BATMAN BEGINS: The B-Cast

Posted by Matt Holmes. Last modified on March 13th, 2008 at 12:13pm

I meant to write about this the other day but for whatever reason I never got round to it.

Back in 2002-2003, Christopher Nolan and his crew held several massive auditions for Batman Begins, a Warner Bros. blockbuster event movie that was one of the most sought out pictures for both young and veteran actors who saw it potentially as being successful for them as movies like Spider-Man, Lord of the Rings and X-Men had been for their respective casts.

The last seven days has seen both Joshua Jackson and Chris Cooper reveal they had auditioned (in Joshua’s case) or turned down (in Chris’ case) the roles of Batman and Commissioner Gordan respectively something that any self respecting Batman fan who kept up with the pre-production of Begins five years ago will know about already.

Joshua Jackson on loosing out on the role of Batman, from MTV…

“I went and did the screen test,” “Shutter” star Joshua Jackson revealed to MTV News. “I was one the last four or five guys [up for the role of Batman.]”

“I don’t like to lose any job, but they cast the right guy,” he said. “I mean, Christian Bale was excellent. I don’t really think of myself in a sort of comic book hero way, you know what I mean? This might be why I didn’t get that job.”

For those wondering, the other guys who made the final group were…

Jake Gyllenhaal (who screenwriter David Goyer wanted for the part but Nolan wanted Bale… and Goyer later said that was the right decision), Cillian Murphy (who Nolan was so impressed by his intensity, he cast him as Scarecrow), Hugh Dancy and Billy Crudrup. Others had auditioned but I believe those were the final guys it came down too.

Don’t you just wish they had recorded those audition sessions (maybe they did, would love to see them?). Gyllenhaal would have been an interesting choice but he still kinda looks a little fresh faced for me… possibly suiting the role of Spider-Man more. Jackson would have been interesting but his casting would be reminiscent of Michael Keaton but again rewind five years ago and he looked fresh faced too.

Billy Crudrup would have been the only other name I could have seen do the part it’s full justice but of course, this was Bale’s part all along. Everyone could kinda sense it.

Sadly none of these names resurfaced when the Batman role was up for grabs again with the Justice League movie.

And then there’s Chris Cooper who also spoke to MTV about turning down the role of Commissioner Gordon. I’ve said it for years that I thought Cooper would be an amazing Gordon. But hey, we got Gary Oldman so it’s all good…

“I was approached about that and chose not to do it,” he matter of factly confessed.

“If I’m going to choose a particular role and be away from home for months on end — whether it’s a long shoot or a short shoot, I’m going to put my energies into it — it’s something I want to be totally involved with,” he insisted. “I don’t like to work back to back — just work for work’s sake. I like to do one job, go home and recuperate and look for another piece of material once I’m ready.”

“There’s any number of scripts that I passed on — some that got huge recognition — but I have no regrets.”

Even with the talented names that either turned down the picture or lost out on roles to other actors, it’s difficult to really argue against how amazingly well cast the movie was.

Christian Bale, Michael Caine (who looks nothing like the character from the comics but is superb as Alfred), Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson (was amazing), Tom Wilkinson (wish he had more screentime and it sucks he ain’t back for the sequel), Cillian Murphy and even Linus Roache’s performance as Thomas Wayne which should not be under-estimated for it’s value to the picture, were incredible.

The only sour casting was Katie Holmes as the obligatory love interest (which Batman doesn’t need by the way, unless they do a Talia storyline) but she had a likeability about her as an actress before Begins, and you can see why they cast her. And then you see the names he cast for The Dark Knight… and how incredible they look to have been moulded into the universe.

Christopher Nolan is genius at casting, especially but not limited too the supporting roles (David Bowie as Tesla in The Prestige… AWESOME!). Can’t wait for Batman… and can’t wait to see which actors he might one day find for roles like The Penguin, The Riddler, Catwoman and characters like Talia Al Ghul and Dick Grayson (who I don’t want to see for a VERY long time by the way) if they are ever to make an appearance in his universe.

