Among the plethora of "Batman" villains, Scarecrow’s heightened intelligence and innate grasp of human psychology give him an edge over those who only rely on brute strength.
Downey Jr. recalled campaigning director Christopher Nolan. “I remember meeting [Nolan] for tea, and I was like, 'He doesn't seem like he's really leaning in on this interview.’”
Despite his enthusiasm, the role ultimately went to Cillian Murphy, who delivered a terrifying and pitch-perfect portrayal of Scarecrow and later reprised the role.