During an interview for his new film 3:10 to Yuma, actor Christian Bale told reporters that he would not be reprising his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the recently announced Justice League film.  As for Bale's reaction to not being approaced for the film?  "It'd be better if it doesn't tread on the toes of what we're doing, though I feel that it would be better if it comes out after Batman 3."

Production on Justice League is scheduled to begin next year for a Summer 2009 release.  Reports have stated that both Batman and Superman will appear in the film, but neither Christian Bale who played Batman in 2005's Batman Begins and next year's The Dark Knight nor Brandon Routh who donned the blue tights for last year's Superman Returns and the proposed Man of Steel will reprise their roles for the film.

There is no clear reason for the decision, but budget constraints is top on the list of possibilities.  Another reason could be the recent rumor that Justice League will actually be a motion-capture film in the vain of Beowulf or James Cameron's Avatar.  Regardless, are fans willing to have different actors play the same roles in competing films?  Only time will tell.