The Dark Knight Rises star Christian Bale has said that his heart goes out to the victims of the Colorado shootings.

"Words cannot express the horror that I feel," Bale, who plays the Caped Crusader in the film, said in a statement.

"I cannot begin to truly understand the pain and grief of the victims and their loved ones, but my heart goes out to them."

Christopher Nolan, the film's director, earlier responded to the tragedy by expressing his sorrow for the victims and their families.

He said: "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."