Josh Hartnett Regrets Turning Down Batman Role for Christopher Nolan
Josh Hartnett has had his fare share of offers to play big superheroes in movies. He was not only up for the role of Superman at one point, but Christopher Nolan also offered him the role of Batman in Batman Begins. The actor ended up turning down the part, and as you know it went to Christian Bale. This was a decision that he says he regrets. In an interview with Playboy Magazine (via Variety), the actor explains:
“I’ve definitely said no to some of the wrong people. I learned my lesson when Christopher Nolan and I talked about Batman. I decided it wasn’t for me. Then he didn’t want to put me in ‘The Prestige.’ They not only hired their Batman for it, they also hired my girlfriend (Scarlett Johansson) at the time.”
The actor went on to explain that the reason why he didn’t take on the role was because he didn’t want to be boxed into being a superhero-type actor. He said:
“I was so focused on not being pigeonholed and so scared of being considered only one thing as an actor. Watching Christian Bale go on to do so many other things has been just awesome. I mean, he’s been able to overcome that. Why couldn’t I see that at the time?”
It’s weird to think that Hartnett’s career could have been insanely different had he taken Nolan up on his offer. He’s had an OK career and is currently starring in the awesome Showtime series Penny Dreadful, but taking the role of Batman would have been huge for him! I wonder what his take on the character would have been like.
I can understand why at the time he didn’t want to take the part. Superhero movies were still somewhat risky at the time, but that’s all changed now. Sounds like he’s kicking himself in the ass for that one.