Christopher Nolan Discussed the Possibility of Josh Hartnett Being His Batman

Josh Hartnett Almost Cast as Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Trilogy

It’s been revealed that there was a time when actor Josh Hartnett was being considered to play the iconic role of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy that commenced with “Batman Begins” in 2005. While the idea was intriguing, it never progressed to a screen test.

Nolan shared on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast that he had an initial conversation with Hartnett regarding the role of the Caped Crusader. At the time, Hartnett’s work had caught Nolan’s attention, making him a potential candidate for the part.

However, Hartnett was more interested in another project, “The Prestige,” a magician thriller co-written by Nolan’s brother, Jonathan. This led Hartnett to pursue a role in that film instead of auditioning for Batman.

In the end, Christian Bale secured the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman, leaving a lasting impression in the trilogy with his portrayal in “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight,” and “The Dark Knight Rises.” Interestingly, Bale also played a significant role in “The Prestige,” directed by Nolan.

Cillian Murphy, another frequent collaborator of Nolan’s, was also considered for the role of Bruce Wayne in “Batman Begins.” However, he was ultimately cast as the villain, Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka the Scarecrow.

Now, after more than a decade, Hartnett and Nolan are finally working together in “Oppenheimer,” where Hartnett plays physicist Ernest Lawrence alongside a talented ensemble cast, including Cillian Murphy, in the World War II-era epic. The film, centered around physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, premieres in theaters on Friday.