 Kurt Wimmer (qv) had originally wanted Christian Bale (qv) for  the lead role as Senior Grammaton Cleric John Preston after seeing  him in American Psycho. Bale was not available at the time so he  considered Dominic Purcell (qv) for the roll. Ultimately Bale  became available and Purcell was cast as Seamus The Resistance  Fighter in the opening of the film instead.