Last year, when Maggie Gyllenhaal was first announced to be taking over the role of Rachel Dawes from actress Katie Holmes in the Christopher Nolan-helmed Batman franchise, it appeared the newest cast addition was throwing jabs at Ms. Tom Cruise.
Or so it was presented as in the British Press. But wait, could they be doing their first mea culpa in a roundabout way? Gyllenhaal was originally quoted with this seeming dig:
“I’m not walking into Katie Holmes’ performance. I’m thinking of it as an opportunity to play somebody who’s alive and smart. Chris asked me to do this because he wanted me, not because he wants some generic lady in a dress.”
Now the same British press is claiming that Gyllenhaal sought Holmes approval before taking the role in “The Dark Knight” and actually turned it down initially.
“I wanted to be sure, first of all, that I had her blessing. 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.”
Hollywood moms play so nice together. All’s well that ends well! It’s never been explained all that closely, but according to the EW ‘Dark Knight’ cover story this week, Holmes didn’t reprise the Dawes role because she “wasn’t available” so the producers and director had to find an alternate. By “wasn’t available,” we assume they mean she was busy transforming herself from button-cute, to soccer-mom bland at Tom Cruise’s behest.