The Dark Knight Director Disappointed Katie Holmes Turned Down Role
July 10, 2008 by Julie Bonner
The Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan has said that he was disappointed that Katie Holmes turned down the part for the sequel. Katie played Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins and decided not to continue with her role in The Dark Knight. She was replaced with Maggie Gyllenhaal, who I have heard did a terrific job.
Nolan said, “Katie wasn’t available for the role, which I wasn’t very happy about, but these things happen, and I was very, very fortunate that Maggie was able to take it over.”
The director had nothing but good things to say about Gyllenhaal and was quoted as saying that her energy helped generate chemistry between her and her co-stars.
Gyllenhaal actually sought out Katie’s approval before agreeing to replace her in the Batman sequel. She of course received Katie’s approval and decided that she would “offer a new interpretation of the character“.
“I wanted to be sure, first of all, that I had her blessing,” Gyllenhaal explained. “And I was assured that I did. I’m a big fan of hers, I think she was really great in the first movie.”
“And yet I felt like it wouldn’t have done anyone any good if I tried to imitate her. Really what I decided was that it had to be a whole new woman. If I’m going to do what I do well, I have to be free to do it.”
via Digital Spy
Image used with permission by Newscom
“not happy about”? Sounds more like he was annoyed, rather than ‘disappointed’.
I too was very disappointed….glad to hear that the director felt the same way. I will go to my GRAVE wondering why she would choose to do Mad Money over Batman. Choosing to turn down a summer blockbuster???? Huh????? What was she thinking?
I don’t pretend what she was thinking but I think it was because of all that was going on in her private life. The pressure would have been increased and the media would have twisted the whole thing and spun it around her. They tried to spin her relationship with Adam Rothenberg. Even when Heath Ledger died, her name was brought up when it was not neccessary at all.
That might have been a breakout role for her. There are kinds of famous actors that turned down parts that made someone else’s career..
check out notstarring.com lots of info there on this kind of thing. I bet she kicks herself forever on that decision.
I’m sure i read somewhere that the reason katie did’nt make batman was because valkyrie was being made at the same time in germany, if that’s true , the family would have been seperated for a really long time.
I agree she will regret this one, but oh well, we all make mistakes. And has anyone read about all this oscar buzz for heath, so bitter/sweet.
just sad
It is bitter sweet. Heath should be here to enjoy the success of this movie. I wish Katie was in it, Alas she is not. I am glad Nolan cleared the air. Some thought Katie was fired, even though the statement from Warner bros said she did not wish to reprise her role.
I am glad Maggie also cleared the air.
Oh well, her life is still perfect.
Hopefully fame and success ontop of what KH already has will come her way with her Broadway show, it is going to be so amazing.
Does anyone know really why Katie turned down this role?
I heard from the start, (before the filming ever started) that tc did not want her in it and that it was TC that turned it down NOT katie. She had no say in the matter and that is why she is doing broadway.
I think the timing was off for them personally. He was shooting that german movie, and they probably didn’t want to break up the family. But obviously with all the hype surrounding heath being in this it will be a huge success, and obviously katie could not have predicted that.I doubt tom said a blatant no, I am sure she too made the decision.
Kelly, there’s no doubt.
Do you think KH has a say about what happens in her career, in her life or does tc have the total say. Oh, my, personally I wouldn’t like that.
Mary–whose life is perfect??? Katie’s?? No one’s life is perfect. She doesn’t look at all well or happy in the July 4th pics. I don’t think Suri wants Tom carrying her and when Katie leans over to speak to Suri or reassure her-not sure which, from the video it looks as if Tom deliberately turns away. The rich and famous have the same if not more of the same problems we all have as humans on this planet.
kudos to the makers Dark Knight for their record breaking opening weekend… it’s no wonder there’s talk of another one coming out ASAP
I saw The Dark Knight, and after watching Batman Begins again, I can honestly say I prefer Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. Too bad Katie turned down the part. It would’ve brought her offers for higher caliber roles, and increase her popularity, not to be known as TC’s wife. Maybe TC didn’t want his wife more popular than him, or being in a movie that made more money this his. Did anyone watch Lions for Lambs? Didn’t think so…
Anyone think maybe she wasn’t in the sequel because of her role in Thank you For Smoking with Aaron Eckhart? Maybe Tom was jealous of their “humping” all over his apartment in the movie, and didn’t want them acting along side each other again.
Whatever the reason I also prefer Katie Holmes as Rachel D. I wish she had been there, and it´s sad because surely she´s going to regret the decision, I saw Batman Begins last weekend and I definetely think Katie was better for the role. Maggie is a good actress but I think Katie did well in the first one and she should have continued in The dark knight.
I think that the re-release of the movie should have katie holmes replacing maggie Gyllenhaal, if possible. In my opinion that is the only flaw in the movie (a big one in my eyes). It looses that realism and its hard to believe. Im not her biggest fan nor do I think shes the greatest actress, but movie sequals need the original cast. Plus the death scene would of been more shocking. If they make a 3rd installment it could of gone down as the best trilogy of all time, next to star wars, but that replacment kills it, what if star wars replaced princess lea in empire strikes back? it would have been weird huh? That why I think it should be done.
Keith, Dude… do you realize what you’re askin’ for?
How exactly do you propose they go about refilming all her scenes with the LATE Heath Ledger???
And, no thanks, let’s not try FIX things with CGI.
Yeah - Maggie brought it down for me, too, but nothing can be done about that. It’s at least a good thing the script called for her to be killed off…