Categories: Batman-Begins, Chris-Cooper, Christopher-Nolan, Joshua-Jackson, Movie News

15 Comments »

I would love to see the tapes if they exist. Basing on how an actor would’ve done by how they look or their past work can only go so far. For example, if someone told you around when 10 Things I Hate About You was released that Heath would be a great Joker, would you believe them? I’d like to see each actors take on the character.

I doubt we’d ever see the likes of Penguin, Catwoman, or Dick in Nolan’s world. I’m sure we’ll see them after Nolan does his third film and whichever director has their chance to crease their own world.

Comment by Lencho | March 13, 2008

When Nolan makes the third movie I think he should include Dick Grayson as a ten year old, no Robin just Dick. I think adding a father/son relationship will add to the character development of Bruce Wayne.

Comment by Tino | March 13, 2008

For the thrid film I guess it will be Two Face, I highly doubt that Joker will be recast. I would like to see Talia in there as wel.

Comment by Chris | March 13, 2008

CHRIS,
The secod film sets up the third one for Aaron Eckhart as Two-Face, I bekive they made two ending for this film, one where JOker Lives and One where Joker dies (In case they ever wanted to bring him back I guess). But for Ledger’s sake, let’s have the Joker put down.

Comment by Madhatt3r | March 13, 2008

I heard that Joker was going to play an important part in the third film in helping stop Two-Face or something like that.

Comment by Lencho | March 14, 2008

Really? The Joker Is going to Help agianst a villian. well I guess if it’s his best interest. But how wierd will it be having Heath Ledger play joker one film and someone the next. Guess they could turn the Joker into RedHood.

Comment by Madhatt3r | March 14, 2008

Yeah, it could just simply be rumor though. When I heard it, I thought it sounded like Silence of the Lambs.

Comment by Lencho | March 14, 2008

Be wary of spoilers guys. I think I know exactly where the final act of The Dark Knight is headed and you are all gonna love it!

I think the next two Nolan films will be The Two Face arc, with The Joker actually a supporting and mysterious character who just floats in and out of the picture.

I think The Penguin would very much fit into this world if they made him a mob boss type, similar to Tom Wilkinson in Batman Begins.

The favourite rumor among people I’ve spoken too is that Catwomen will certainly be in the next Batman story arc (like I said, if you consider this to be the Two Face story).

The Riddler could work a lot easier than say Mr. Freeze or Clayface though surely?

Mad Hatter would make for an interesting discussion!

Comment by Matt Holmes | March 14, 2008

Perosnally, I liked the sort of realism in Batman Begins, alot of it was science and not cosimic or superpowered entities. So for future films I think that they shold stay away from(like matt said) Freeze and Clayface. The Penguin would ake an excellent mob boss, but honestly, I don’t think anybody but Devito could pull it off. And he he were there, they’d have to put in a supporting villian like last film. it’d be amusing to see the Joker popping in and out here and there just ticking people off, laughing in the darkness, more or less a ghost for Batsy to look over his shoulder for.

Comment by Madhatt3r | March 14, 2008

I really can’t see the Joker being replaced, I’ve only seen the trailer but Ledger looks amazing and it would be disrespectful I think to replace him. For Catwoman I would pick somebody like a Rosario Dawson.

Comment by Chris | March 14, 2008

I no, seeing anyone play him would be wierd, which is why he shouldn’t much screen tiem in future movies. Rosario Dawson sounds great as CatWoman!

Comment by Madhatt3r | March 14, 2008

What about Black Mask?….he would work really well in Nolan’s universe.

Comment by Tino | March 14, 2008

Joshua Jackson’s crazy eyes in that picture are weirding me out. Certainly wouldn’t have minded him in JL though.

Comment by Hellen | March 15, 2008

Christian Bale was ment to be Batman plain and simple. i love his look and his aditude. He could be a stone cold killer or excentric hero.He was awesome
Gary oldman was also destined to be commisoner gordan I loved him as the commisoner. He kicked ass! no other
commisoner ever kicked so much ass either. 4 real my favorite!

Comment by Cecily | September 22, 2008

My Bf and my brother are obsessed with the joker. After me and my bf saw the dark knight he woulden’t quit pretending he was the joker. My brother went to the theater 4 times!! He told the whole movie to me for an hour twice.

Comment by darksister | September 22, 2008