 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 . 
