In the movie "Batman Begins" was Jake Gyllenhaal considered for the part of "Batman"?

Having been in the running for the starring role in several failed Batman projects, Christian Bale was considered the front-runner for "Batman Begins" from the start. Nevertheless, director Christopher Nolan cast a wide net when he first boarded the project back in early 2003, meeting with a number of talented young actors, including Joshua Jackson, Billy Crudup, Hugh Dancy, Eion Bailey, and future Superman Henry Cavill. Surprisingly, it was the then-23 year old Jake Gyllenhaal that was viewed as Bale’s chief competition for the cape and cowl.

Best known at the time for playing the troubled teenage lead in "Donnie Darko", Gyllenhaal was one of the youngest actors up for the role, and was actually writer David Goyer’s personal favorite. But the decision was ultimately Nolan’s, and Bale was eventually given the nod. Over a decade later, after having established himself as a dramatic force in films like "End of Watch", "Prisoners", and "Nightcrawler", Gyllenhaal was offered a lead role in another DC film, "Suicide Squad", a role he elected to pass on. He was even a rumored candidate for Batman back when "Batman V Superman" was still searching for its Dark Knight.