During a recent Q&A session at the American Cinematheque Theater in Los Angeles, Robert Downey Jr. revealed his past attempt to secure the role of the villain Scarecrow in the 2005 movie ‘Batman Begins,’ directed by Christopher Nolan.
According to a fan-posted video on Twitter, Downey Jr. recalled his meeting with Nolan and talking about the Scarecrow role in ‘Batman Begins.’ According to Downey Jr., despite his enthusiasm for the role, Nolan was rather uninterested:
“I’m pretty sure I heard about [this role], and I was like, ‘I’m Scarecrow,’ And then I remember meeting [Nolan] for tea, and I was like, ‘He doesn’t seem like he’s really in on this interview.’ And he was polite and all that. But you can tell when someone is kind of like, ‘It’s not going to go anywhere.'”
You can watch the video below.
RDJ dropping BOMBS at the @am_cinematheque conversation. He apparently met w/Nolan for SCARECROW for Batman Begins only to be beat out by Cillian Murphy. Woah! #Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/zBE9tts47E
— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) February 4, 2024
Downey Jr.’s ‘Oppenheimer’ Co-Star Took The Role Instead
Despite Downey Jr.’s efforts, the role eventually went to Cillian Murphy, his co-star in ‘Oppenheimer.’
Murphy, who eventually played Scarecrow, first auditioned for Batman. However, both Murphy and Nolan agreed that he was not the right fit for the caped crusader, so he was cast as Scarecrow instead. In the end, Murphy’s Scarecrow was well-received, and he reprised the role in all three of Nolan’s Batman films.
‘Batman Begins‘ was a turning point for the Batman series as it introduced a darker and more realistic tone compared to its predecessors. Following the disappointment of ‘Batman & Robin,’ Warner Bros. sought to rejuvenate the franchise, leading to Nolan’s hiring in 2003. After this decision, the film grossed over $375 million worldwide and earned critical acclaim.
Downey Jr., Nolan, and Murphy recently found themselves nominated for Academy Awards at the upcoming 96th Oscars ceremony. As for Downey Jr, he’s set to appear in ‘Sherlock Holmes 3,’ ‘The Sympathizer,’ and ‘All-Star Weekend,’ while Murphy will be starring in ‘Small Things Like These.‘
