Long before it was announced that Christian Bale would be leading Christopher Nolan's reworking of the superhero classic Batman, a number of other actors tried out for the role - one of them being Cillian Murphy. Watch his audition below:
The Irish actor was still in his twenties at that time and was yet to become the menacing figure of Tommy Shelby in the BBC's hit series The Peaky Blinders.
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But while he didn't get the part in the end, he was still given the opportunity to audition... in the full Batsuit.
And following a recent interview where the 45-year-old discussed his impressive performance, which led to him being cast as Scarecrow in the first instalment of the trilogy, a clip of him giving it his all has resurfaced.
In the footage released on The Dark Knight Trilogy Blu-Ray, Nolan discusses the process behind casting Batman and why Bale was chosen.
Referencing Murphy's performance, he said: "He wasn't right for the part in the way Christian was, but the performance was incredible and everybody took huge notice of it while we were shooting it and while we watched the test.
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"I then was able to go to the studio and ask to put him in as [Dr Jonathan] Crane as Scarecrow in Batman Begins, even though, traditionally, in past iterations of Batman films, they had always insisted on as big a star as possible playing the fanciful villains.
"Having seen Cillian's test, they were very, very happy to put him in there."
However, despite the praise for his efforts, when he was asked about it recently, Murphy said he doesn't think he was ever really in the running.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, he said Bale was the best choice.
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"I don't believe I was close to landing that role," he told the publication.
"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."
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Adding: "So I think back very, very fondly on that time, but I never, ever, ever considered myself Bruce Wayne material."
Murphy is currently promoting the upcoming release of A Quiet Place Part II.
During an interview, he said he would love to do a third 28 Days Later movie.
He told CinePOP: "I would never say never. I loved making that movie. It was a long time ago. It was almost 20 years ago. But sure!"
Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.Topics: Cillian Murphy, Entertainment, BBC, Christian Bale, Superhero, US News, UK Entertainment, US Entertainment, Batman