Christian Bale on Colorado shooting: ‘Words cannot express the horror that I feel’

Meriah Doty

As the cast of "The Dark Knight Rises" learned of the shooting in Aurora, Colorado, that left 12 dead on Friday during a midnight screening of their film, their reaction was said to have been that of shock.

The film's leading man, Christian Bale, who plays Batman, issued a statement on Saturday: "Words cannot express the horror that I feel. I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."

UPDATE: "TDKR" actress Anne Hathaway, who plays Catwoman, issued a statement on Sunday: "My heart aches and breaks for the lives taken and altered by this unfathomably senseless act. I am at a loss for words how to express my sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."

A source told People how the stars of "TDKR" dealt with news of the deadly shooting: "The cast was completely shocked and several — Anne [Hathaway] and Marion [Cotillard], a couple of the men — were in tears... There was enormous, enormous sadness."

Bale and "TDKR" castmates Hathaway and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were seen boarding a private Warner Bros. plane on Saturday in Paris, presumed to be en route to Los Angeles.

Christopher Nolan, the director of "The Dark Knight Rises," issued a statement on Friday on behalf of the film's cast and crew:

I would like to express our profound sorrow at the senseless tragedy that has befallen the entire Aurora community. I would not presume to know anything about the victims of the shooting, but that they were there last night to watch a movie. I believe movies are one of the great American art forms and the shared experience of watching a story unfold on screen is an important and joyful pastime. The movie theatre is my home, and the idea that someone would violate that innocent and hopeful place in such an unbearably savage way is devastating to me. Nothing any of us can say could ever adequately express our feelings for the innocent victims of this appalling crime, but our thoughts are with them and their families.

One of the film's actors, Gary Oldman, also made a statement [via toofab]:

My prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims and their families of this horrific act.

On Friday, Nolan and much of the "TDKR" cast were in Paris to do press and participate in a premiere event. The premiere, along with their scheduled press conference and interviews, were cancelled once news spread of the tragic shooting in Aurora that left 12 dead, including a 6-year-old girl -- the youngest of the victims.