The Dark Knight
Summary
Christopher Nolan’sDark Knight Trilogyis well - known for its many standout performance , but many of the characters in Nolan ’s Gotham were nearly portrayed by someone else . TheDark KnightTrilogy was merely one barricade inChristopher Nolan ’s impressive filmography , and featured many recurring worker the prestigiousness director frequently collaborated with . But with such a all-inclusive and eclectic cast of type , it ’s no wonder that Nolan was drowning in alternative when it came to fill out the roll of the Batman mythos .
Some of the performers who brook from near - misses in find oneself a place in theDark KnightTrilogy are indeed resort regulars in Christopher Nolan ’s film . However , the director has also considered some surprising choices for the franchise from far outside his usual lineup of sensation . In most cases , Nolan ’s ultimate vision for the characters was inviolable enough that most last castings were his first choice , lead in some of thebest superhero movie performancesof all time .
10Robert Downey Jr As Scarecrow In Batman Begins (2005)
Who Was Cast: Cillian Murphy
Key Background
In an age before Robert Downey Jr. ’s iconic cast as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , he evince interestingness in joiningBatman Beginsas a baddie instead . Allegedly , Downey sought out Nolan personallyto pitching himself for the character of Scarecrow , only to be courteously turned down in favor of Cillian Murphy . queerly enough , in 2023 , Robert Downey Jr. would go on to antagonize Murphy as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Lewis Strauss in Nolan ’s most late film , Oppenheimer .
Would They Have mold Out ?
Considering Robert Downey Jr. was enthusiastic enough about the purpose to pitch himself to Nolan on his own volition , and his since certify succeeder in the superhero musical genre , his Scarecrow would ’ve been unconvincing to be a disappointment . As good as Cillian Murphy ’s conniving Dr. Crane was , he was undoubtedly the least memorable villain of the Nolanverse . Despite Downey ’s rather subdued performance as an resister under Nolan ’s employ inOppenheimer , he might ’ve been able to match or even surpass Cillian as the conniving Scarecrow .
9Matt Damon As Harvey Dent/Two-Face In The Dark Knight (2008)
Who Was Cast: Aaron Eckhart
Rather than unsuccessfully lobbying Nolan for a part that interest him , Matt Damon was instead the one to pass up an offer for a role in what is largely considered the greatest superhero motion picture of all meter . When it descend to castingThe Dark Knight , Nolan was interested in Damon for Two - look , though he made the fateful wrongdoing of include that the use was a smaller one . Because of the lack of screentime , Damon declined , though he would go on to star in Nolan ’s skill fiction epicInterstellarin 2014 .
Aaron Eckhart offered a tremendous dual performance as both Harvey Dent and Two - Face . At first , he truly embodies the saint of legal justice Gotham make him out to be diametrical Batman ’s saturnine vigilance man before being dragged into psychosis by the jokester , being reborn as the unworthy Two - Face . It ’s easy to imagine Matt Damon inhabiting the former function , but it ’s hard to say that theBourne Identityaction hero could ’ve pulled off Two - Face ’s disfigured facial expression , allow alone convincingly portrayed Dent ’s downward spiral the manner Eckhart was able to .
8Paul Bettany As The Joker In The Dark Knight (2008)
Who Was Cast: Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger was always Nolan ’s first choice to play his thought for the Clown Prince of Crime , and for good understanding . Ledger ’s Oscar - winning performance wound up being a chilling and iconic representation that conquer everything the villain require to be – Funny , dangerous , impertinent , and terrifying all at once . Yet at the time , Ledger was n’t recall of as a villainous player , with some fans admonishing Nolan for skipping over backup choices like Paul Bettany , who had auditioned for Batman himself in the first film . Bettany remain on standby for The Jokershould Ledger have turn down the go .
Paul Bettany proved he can give his own in brassy superhero smash hit thanks to his time as Vision in theMarvel Cinematic Universe . Bettany certainly has a good look for the Joker , with the stringy frame and wide smile typically associated with the lineament , andhis time as the Methedrine - white villain Silas inThe DaVinci Codewould carry over utterly as fuel for a chilling antagonist . As skilful as Bettany might have been , it ’s impossible to imagine anyone being able to exceed Ledger ’s iconic public presentation .
