15 Actors Who Really Wanted To Be In Comic Book Movies (And Failed)
6. Jake Gyllenhaal Wanted To Be Batman
Christopher Nolan picked Christian Bale from a pretty impressive pool of actors when he chose him as his Dark Knight, and he must have been impressed with his enthusiasm considering that he was almost literally skin and bones at the time, having just come out of a period of incredible method acting he underwent to shoot The Machinist.
Writer David S Goyer wasnt in agreement with the Interstellar director however, as he had always been keen on encouraging the interest shown by Jake Gyllenhaal, who was already in fantastic shape as he showed playing a marine in Jarhead the same year that Batman Begins came out. Gyllenhaal's enthusiasm and auditions impressed, but Nolans opinion ultimately overrode Goyers and he again turned him down when he returned to audition as Harvey Dent.
It was probably for the best in the end, with Jakes sister Maggie Gyllenhaal brought in when Katie Homes vacated the part of Assistant District Attorney Rachel Dawes, saving him the trouble of being involved in on-screen sexual tension with his sister. Strangely, Homes reason for dropping the role was so she could concentrate on Mad Money with Queen Latifah. Go figure.