<P> After Cutter leaves a stranger enters the theater and shoots Angier . He reveals himself as Borden's twin brother . "Alfred Borden" is the identity they both assumed as part of their act and maintained outside the stage . One twin loved Sarah, while the other loved Olivia . They both took turns being the "Transported Man". Angier dies as his fallen lantern sets the theater on fire . Borden picks up Jess at Cutter's workshop . A final glimpse of the burning theater shows rows of water tanks containing rotting duplicates of Angier . </P> <Ul> <Li> Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier (The Great Danton) / Lord Caldlow, an aristocratic magician . After reading the script, Jackman expressed interest in playing the part . Christopher Nolan discovered Jackman's interest, and after meeting him saw that Jackman possessed the qualities of stage showmanship that Nolan was looking for in the role of Angier . Nolan explained that Angier had a "wonderful understanding of the interaction between a performer and a live audience", a quality he believed that Jackman had . Nolan said that Jackman "has the great depth as an actor that hasn't really been explored . People haven't had the chance to really see what he can do as an actor, and this is a character that would let him do that ." Jackman based his portrayal of Angier on 1950s - era American magician Channing Pollock . Jackman also portrays Gerald Root, an alcoholic double used for Angier's New Transported Man . </Li> <Li> Christian Bale as Alfred Borden (The Professor) / Fallon, a working class magician . Christian Bale expressed interest in playing the part and was cast after Jackman . Although Nolan had previously cast Bale as Batman in Batman Begins, he did not consider Bale for the part of Borden until Bale contacted him about the script . Nolan said that Bale was "exactly right" for the part of Borden and that it was "unthinkable" for anyone else to play the part . Nolan suggested that the actors should not read the original novel, but Bale ignored his advice . </Li> <Li> Michael Caine as John Cutter, the stage engineer (ingenieur) who works with Angier and Borden . Caine had previously collaborated with Nolan and Bale in Batman Begins . Nolan said that even though it felt like the character of Cutter was written for Caine, it was not . Nolan noted that the character was written "before I'd ever met" Caine . Caine describes Cutter as "a teacher, a father and a guide to Angier". Caine, in trying to create Cutter's nuanced portrait, altered his voice and posture . Nolan later said that "Michael Caine's character really becomes something of the heart of the film . He has a wonderful warmth and emotion to him that draws you into the story and allows you to have a point of view on these characters without judging them too harshly ." </Li> <Li> Piper Perabo as Julia McCullough, Milton the Magician's assistant and Angier's wife . </Li> <Li> Rebecca Hall as Sarah Borden, Borden's wife . Hall had to relocate from North London to Los Angeles in order to shoot the film, although the film itself takes place in London . </Li> <Li> Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, Angier's assistant and lover . Nolan said that he was "very keen" for Johansson to play the role, and when he met with her to discuss it, "she just loved the character". </Li> <Li> David Bowie as Nikola Tesla, the real - life inventor who creates a teleportation device for Angier . For the role of Nikola Tesla, Nolan wanted someone who was not necessarily a film star but was "extraordinarily charismatic". Nolan said that "David Bowie was really the only guy I had in mind to play Tesla because his function in the story is a small but very important role". Nolan contacted Bowie, who initially turned down the part . A lifelong fan, Nolan flew out to New York to pitch the role to Bowie in person, telling him no one else could possibly play the part; Bowie accepted after a few minutes . </Li> <Li> Andy Serkis as Mr. Alley, Tesla's assistant . Serkis said that he played his character with the belief that he was "once a corporation man who got excited by this maverick, Tesla, so jumped ship and went with the maverick". Serkis described his character as a "gatekeeper", a "conman", and "a mirror image of Michael Caine's character ." Serkis, a big fan of Bowie, said that he was enjoyable to work with, describing him as "very unassuming, very down to earth...very at ease with himself and funny ." </Li> <Li> Ricky Jay as Milton the Magician, an older magician who employs Angier and Borden at the beginning of their careers . Jay and Michael Weber trained Jackman and Bale for their roles with brief instruction in various stage illusions . The magicians gave the actors limited information, allowing them to know enough to pull off a scene . </Li> <Li> Roger Rees as Owens, a solicitor working for Lord Caldlow . </Li> <Li> W. Morgan Sheppard as Merrit, the owner of a theatre where Angier initially performs . </Li> <Li> Daniel Davis as the judge presiding over Borden's trial . </Li> </Ul> <Li> Hugh Jackman as Robert Angier (The Great Danton) / Lord Caldlow, an aristocratic magician . After reading the script, Jackman expressed interest in playing the part . Christopher Nolan discovered Jackman's interest, and after meeting him saw that Jackman possessed the qualities of stage showmanship that Nolan was looking for in the role of Angier . Nolan explained that Angier had a "wonderful understanding of the interaction between a performer and a live audience", a quality he believed that Jackman had . Nolan said that Jackman "has the great depth as an actor that hasn't really been explored . People haven't had the chance to really see what he can do as an actor, and this is a character that would let him do that ." Jackman based his portrayal of Angier on 1950s - era American magician Channing Pollock . Jackman also portrays Gerald Root, an alcoholic double used for Angier's New Transported Man . </Li> <Li> Christian Bale as Alfred Borden (The Professor) / Fallon, a working class magician . Christian Bale expressed interest in playing the part and was cast after Jackman . Although Nolan had previously cast Bale as Batman in Batman Begins, he did not consider Bale for the part of Borden until Bale contacted him about the script . Nolan said that Bale was "exactly right" for the part of Borden and that it was "unthinkable" for anyone else to play the part . Nolan suggested that the actors should not read the original novel, but Bale ignored his advice . </Li>

Who plays angier's double in the prestige