7Lady Gaga As Catwoman In The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Who Was Cast: Anne Hathaway
Another performing artist to come to Christopher Nolan with dreams of a role in theDark Knighttrilogy , pop sensation Lady Gaga , of all people , lobbied fairly extensively for a chance to play Catwoman inThe Dark Knight Rises . WhileLady Gaga made it to the Catwoman shortlist , she would ultimately be sweep over by Anne Hathaway for the function . Understandably , as Lady Gaga was still relatively untested as an actress at the time , Nolan was in all likelihood unwilling to make such a big gamble on the closure film of his Batman trilogy .
Lady Gaga would go on to prove herself as a able actress in Bradley Cooper’sA Star Is Born , not to observe her sensual , yet deadly eccentric inAmerican Horror Storythat presented an over - the - top femme fatale in the same nieghborhood as Catwoman ’s anti - hero leaning . Considering her achievements since overleap out onThe Dark Knight Rises , Nolan may have truly lost out on one of thegreatest Catwoman performance . The plastic film would n’t have overlook much from losing Hathaway ’s own relatively forgettable take on Seline Kyle .
6Jake Gyllenhaal As Batman/Bruce Wayne In Batman Begins (2005)
Who Was Cast: Christian Bale
As the central character around which the Nolanverse trilogy would roll , casting Bruce Wayne and Batman was one of the most authoritative conclusion Nolan had to make . It ’s no admiration that several full-grown name were in the running for the conductor ’s more grounded take on the fictional character , including Jake Gyllenhaal , who was recommend for byBatman Beginsscreenwriter , David S. Goyer . at last , Gyllenhaal would drop off out to Christian Bale , though Goyer has confirm that he got as far as concealment - testing in a Batman suit .
Jake Gyllenhaal proved he could take on a beefy , physical role as a packer in 2015’sSouthpaw . His employment as an obsessional nocturnal headline pursuer inNightcrawleralso suggests an interesting commission Batman ’s personality could go in , double over down on the psychoneurotic and go through psychology of Bruce Wayne . However , Christian Bale ’s Batman is plainly too iconic and influential to disqualify as being forged than Gyllenhaal ’s potential , and casting him opposite Ledger ’s Joker in the continuation may have present consultation with too much tonic whiplash after the two partake the screen as devotee inBrokeback Mountain .
5Adrien Brody As The Joker In The Dark Knight (2008)
Paul Bettany was n’t the only one to be shortlist as a possible Joker accompaniment while Nolan await with bated breath to see if Ledger would answer his call forThe Dark Knight . Brody personally admitted to meeting with Nolanto discuss his potential for wear The Joker ’s signature makeup . Speaking sky-high about the function , Brody admitted he " would ’ve bonk to have done that " , Heath Ledger once again beating out all other prospective performing artist in Nolan ’s eye .
Adrien Brody is recognize for bringing a sure sense of sombreness to his roles , a trait that would n’t have served The Joker ’s comedic stylings very well . That being say , it ’s easy to ideate Brody donning a Joker look similar to Joaquin Phoenix in 2019’sJoker , and his part as a gangster inPeaky Blinderscould’ve hearkened back to Jack Nicholson ’s more gangster interlingual rendition of the fibre . Still , it ’s improbable that Brody could ’ve outstrip Heath Ledger ’s Oscar - acquire depiction of the Clown Prince of Crime .
4Steve Carell As The Joker In The Dark Knight (2008)
After the winner ofBatman Begins , Christopher Nolan was able to absolutely plow the decisive perception of superhero movies as being a valid musical genre in prestigiousness film . It ’s probable because of this that so many actors set about him for the role of The Joker inThe Dark Knight , includingHeath Ledger himself , who had previously turned down bet Batman in the first movie . Among the hopefuls were comedic actorSteve Carell , publicly compete for the role of Joker .
