and I think Christian’s voice was a big part of the impression he made in the test,' said Nolan. 'He decided that Batman needed to have a different voice from Bruce Wayne.'

'He needed to put on a voice that supported the visual appearance of the character and explained why people might recognize him from his voice. It was quite brilliant.'

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Caped crusader: Bale played the Dark Knight from 2005 to 2012

Batman returns: The Dark Knight will next be seen in 2015 in Batman vs. Superman, starring Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne

Bale will next appear in David O. Russell's American Hustle, co-starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro and screen test partner Adams. He will also be starring in Out of the Furnace, co-starring Zoe Saldana, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson.

Nolan's will next direct Intersteller, due out in 2014. The science-fiction thriller will feature Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon and Matthew McConaughy.

Batman will next be seen in 2015 in Batman vs. Superman, starring Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne.