Christopher Nolan is one of the most beloved and acclaimed directors working in Hollywood today. He’s been on the moviegoing public’s radar ever since he keeping the artistry of cinema alive in the face of ever-increasing commercialization.
Now, any time Nolan comes up with a mind-bending $200 million spectacle, Warner Bros. execs are more than happy to write him a check. As a result of Nolan’s reputation, high-profile actors are desperate to appear in his films. So, here are 10 actors who almost landed roles in Christopher Nolan movies.
Lady Gaga As Catwoman In The Dark Knight Rises
Lady Gaga was under consideration for the role of Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises, and campaigned hard for the role. Before Anne Hathaway was cast, the other actors who either auditioned for the part or got as far as screen-testing included Natalie Portman, Keira Knightley, Jessica Biel, Blake Lively, Gemma Arterton, and Kate Mara.
Lady Gaga wouldn’t be taken seriously as an actor until she starred in Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star is Born six years later.
Brad Pitt As Leonard In Memento
The lead role of amnesiac Leonard in Memento, the high-concept thriller that put Christopher Nolan on Hollywood’s radar, was played by Guy Pearce.
But before Pearce was cast, Nolan considered a number of famous actors for the part, including Brad Pitt, Thomas Jane, Charlie Sheen, and Aaron Eckhart, the latter of whom would go on to cast as Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight. Pearce was great in the role of Leonard, but it is interesting to wonder what Snatch-era Pitt would’ve done with the part.
Paul Bettany As The Joker In The Dark Knight
Christopher Nolan’s first choice for the role of the Joker in The Dark Knight was always Heath Ledger, but just as Batman fans were initially skeptical of the casting, so were studio executives. Paul Bettany was reportedly waiting in the wings as Warner Bros. executives’ backup plan in case Ledger didn’t work out.
The producers also looked at Geoffrey Rush, Sam Rockwell, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, and Robin Williams, who was previously used by the studio as leverage to get Jack Nicholson to play the Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie.
Kate Winslet As Miranda Tate In The Dark Knight Rises
When casting was underway for The Dark Knight Rises, Kate Winslet was one of the actors considered for the role of Miranda Tate, who turns out to be Talia al Ghul, and inexplicably sleeps with Bruce Wayne while secretly betraying him.
Other actors considered for the part were Naomi Watts, Eva Green, and Rachel Weisz. Marion Cotillard landed the role while she was six months pregnant. She was required to begin shooting just one month after she gave birth to her baby son.
Harrison Ford As Detective Will Dormer In Insomnia
The lead role of Detective Will Dormer in Insomnia — which, so far, is Christopher Nolan’s only remake of another director’s work — ended up being played by Al Pacino.
However, before Nolan was involved in the project and Jonathan Demme was set to direct, Harrison Ford was the producers’ top choice for the role. When Demme was out, Ford was out, too. Nolan came aboard and cast Pacino, ensuring a more eccentric portrayal of Dormer.
Anthony Hopkins As Alfred Pennyworth In Batman Begins
Sir Anthony Hopkins was offered the role of Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s long-time butler and father figure, in Batman Begins. However, Hopkins turned down the part.
The role, of course, ended up being played by Michael Caine, who brought the character to life like never before, and has played a role in every Christopher Nolan movie since.
Matt Damon As Harvey Dent In The Dark Knight
The role of Harvey Dent, Gotham’s “white knight,” in The Dark Knight was offered to Matt Damon, but he had to turn it down, as he’d already agreed to appear in Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, which was shooting at the same time.
Coincidentally, both films featured Morgan Freeman, and Eastwood had been considered for the role of Dent in the ‘60s Batman TV series starring Adam West. Hugh Jackman and Ryan Phillippe were also considered for the part before Aaron Eckhart was cast.
Taylor Swift As Ariadne In Inception
The female lead role in Inception, Ariadne, ended up being played by Ellen Page. But Christopher Nolan considered a ton of other actors before deciding on Page. These included Emily Blunt, Rachel McAdams, Emma Roberts, Carey Mulligan, Evan Rachel Wood, and even Taylor Swift.
Swift has limited acting experience — including a part in Valentine’s Day, a voice role in The Lorax, and guest spots on CSI and New Girl — so it’s hard to tell how she would’ve played the role differently to Page.
Leonardo DiCaprio As John Blake In The Dark Knight Rises
Christopher Nolan didn’t give Batman his sidekick Robin in The Dark Knight trilogy, but he did introduce a cop named John Blake in The Dark Knight Rises who turned out to be legally named “Robin,” and found the Batcave at the end.
Having just worked with Leonardo DiCaprio on Inception, Nolan considered him for the role of Blake. Ryan Gosling and Mark Ruffalo were also considered before Joseph Gordon-Levitt landed it.
Heath Ledger As Bruce Wayne In Batman Begins
The trickiest part of rebooting the Batman film franchise is casting a new Caped Crusader. When Christopher Nolan started working on Batman Begins, he considered Heath Ledger for the role of Bruce Wayne. However, it became apparent to Nolan and even Ledger himself that the actor wasn’t quite right for the part of Bruce.
Still, Nolan appreciated Ledger’s talent and kept him in mind. When it came to making the sequel, The Dark Knight, Nolan brought on Ledger to play the Joker, a role that earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best ing Actor.
