Before returning to the Batman franchise for a sequel, Nolan directed, co-wrote, and produced "The Prestige" (2006), an adaptation of the Christopher Priest novel about two rival 19th-century magicians. The screenplay was the result of an intermittent, five-year collaboration between him and his brother Jonathan, who had begun writing it already in 2001. Nolan initially intended to make the film as early as 2003, but had postponed the project after agreeing to make "Batman Begins". Starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale in the lead roles, "The Prestige" received critical acclaim and earned over $109million worldwide. Roger Ebert described it as "quite a movieatmospheric, obsessive, almost satanic", and Kenneth Turan of the "Los Angeles Times" called it an "ambitious, unnerving melodrama". Philip French wrote in his review for "The Guardian": "In addition to the intellectual or philosophical excitement it engenders, "The Prestige" is gripping, suspenseful, mysterious, moving and often darkly funny." "The Prestige" also received Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Art Direction.