Christopher Nolan Reveals New Details About Batman Begins
Christopher Nolan revealed in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly that he had studio executives watch Cillian Murphy’s Batman screen test to convince them to hire him as the villain in Batman Begins.
Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders) and Christopher Nolan first worked together on the film Batman Begins. Their relationship started when Murphy sought to embody Batman/Bruce Wayne. The role ended up going to Christian Bale and Murphy embodied the Scarecrow. Since then, the two have worked together on the entirety of The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, and Dunkirk. Murphy is set to star in Nolan’s latest film, Oppenheimer.
Christopher Nolan praises Cillian Murphy:
— Christopher Nolan Art & Updates (@NolanAnalyst) May 9, 2023
“If I could cast Cillian in every film I ever do, and just lean on him for the rest of my career, I’d be a happy man.”
(Source: https://t.co/jqvedIOAwO) pic.twitter.com/BNjf2CYpyf
During a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, the pair revealed new details about their collaborations together. Including the fact that both knew that Murphy was not right for the role of Batman from the beginning. However, Nolan still wanted to screen-test Murphy anyway.
Nolan shared, “When we had our first conversation I think both of us knew that you weren’t going to wind up playing Batman.” He continued, “I really wanted to get on set with you, I wanted to get you on film. We did those screen tests very elaborately, on 35mm, with a little set. There was just an electric atmosphere in the crew when you started to perform.”
Nolan revealed that the screen test was set up to convince studio executives to cast Murphy as the villain, the Scarecrow. Nolan explained, “We did two scenes… and I made sure that executives came down and watched what you were doing on set.”
Nolan continued, “Everybody was so excited by watching you perform that when I then said to them, ‘Okay, Christian Bale is Batman, but what about Cillian to play Scarecrow?’ There was no dissent. All the previous Batman villains had been played by huge movie stars…That was a big leap for them and it really was purely on the basis of that test. So that’s how you got to play Scarecrow.”
You know, those .5 seconds Cillian Murphy was in the Dark Knight trilogy as Dr. Crane were the greatest scenes in cinema history. Don’t @ me pic.twitter.com/5Tt1Xfqcuk
— ✨ wren ✨ (@edwardianpoet) August 5, 2019
Murphy added, “It was clear to me from the beginning that I wasn’t Batman material.” He continued, “It felt to me that it was correct and right that it should be Christian Bale for that part. But I remember the buzz of trying on the suit and being directed by you. Those tests were high production values.”
Murphy also revealed to the Associated Press that he would take any role Nolan offered. He explained, “I have always said publicly and privately… that if I’m available and you want me to be in a movie, I’m there. I don’t really care about the size of the part.” Murphy added, “Deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him…It felt like the right time to take on a bigger responsibility. And it just so happened that it was a huge one.”
Although it is their sixth collaboration, Oppenheimer is Murphy’s first time starring in one of Nolan’s films. The film opens in theaters on July 21 and the trailer is available to watch below.
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