It didn’t get that much play in the news, but there is a new man set to put on the bat suit. Christian Bale has just landed the role of the caped crusader in Warner Brothers’ re-launch of the “Batman” franchise.

Wait … Christian Bale? Who the hell is that, and what is he doing starring in one of the biggest movie franchises this side of “The Lord of the Rings”?

In an entertainment climate where every week brings a new “it” actor, Bale is a relative unknown and surprisingly risky choice by a movie studio looking to start making money again on one of its most valuable properties. Bale is perhaps most famous for his role in “Swing Kids,” a film that taught us the invaluable lesson that Nazis can be defeated through the power of dance.

Someone from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire (a made-up name if I have ever heard one) becoming Bruce Wayne is about as likely as Greg Feltes running for homecoming king.

Still, it has happened, and I couldn’t be happier. An unknown is exactly what is needed to rejuvenate the franchise. We can discover him as an actor, which always is exciting for the audience. Bale will bring a much-needed edge and freshness to the role. Best of all, he prevents that waste-of-space Ashton Kutcher starring in “Dude, Where’s My Bat Mobile?”

Casting Bale and hiring “Memento” director Christopher Nolan are a good start to rebuilding the audience’s confidence, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

Go for the hard R rating. I am tired of action films pulling punches. I want to see some blood and gore and pain and pathos when I go to the theater. Not a PG-13 for “strong stylized action.” These movies should be made for adult audiences, because when you try and satisfy two different audiences, you are bound to satisfy neither. I know Warner Brothers is reluctant to lose teenagers as customers, but recent history has shown you don’t need that audience for a hit. “The Matrix” and “Terminator 3” were both big hits and made no bones about their violent content. And wouldn’t it be cool if Batman could recklessly utter the phrase “$&@!” for no apparent reason? I know I wish I could use “$&@!” in the paper.

Come up with a budget, and then slash it by 50 percent. I think the last two “Batman” films were critical failures because the director had too many resources at his disposal. Batman should be his own special effect. Budget restraints would force the filmmakers to be more efficient and creative, which are two qualities whose presence are in rapid decline in today’s Hollywood.

Let the comic-book villains sit this one out. Batman could be much more interesting if he had to take down a more realistic bad guy instead of some cartoony supervillain. How about a serial killer or a terrorist? Besides, all of the good villains have already appeared. You know it’s bad when they have worked their way down to the Scarecrow, who could be described accurately as the Michael Bolton of super villains.

If these suggestions were taken seriously, I think Batman can fly again. Oops. Batman doesn’t fly. All right, if these suggestions were taken seriously, I think Batman can jump really, really high again.