A supporting role in Batman Begins was a “rare” chance for Cillian Murphy to play around in a “big” role, the actor has said.
The Academy Award-winner says he was convinced a scene he featured in was going to be left on the cutting room floor, but director Christopher Nolan “loved” the moment. Murphy, who portrayed the villainous Scarecrow in Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises, has since commented on the freedom he was given in the part and how “rare” it was to be let loose on screen. Speaking to Josh Horowitz of the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, Murphy would share his love for one particular scene, which he thought was performed too “big” to be included. Nolan disagreed, however, and would use the take in the final cut of the adored superhero adaptation.
Murphy said: “I felt like, ‘this is great, he’s an out and out villain.’ It’s rare you get to do that and just have a bit of fun. I remember even that reading when I call him ‘The Batman’, I remember doing that a bit big. I thought, ‘he [Nolan]’s never going to use that.’ Because it’s a bit- but he loved it, and he put it in.
“It was like, I’ll have a bit of fun with it. I think the thing with great directors is you just got to show them stuff. And they may or may not like it, they may or may not use it, but if you show them stuff, then it’s there. Rather than just talk about it, if you actually just demonstrate it, you know?”
Nolan would go on to work with Murphy on several other occasions, most recently with the award-winning Oppenheimer. Murphy would bag his first Academy Award win for his portrayal of Robert Oppenheimer. Nolan would win two awards that same night, one for Best Picture and another for Best Director. It marked his first two Oscar wins, and his sixth and seventh nominations, respectively.
Murphy may have won over audiences with his portrayal of Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy but he originally had his eye on the lead role. Nolan was “struck by his appearance” in 28 Days Later and offered the titular role to Murphy.
He recalled: “The first time I met Cillian was for Batman Begins, and I was looking for who could play Batman, and I’d seen a photograph of him from Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. I’d just been very struck by his appearance and his amazing eyes and that gaze.”
But it was Murphy who aired his discomfort with portraying Bruce Wayne, and though it was Christian Bale who was ultimately cast as the world’s greatest detective, Nolan was still keen to feature Murphy in some capacity. It led to his turn as Scarecrow, a minor villain in all three of Nolan’s Batman films.
Murphy recalled being approached for the lead role and saying it was an “insane idea” but during the test screening, he and Nolan developed a working relationship which is still going strong twenty years later.
