Josh Hartnett Knows He Goofed by Passing Up Christopher Nolan's Batman Role

He didn't want to be pigeonholed.

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Image via Complex Original
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We're still adjusting to the idea of Ben Affleck as Batman instead of Christian Bale, but now we have another strange image running around in our heads. Josh Hartnett could have played Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan's trilogy but passed on the role. He admitted to Playboy that he still regrets the decision: 


"I was so focused on not being pigeonholed and so scared of being considered only one thing as an actor," Hartnett said. "Watching Christian Bale go on to do so many other things has been just awesome. I mean, he’s been able to overcome that. Why couldn’t I see that at the time? ...I know now that I wouldn’t turn something down just because it’s a superhero role."

Passing on the role not only cost him being a part of a $2 billion franchise, it also cost him a role in The Prestige alongside his then-girlfriend Scarlett Johansson. He says Nolan passed on him and chose Bale instead. 

Living with this kind of regret must be vital to actors. You never really know if you're choosing a brick or passing up on an instant hit. 

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