Christian Bale may be retiring his Batmobile: The actor says he's done with "that Batman era."

"The Dark Knight Rises" will be "the end of that Batman era" -- the era belonging to him and director Christopher Nolan -- Bale said in an interview published Friday by the Philippines' largest daily newspaper.

"I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I'm taking that cowl off," he told thePhilippines Daily Inquirer, referring to the hood that protects Bruce Wayne's identity when he's Batman. "I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it's all done." He said playing the role has been "enjoyable."

During a press junket for his upcoming film "The Flowers of War," Bale touched on the complexities of his take on Bruce Wayne/Batman. "Bruce Wayne is absolutely sincere as Bruce Wayne, and as Batman utterly sincere. But Bruce Wayne, the playboy, is a pure facade, it's a lie he has, somehow, to control one side of your soul that's not really under control. In fact, only Alfred knows who he is.

"It's time for Bruce Wayne to face the pain, that has always stirred his life."

Incidentally, Bale said, costar Anne Hathaway might have had the least enjoyable time during filming. "There are a number of people who feel that the Catwoman role has been defined previously. So, I always saw Anne's role as being the toughest job of any of us."

And that's without considering the skin-tight Catwoman costume, or that hard-to-maneuver Cat-cycle.

Bale has been the face behind the Batman mask since 2005's "Batman Begins," followed by "The Dark Knight" in 2008. "The Dark Knight Rises," now in post-production, is slated for release next July.