In a recent interview with Happy, Sad, Confused, Gary Oldman disclosed that he was originally considered for a different role in the iconic Batman series.
Oldman’s portrayal of Jim Gordon has been widely acclaimed, with some critics considering it a definitive take on the character. However, the actor revealed that Nolan initially had a different vision.
Contrary to earlier rumors, Oldman stated he was not approached for Ra’s al Ghul, a role that eventually went to Liam Neeson. Instead, he believed the director had him in mind for The Scarecrow:
“I got a feeling it was Scarecrow. … And that was about the time when I was sort of thinking, ‘I’ve had enough of [playing villains].’ I think it was my manager who suggested to Chris, ‘What about Jim Gordon?’ And, to his credit, Chris [went,] ‘Hm, that’s interesting.’ And we met, and that’s how it sort of came about. But I think it might be Scarecrow.”
You can listen to the full interview below.
Who Is The ‘Scarecrow’?
The Scarecrow is a character created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane in 1941. He is known for his psychological warfare against Gotham City’s residents and Batman, using a ‘fear toxin’ to exploit their deepest phobias.
In Nolan’s trilogy, this character was portrayed by Cillian Murphy, and with a departure from previous adaptations — he focused on mental manipulation over physical intimidation.
The Dark Knight trilogy, along with other Batman adaptations, is currently available for streaming on Max. This includes ‘Batman Begins’ (2005), ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008), and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012).
