The Dark Knight Trilogy: 18 Cool Behind-The-Scenes Details You Didn't Know
9. Christian Bale Was Cast Before A Script Had Been Written
The script is normally one of the very first things to be completed on a project. Those are your instructions, your blueprints, influencing every single decision - both big and small - throughout the rest of production.
In addition, the script is often shown to actors to convince them to sign on the dotted line, but during preparations for Batman Begins, this wasn't the case.
Instead, Nolan went out to cast the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne - which eventually went to Christian Bale - before the script had been written:
"We knew we needed Batman first. That was always the key... and we did that before we even had a script."
In addition, Bale was the very first actor that Nolan met with to discuss the project, despite Nolan going on to chat with (and screen test) many more potential leading men.