You ever look at two massive actors and think, "How have they not done ten movies together?" It’s a weird glitch in the Hollywood matrix. If you look at the 2026 landscape of cinema, these two are basically the elder statesmen of the craft. Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale. One is Obi-Wan Kenobi; the other is Batman. One is the charming Scottish rogue who can sing his way through a Moulin Rouge, and the other is the guy who famously loses or gains 60 pounds just to feel a vibe.
They are the ultimate "What If" pairing, mostly because they actually did work together once, and it was absolutely chaotic.
We’re talking about Velvet Goldmine. 1998. Glam rock. Glitter. It was a long time ago, but for fans of both actors, that movie remains a fever dream that keeps on giving. Honestly, if you haven’t seen it, you’re missing out on a very specific kind of 90s madness where the director basically told everyone to be as "extra" as humanly possible.
The Rooftop Scene That Nobody Stopped
So, here is the story that Ewan McGregor loves to tell. If you’ve ever watched him on The Graham Norton Show, you’ve probably heard it. He’s a great storyteller, very animated.
While filming Velvet Goldmine, McGregor and Christian Bale had to film a fairly graphic sex scene. This wasn't some closed-set, intimate studio shoot. They were on a rooftop in London. The camera crew was actually positioned on a different rooftop quite a distance away to get a wide, cinematic shot of the "act."
McGregor and Bale get into position. The director yells "Action!" through a megaphone or whatever they were using back then. They start doing their thing—simulating, obviously—and they’re really going for it. Professional actors, right?
They keep going. And going.
Eventually, McGregor gets a bit suspicious. He realizes they’ve been "at it" for a long time. Like, way longer than a standard movie take. He leans over to Bale's ear—staying in character-ish—and whispers, "I think I would have come by now. I'm going to have a look."
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He looks up. The crew is gone.
The cameras were packed away. The crew had apparently finished the shot, yelled "Cut" (very quietly, apparently), and just... left them there. McGregor joked that the crew probably thought they were having a "moment" and didn't want to interrupt. Bale, being Bale, was probably so locked into the method that he didn't even notice the sun setting.
When Leonardo DiCaprio Almost Ruined Everything
This is a bit of Hollywood lore that isn't talked about as much as the rooftop story, but it’s arguably more important to their actual careers.
Back in the late 90s, both McGregor and Bale were the "it" guys for indie-adjacent projects. Then came American Psycho.
Most people know that Christian Bale eventually played Patrick Bateman, and it’s the role that basically defined his career until Batman Begins. But the road there was a mess. At one point, Bale was fired from the project because the studio wanted a bigger star. That star? Leonardo DiCaprio.
Around the same time, Ewan McGregor was having his own drama with DiCaprio. McGregor was supposed to lead The Beach (directed by his Trainspotting pal Danny Boyle), but the studio pushed for DiCaprio. It caused a massive rift between McGregor and Boyle that lasted for years.
When the American Psycho producers then approached McGregor to replace DiCaprio (after Leo passed), Bale actually called McGregor.
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He basically said, "Look, don't do it. This is my role."
Bale was convinced that if McGregor turned it down, the role would come back to him. It was a ballsy move. McGregor, who was already feeling burned by the whole "Leo-steals-everyone's-roles" situation, actually listened. He turned it down. Bale got the part. The rest is history.
Why They Never Teamed Up Again
It’s actually kind of strange. After 1998, their paths diverged into two very different types of stardom.
McGregor went the Star Wars route. He became the face of a franchise but kept his "working actor" soul, doing things like Beginners and Big Fish. Bale went the "I will suffer for my art" route. He did The Machinist, The Prestige, and eventually the Dark Knight trilogy.
They represent two different philosophies of acting:
- McGregor: High charisma, naturalistic, seems like he’s having the time of his life.
- Bale: High intensity, transformative, seems like he’s exorcising demons.
Kinda makes you wonder what a 2026 collaboration would look like. Imagine a gritty detective drama where McGregor is the tired, cynical veteran and Bale is the unhinged suspect. Or vice versa. Honestly, at this stage in their careers, seeing them share a screen again would be a massive event for anyone who grew up with 90s and 2000s cinema.
The Legacy of Their Partnership
Looking back at Velvet Goldmine now, it feels like a time capsule. You see two actors who are clearly on the verge of becoming icons, but they’re still "messy." They’re taking risks that actors of their stature today might hesitate to take.
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Bale’s character, Arthur Stuart, is the voyeur—the guy looking in. McGregor’s Curt Wild is the explosion of energy. In a way, those roles mirrored their public personas for a long time.
What’s interesting is how they’ve both handled the "aging" process in Hollywood. They haven't faded. McGregor successfully stepped back into the Obi-Wan robes, and Bale continues to be the guy directors call when they need someone to carry a "serious" film.
Takeaways for Film Fans
If you're tracking the careers of these two, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the Early Stuff: If you only know them as Batman and Obi-Wan, go back to 1998. The energy in their early collaborations is totally different.
- The "Leo" Factor: Understand that 90s Hollywood was a battleground. The fact that Bale and McGregor navigated that DiCaprio-shaped obstacle and came out as allies is rare in an industry built on ego.
- Intensity vs. Accessibility: Notice how they balance each other. If they ever do work together again, the chemistry will likely come from that friction between McGregor’s warmth and Bale’s cold precision.
If you want to see the specific interview where Ewan breaks down that rooftop story, look for his 2011 appearance on The Graham Norton Show. It’s probably the best version of the tale.
For now, we’re just waiting. Hollywood loves a comeback or a reunion. Given the current trend of "legacy" projects, a McGregor and Bale project isn't just a dream—it’s a necessity.
Next Steps for You:
Go watch the 25th-anniversary remaster of Velvet Goldmine if you can find it. Pay close attention to the rooftop scene knowing what you know now. It changes the whole vibe of the performance when you realize they were basically performing for an empty street. After that, look up Bale’s 1998 interviews; he was a lot more "rock and roll" back then than the serious guy we see in press junkets today.