Steve Carell would ’ve sure as shooting had the funny side of The Joker cover , with a litany of classic clowning motion-picture show likeThe 40 - twelvemonth - Old Virginand a drawn-out career carry TV’sThe Officealready under his bash by 2008 . However , it ’s unlikely that Carell could ’ve pulled off the intimidating scene of the fearful Batman scoundrel , having never dipped his toes into a role so objectively malevolent . There ’s no telling howThe Dark Knightmight’ve turned out should Nolan had really taken a chance on letting Steve Carell take the reigns as The Joker .
3Kate Winslet As Miranda Tate/Talia al Ghul In The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Who Was Cast: Marion Cotillard
One of the most important fibre to be cast inThe Dark Knight Riseswas Miranda Tate , who is secretly Ra ’s al Ghul ’s daughter , Talia al Ghul , stag Bruce Wayne with a striking reveal . Kate Winslet was in the run for Tate , alongside other big figure like Rachel Weisz , Naomi Watts , and Eva Green . In the end , Nolan decided to throw frequent collaborator Marion Cotillard instead , fresh off the pose ofInceptiontwo year originally , despite the Oscar - succeed actress being six months pregnant at the time of filming .
For as many dandy performances Marion Cotillard has given throughout her career , Talia al Ghul does n’t range among them . Despite being so built-in to the plot of ground of the film , Cotillard ’s Miranda Tate was n’t an especially memorable villain , being overshadowed by Tom Hardy ’s Bane , despite being her flunky . consider the vigour that Winslet has brought to sets likeTitanic , Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , andAvatar : The way of life of Water , it ’s possible that she could ’ve suit the duplicitous Miranda Tate good , perhaps more comfortable on fantastic Set than Cotillard .
2Anthony Hopkins As Alfred Pennyworth In Batman Begins (2005)
Who Was Cast: Michael Caine
The casting of Alfred Pennyworth , Bruce Wayne ’s close pantryman , fellow traveler , and mentor , was one of the few instances in theDark Knighttrilogy in which Christopher Nolan did n’t get his first choice . Nolan ab initio approached SirAnthony Hopkins for the role of Alfred , who turn it down , prompting the director to turn tolongtime colleague , Michael Caine , rather . Caine and Nolan have a long history work on together , with the famed conductor regarding the British actor as something of a secure luck charm for winner .
It ’s very easy to see Sir Anthony Hopkins excelling in the role of Alfred . He act as a very similar wise man figure as Thor ’s father , Odin , in the Marvel Cinematic Universe , and his raw distinguished English metre would lend itself perfectly to the steadfast Alfred . However , in 2005 , audience might ’ve had a difficult meter separating Hopkins from the vile Hannibal Lecter , negatively colour how his Alfred may have been perceive . to boot , Michael Caine ’s Alfred is perhaps the single most magic component of the Nolanverse Batman movies , and they would n’t palpate the same without him .
1Leonardo DiCaprio As John Blake In The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Who Was Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
A foresighted - time creative married person with Christopher Nolan , it ’s shocking that Leonardo DiCaprio never bump his path into the managing director ’s Batman trilogy . Despite having just worked together inInception , Nolan did n’t wander up castingLeonardo DiCaprio as Robin - equivalent John BlakeinThe Dark Knight prove . It could be that Nolan was weary of having too many Inception alumnus populating the film , and with Marion Cotillard already cast , he opted to go with Joseph Gordon - Levitt to or else start the unfearing young heartbeat cop on the Gotham City police personnel .
For being the closest thing theDark Knighttrilogy has to a Robin , with the reveal that John Blake ’s real first name is the same as The Boy Wonder ’s superhero indistinguishability , Leonardo DiCaprio in 2012 may have been a hair too old to realistically embody the fictional character ’s youthful spirit . Being seven years Joseph Gordon - Levitt ’s senior , Leo is undoubtedly a star performing artist , but it may have been a little more uneasy to imagine him as Batman ’s costumed replacement upon stumbling into the Batcave . For what it ’s worth , Nolan made the right cast call for John Blake inThe Dark Knight ascend .
Custom image by Simone Ashmoore
