Christian Bale Advising New Batman Ben Affleck

Former Batman Christian Bale has thrown his support behind Ben Affleck and offered the actor/director some helpful advice as he prepares to take over the superhero role.

The British actor played the Caped Crusader in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, but stepped down after the release of The Dark Knight Rises in 2012.

Affleck has signed up to take over the role in upcoming blockbuster Batman vs. Superman, prompting a furious reaction from some fans who called for the star to be dropped from the film.

They even released a petition demanding his removal from the cast, but the Oscar-winner has now received the seal of approval from his predecessor.

Bale tells Accesshollywood.com, "I wish him all the best. He's a very experienced actor and filmmaker. He'll make it his own. It should be passed on to another actor and will be again after him."

The American Pyscho star also reveals he spoke to Affleck and gave him some helpful hints about working in the character's skintight costume, adding, "(I told him) just make sure you can take a p**s without anyone helping him because it's a little bit humiliating. I went through having to have someone help you out of the costume in order to be able to do that. That was my main piece of advice for him."

Batman vs. Superman, which will pit Affleck's character against Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel, is due to hit cinemas in 2015.