Call him a real-life shapeshifter or pure magic, Christian Bale is one man who is extremely true to his craft and passionate about the roles he takes up. For his next role, the perfectionist gained a whopping 20 kilos and obviously, looked unrecognisable.

© Annapurna Pictures

Bale is all set to play Dick Cheney, the former Vice President of the US. The movie 'Vice' also stars Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney and Steve Carrell as Donald Rumsfeld. 

The movie will follow Dick's rise to becoming the most powerful VP in US history.

Bale is known for putting his body through the extreme when it comes to getting in character for a movie. From reducing himself to skin and bones to transforming into a mountain, he has done it all. 

When he lost weight back in 2004 for 'The Machinist', he claimed that it affected him both physically and mentally.  He then went on to surprise fans once again when he beefed up for 'Baman Returns' and had to follow a strict regime of weightlifting and eating protein.

© Warner Bros

Needless to say, his fans are elated with his transformation once again.

I traveled with Cheney in 2004, covering the re-election campaign for @ABC. Every speech, rally, retail stop.

It's *incredible* how much Christian Bale looks and sounds like the former VP. His facial expressions are dead on https://t.co/xmAyv8Gj5q

Christian Bale really un-DID THAT. pic.twitter.com/V5Phiop43W

Yeap.

Confirmed.

Christian Bale is a shapeshifter. pic.twitter.com/55JoyV82Df

If this is not pure genius then what is?