From Will Smith To Irrfan Khan, 11 Hollywood Biggies Who Rejected Christopher Nolan Movies
Matt Damon had told his wife that he would take a break from acting in couple's therapy but he had one condition. He wouldn't say no to a Christopher Nolan movie.?
A day later, he got a call from the ace filmmaker and he was offered Oppenheimer.?
Many actors are desperate to work with Nolan. Even Cillian Murphy admitted that he was desperate to play a lead role in a Nolan movie after playing supporting roles in five films. "I have always said publicly and privately, to Chris, 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. But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him," he said.?
And then, there are actors who declined Christopher Nolan's offer.?
1. Heath Ledger?
Before he essayed the iconic role of Joke in The Dark Knight, he was offered the titular role in Batman Begins. However, at that time, he didn't want to star in a superhero movie. "He said, 'I would never take a part in a superhero film." However, he soon changed his mind.?
2. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt was offered the role of?Leonard Shelby in Memento. The actor even liked the script but he didn't say yes to the film. Why? Nolan revealed the reason himself at 2014 Slamdance Festival. "He met with me about it when he didn't have any reason to know who I was or anything about it. And nothing came of it. Other than him being interested in it, I think within the sort of [talent] agency world where the script was circulating, just sort of perked up a bit of interest in what was a very obscure project, otherwise. And I think really that’s how it came to Guy Pearce’s attention, and you know, he sort of got the ball rolling."
3. Anthony Hopkins
The?Silence of the Lambs actor was offered the role of?Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman which ultimately went to Michael Caine. Why did he reject it? No one knows till date. Neither Nolan nor Hopkins has ever shed light on this.?
4. Al Pacino
After the grand success of Memento, Christopher Nolan roped in?Al Pacino and Robin Williams for Insomnia. Even this film performed well and got appreciation from critics as well. However, Nolan and Pacino's relationship went downhill. Pacino even admitted that he left the director angry. And then he rejected his offer.?
"He hasn't offered me a film in a while," the actor told The Telegraph in 2014. "You know why? I'll tell you why: He asked me to be in this movie and I didn't do it." While Pacino has never commented on what the role might have been or even what movie, he admits he may be jumping the gun.?"I think that might have miffed him a little bit, but I'm being presumptuous myself."? While Pacino didn't reveal which movie it was he has sure left the people angry.?
5. Irrfan Khan
The man who was hailed as the coolest actor in the room by Tom Hanks, Irrfan Khan also missed a chance to star in Christopher Nolan movie. The film he was offered was?Interstellar, one of the best works of Nolan. The director himself revealed the same after Irrfan Khan's death. He told the Times Of India in 2020, "Yes. I did meet Irrfan for Interstellar. I was looking forward to working with him. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to do the film. He was a great actor. Reportedly, he was asked to stay in the US for four months.?
Irrfan had called it one of the toughest decisions of his life. "They expected a huge commitment from my end. I had to stay in the US for four months at a stretch. I tried to work out my schedule and suggested that I could shuttle between India and the US as it wouldn’t have been possible for me to be there for that long. I wanted to be here for The Lunchbox and D-Day. They couldn’t allow that. I don’t have a tendency to regret what I do, but knowing it’s a Christopher Nolan film, I can say that this has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve made."
6. Will Smith
Did you know Will Smith rejected Inception? What role, you ask? Smith was offered the lead role of dream agent Dom Cobb that eventually went to Leondardo DiCaprio. Why Will Smith rejected Christopher Nolan movie remains unknown. It was a big miss for Smith as the movie went on to win four Academy Awards (Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects).
7. Josh Hartnett
Josh Hartnett declined to work with Christopher Nolan in Batman Begins. Not Christian Bale, he was the first choice for?Bruce Wayne/Batman. Why did he turn down a Nolan movie? He thought the film will impact his career negatively. "I?didn't want to be boxed into that superhero type. Back then a lot of actors had to fight really hard to get their career back after they played those characters."?
This hampered his relationship with the ace director. "Then (Nolan) didn't want to put me in The Prestige. They not only hired their Batman (Christian Bale) for it, they also hired (Scarlett Johansson) my girlfriend at the time."?
He recently starred in Oppenheimer as Ernest Lawrence.?
8. Harrison Ford??
Harrison Ford was playing?Detective Will Dormer in?Insomnia until?Jonathan Demme was directing the movie. He, however, backed off after Jonathan Demme stepped down and Christopher Nolan was roped in. Nolan went on to cast Al Pacino.?
9. Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom was also offered?The Batman Begins. However, he rejected the film. Talking about it, he said,?"I did meet with Christopher Nolan. But I didn't audition, and it was more of a conversation of... I was in the midst of all this other stuff, and I was like, 'I can't.' I love Christopher Nolan so much, I'd run, not walk, to work with him.?It was like, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean was happening... I need to be off the grid for a while because I don't know which way is up."
10. Katie Holmes?
Katie Holmes who played Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins was replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight. While the rumours suggested that Nolan didn't recast in the second instalment, the director later revealed she declined the offer. "Katie wasn't available for the role, which I wasn't very happy about, but these things happen," he said.?
Talking about rejecting the film, Katie Holmes said, "You know, I really enjoyed working on the first one and I wish I could have worked with Chris Nolan again. It was a decision that I made at that time and it was right for me at that moment, so I don't have any regrets. I think that Maggie did a wonderful job. But I really hope that I get to work with Chris some day."
11. David Bowie
David Bowie starred in The Prestige alongside Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman but he rejected the film at first. Nolan admitted he was the only actor he approached twice. In fact, he said he almost begged him. He told Entertainment Weekly, "It took me a while to convince him, though — he turned down the part the first time. It was the only time I can ever remember trying again with an actor who passed on me. I petitioned to let me explain why he was the right actor for it. In total honesty, I told him if he didn't agree to do the part, I had no idea where I would go from there. I would say I begged him."
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