Christian Bale kept training for a role he didn't have

Christian Bale got fired from American Psycho, and responded by... continuing to prepare for it.

Director Mary Harron wanted him, but Lionsgate pushed for Leonardo DiCaprio - fresh off Titanic. The studio fired Harron, brought in Oliver Stone, and Bale was out.

The role was gone. No Bateman business cards for Bale. Everyone had moved on.

Bale kept practicing lines and going to the gym. Every day. "I just kept on prepping," he said. "Even though other people were cast, other directors were on board."

Then, DiCaprio backed out. Stone left. Harron returned. And because Bale never stopped preparing, he was ready.

Yeah, nice story.

You’re right.

Most times you do this, the project doesn't come back. You train for a fight that never happens. So if you're gonna prep for something that's gone, you need to be OK with it staying gone.

Bale wasn't just getting ready to play Patrick Bateman. He was becoming the kind of actor who could.

This is about prepping for the craft, not the role. It’s how you can survive the heartbreak of doors that stay closed.

And every once in a while, one swings back open. Just gotta hold onto the (Silian) rail.