One of the most fascinating aspects which make Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy stand out is its emphasis on Batman’s Rogues’ Gallery. It’s safe to say that the TDK trilogy comprises some of the best comic book villains crafted in live-action and not all of them get enough credit, including Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow. Although villains like Ra’s al Ghul, Joker, and Bane are some of the most prominent aspects that make the trilogy so great, Murphy too doesn’t fail to deliver in the role of Scarecrow.
And following his performance in the first movie, the actor was brought back in the threequel and it seems that to avoid spoilers, the actor refused to read the script for The Dark Knight Rises.
Cillian Murphy refused the read the script for The Dark Knight Rises
While reflecting on their work together in the critically acclaimed TDK Trilogy, Nolan revealed that one of his favorite scenes comprising Cillian Murphy‘s Scarecrow was the court sequence in the threequel. However, even though the Inception star does nail his brief appearance in The Dark Knight Rises, he revealed that he refused to read the entire script of the movie. In order to avoid spoilers and enjoy the movie to the fullest upon its arrival, Murphy asked Christopher Nolan only to guide him with his scenes, as he avoided the rest of the story. Murphy said to Nolan,
“I remember when you called, you said, ‘You want to read the script?’ and I said, ‘You know what, I don’t actually want to read the script. Just tell me what I’m doing, just tell me what my motivation is, and then I want to see the movie. I didn’t want to spoil it. So I just came in for that one day, did that little bit on that amazing set, and then waited to see the movie. And it was worth it.”
This eventually worked out, as Cillian Murphy claimed this elevated his first-time viewing experience of the threequel. However, the role of Scarecrow, which would start the working relationship between him and Nolan, wasn’t the initial role that Murphy auditioned for.
Cillian Murphy originally auditioned for the role of Batman in Batman Begins
Although it’s hard to imagine anyone in the role of Batman in the Nolan Trilogy except Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy did put on the cowl to audition for the iconic role. Reflecting on the situation, the actor claimed that he thought he was nowhere close to getting the role as Bale was always the perfect fit for Batman and this would eventually land him the role of Professor Crane. He said,
“I don’t believe I was close to landing that role. The only actor who was right for that part at that time, in my estimation, was Christian Bale, and he absolutely smashed it. So, for me, it was just an experience, and then it turned into something else. It turned into that character, Scarecrow, and it turned into a working relationship with Chris.”
But after starring as a supporting actor in several Christopher Nolan movies, Cillian Murphy has finally got his time to shine in Nolan’s upcoming ambitious project Oppenheimer.
The Dark Knight Rises is available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
