Cillian Murphy says it was 'for the best' that Christian Bale was cast as Batman instead of him

Cillian Murphy believes it was ‘for the best’ that he missed out on the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy.

While actors might sometimes get a bruised ego for missing out on a huge Hollywood role, Murphy said he has no regrets.

Even when it comes to 2005’s Batman Begins.

When discussing that he nearly snagged the role of the DC superhero in an interview with GQ, the Oppenheimer actor admitted: “I think it was for the best because we got Christian Bale's performance, which is a stunning interpretation of that role.

"I never considered myself as the right physical specimen for Batman.

"To me, it was always going to be Christian Bale.”

Despite not landing the role, Murphy played the film’s villain, Dr Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow.

Murphy would also go on to appear in Nolan’s The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

The Irish actor has appeared in nearly every one of the legendary director’s films.

When asked if Nolan had become sick of working with the Peaky Blinders actor after all these years, he couldn't disagree more.

"Not at all," the director said in a wide-ranging interview with Entertainment Weekly.

"If I could cast Cillian in every film I ever do, and just lean on him for the rest of my career, I'd be a happy man."

Oppenheimer marks the sixth movie these two have done together.

JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images

However, despite working together numerous times, Murphy assures that didn’t make Oppenheimer any less intimidating.

While speaking to Variety, the actor said he felt a 'huge responsibility' after accepting the role to portray the real-life American theoretical physicist and director of the Manhattan Project's Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II.

“He was complicated and contradictory and so iconic,” Murphy said of the character.

But with his longtime collaborator by his side, the actor knew he was in good hands.

"You know you’re with one of the great directors of all time. I felt confident going into it with Chris,” he told the outlet.

"He’s had a profound impact on my life, creatively and professionally.

"He’s offered me very interesting roles and I’ve found all of them really challenging.

"And I just love being on his sets.”