The Oppenheimer cast battled over a different role in Christopher Nolan's previous film

Director Christopher Nolan has said he's already considered a few of his Oppenheimer cast members for a very different role: Batman.

Josh Hartnett was one, but was not tested for the role.

"It's never gone this far," Nolan said on Thursday's episode of the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast. The role eventually went to Christian Bale for Batman Begins in 2005.

Nevertheless, Nolan was impressed with Hartnett. He remembers that he was "a young actor whose work interested me a lot and I had a first conversation with him".