Poor Christian Bale.You starred as one of the world's most iconic superheros, and defined Batman for a generation of moviegoers. Now look at you, forced to play Moses in Exodus: Gods and Kings while Ben Affleck dons your rightful cape and cowl in the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

It just isn't right. Bale delivered three stellar performances as Batman and Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Bale thought so too. In a new interview with Empire magazine (via Comicbookmovie.com), the actor reveals how he felt when he first learned about the announcement that Affleck would become the Dark Knight.

"I've got to admit initially, even though I felt that it was the right time to stop, there was always a bit of me going, 'Oh go on... Let's do another,'" Bale says. "So when I heard there was someone else doing it, there was a moment where I just stopped and stared into nothing for half an hour."

Ouch. For 30 whole minutes? It seems like Bale might have lost it for a moment. Or 30.

But why do we fall, Mr. Wayne?

Exactly! And that is just what Bale did.

"But I'm 40," he continues in the interview. "The fact that I'm jealous of someone else playing Batman...I think I should have gotten over it by now. I haven't spoken with Ben, but I emailed him offering bits of advice that I learned the hard way. I would imagine he is doing everything he can to avoid anything that I did."

But just in case he hasn't gotten over it, Mr. Affleck might want to avoid going alone to Bale's place to discuss Batman. It might not end well.