Christopher Nolan Spoke To Josh Hartnett About Playing BATMAN; Says He Was "More Interested" In THE PRESTIGE

Christopher Nolan Spoke To Josh Hartnett About Playing BATMAN; Says He Was "More Interested" In THE PRESTIGE

Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan has confirmed that he did speak to Josh Hartnett about playing Batman, but talks never got very far because the actor was more interested in The Prestige.

By MarkCassidy - Jul 23, 2023 11:07 AM EST
Filed Under: Batman Begins

Back in 2015, Josh Hartnett told Playboy that he regretted "turning down" the chance to play the Dark Knight in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, and while the director has now confirmed that the actor was in the running, it sounds like he may have been slightly exaggerating how close he came to actually landing the role!

While chatting to the Happy Sad Confused podcast about his latest film, Oppenheimer, Nolan said that he did speak to Hartnett (Black Mirror, Sin City, 30 Days of Night) about potentially suiting-up as the Caped Crusader, but things never went much further than an "initial conversation" because he was "more interested" in appearing in the director's next project.

“No, it never got that far,” said the filmmaker when asked if he screen-tested Hartnett for the role. “I met with Josh and if I recall, he was a young actor whose work I was very interested in. I had an initial conversation with him, but he had read my brother’s script for The Prestige at the time and was more interested in getting involved with that. So it never went further than that.”

Hartnett has a supporting role in Oppenheimer alongside Cillian Murphy, who was also in contention to play Batman before Nolan realized he wasn't quite right for the character and offered him the role of Scarecrow instead.

Christian Bale ended up playing Bruce Wayne in Nolan's trilogy, and the rest is history - but a lot of fans believe Hartnett would make a great Batman now that he's a little older. Could he take another run at the role in James Gunn's The Brave and the Bold, perhaps?

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DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 7/23/2023, 11:06 AM
I thought he'd be a good choice for Terry in a Batman Beyond movie. But this was in the early 2000s. He's aged out of it.
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 7/23/2023, 11:09 AM
Hartnett was great in Oppenheimer. He is such a stud too.



I want him back in Halloween god damnit 😡
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 7/23/2023, 3:19 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - glad to see him doing movies again. I’ve always liked him in anything he’s done. Even Pearl Harbor lol
Ryos
Ryos - 7/23/2023, 4:08 PM
@AmazingFILMporg - h2020 would have been a great opp
AmazingFILMporg
AmazingFILMporg - 7/23/2023, 4:51 PM
@Ryos -


Would love a follow up to H20 . Laurie dead and hartnett has a wife and teenage daughter. Could be great💪
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 7/23/2023, 11:14 AM
He's only 45.. but yeah prob a bit older than what Gunn has in mind. Havent seen Oppenheimer yet but he's excellent in black mirror
Leanbatt
Leanbatt - 7/23/2023, 6:22 PM
@MarkCassidy - james gunn is not gonna cast the next batman, andy muschetti (the brave and the bold director) will.
dagenspear
dagenspear - 7/23/2023, 11:47 PM
@Leanbatt - Is that a promise or a threat?
BobGarlen
BobGarlen - 7/23/2023, 11:15 AM
Warner's really wanted him to be Batman in the 2000's. He was even offered BVS: Asylum. I can't blame him for being more interested in the Prestige, that's a great movie.
RichardGrayson
RichardGrayson - 7/23/2023, 11:22 AM
They should just cast him as DCU Batman, he’d be great.

NightEagle3
NightEagle3 - 7/23/2023, 11:24 AM
I remember when he was on a short list for Superman Returns before Routh. I love Routh to death but I do wonder what he could have done with Superman.
DannRamm113
DannRamm113 - 7/23/2023, 11:29 AM
Hartnett is on a bit of a resurgence, if it wasn’t for RDJ he might be put up for supporting actor for Oppenheimer (which is amazing)


I think as DCU Batman hed do good, and is appropriate age to have a 10 year oldish son with 3 other robins prior
VictorAlonzo
VictorAlonzo - 7/23/2023, 11:52 AM
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/23/2023, 12:28 PM
Hartnett was great in Oppenheimer , as was the whole cast!!.

I don’t blame him for being more interested in The Prestige , it might be my favorite Nolan film still.



I wouldn’t mind him being the DCU Batman honestly though might be a bit too old now for the role.

I can see them going for someone in their mid to late 30’s.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 7/23/2023, 12:51 PM
I was just thinking about The Prestige last night. The one Nolan film that goes the most unnoticed.
Solarkalel85
Solarkalel85 - 7/23/2023, 1:11 PM
@THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - it's some film. I would say insomnia is the most unnoticed though
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 7/23/2023, 1:14 PM
@Solarkalel85 - Insomnia’s solid.
S8R8M
S8R8M - 7/23/2023, 1:10 PM
People doubted Ledger and look what we got. I think Hartnett has proved he is not the typical lead in a rom-com.
I am curious who he wanted to play in the Prestige. That and Insomnia are great films.
Gmoney84
Gmoney84 - 7/23/2023, 2:59 PM
I’m rewatching Penny Dreadful at the moment. He’s fantastic in it.
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 7/23/2023, 3:45 PM
Josh Hartnett simply does not have that something special to be a box office draw. Amusing that he assumed Nolan would want him to headline The Prestige.
Forthas
Forthas - 7/23/2023, 4:09 PM
Christian Bale was the best actor of all of the people who auditioned or in this case was interested in the role. Christopher Nolan made the perfect choice.
Leanbatt
Leanbatt - 7/23/2023, 6:24 PM
“Could he take another run at the role in James Gunn's The Brave and the Bold, perhaps?”
Is not james gunn’s The brave and the bold, it’s Andy muschetti’s The brave and the bold…
DocSpock
DocSpock - 7/23/2023, 7:07 PM

he is a pretty face with mediocre acting skills.

Mr. Irrelevant.

He'd be good for Mr. Sinister.
NinnesMBC
NinnesMBC - 7/23/2023, 9:42 PM
Fair enough and that's okay, The Prestige is an amazing movie and it's always a blast to rewatch it. It's still one of my favourite movies from Nolan after now Oppenheimer, which he was good in it as Oppie's colleague and friend.
PartyKiller
PartyKiller - 7/23/2023, 9:59 PM
He looks like Jan Michael Vincent.
WarMonkey
WarMonkey - 7/24/2023, 7:07 AM
@PartyKiller - That was Stringfella Hawk from Airwolf right? I'm sure I spelt his name wrong lol. I would defiantly be excited for an Airwolf revival!
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