Bale snubbed Stone's George Bush role

Oliver Stone has revealed that Christian Bale turned down the lead role in W, his George Bush biopic.

The acclaimed filmmaker, who eventually cast Josh Brolin as the US president, told GQ that he had gone as far as conducting make-up tests on Bale to make him look older.

"I needed a star," Stone commented, "and Josh Brolin was not a star. Originally I went for Christian Bale. We did some rigorous prosthetic tests and spent a lot of dough - thousands and thousands of dollars - and then Christian said, 'I just don't feel like I can do it.'

"I met Josh and liked him. He was more rural Americana. But man, he was scared s**tless."

W will premiere in the UK at the BFI London Film Festival next month then open in cinemas on November 7.