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GOTHAM — First it was Batman on Film, and now the Hollywood Reporter claiming they know the short list of actors being considered for the role of Batman in the next “Man of Steel” movie. Names like Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling are being thrown in the mix with some less-well-known names like Max Martini and "Hobbit" star Richard Armitage.
But possibly more interesting than who they want to cast, according to the Hollywood Reporter, is the kind of Bruce Wayne/Batman that Snyder is looking to cast. According to numerous sources, this Wayne/Batman will be in his late 30s or around the 40 mark. He will be established and rugged. This new movie will not seek to recount an origin story or the rise of The Dark Knight. Christian Bale, The Dark Knight trilogy Batman, has said he won't return for another film.”
So realistically, the names being thrown around while the script is still in development are probably nothing more than a fan-boy’s wish list. But we do know from Comic-Con that the description of the next Batman is probably pretty spot-on. And if we’re just going to throw around names of middle-aged actors we’d like to see step in, ready to clean up the streets of Gotham and hopefully give Superman a quick kick to the chops in the process, well, John Clyde and Travis Poppleton are always up for that.
#poll1
#poll2
Here are nine actors we mostly disagree on but who would otherwise be great as the next Dark Knight.
John’s picks:
John: An older Batman is going to be worn, jaded and tough as nails, and no one fits that description better than Josh Brolin.
Brolin is a proven actor, and he has the physicality and look to pull off a matured and seasoned Batman/Bruce Wayne.
Brolin’s biggest downside to me is his height. He’s only 5 foot 10, but movie magic could work around that.
Travis: I didn’t add Brolin to my list only because he’s already been mentioned by the original Batman on Film article and later by the Hollywood Reporter. But the truth is, I totally agree with John here, the studios are interested, and most feedback around the Web is positive. As far as solid, proven choices go, Josh is definitely an easy pick. Christian Bale was a fan favorite going into “Batman Begins,” and I think the fans would be right again with Mr. Brolin.
John: Fassbender isn’t as old as Brolin, but he looks more mature than 36. We know he can play a superhero, he’s Magneto for crying out loud, and the man can act.
He can dump the Irish accent, and I can’t think of an actor who better fits the mold of the smartest detective on the planet.
Fassbender would be an amazing choice for the weathered Batman, but with his busy schedule, it doesn’t seem likely.
Travis: I wouldn’t be upset if Fassbender landed the role of Gotham’s Dark Knight. I can see him doing a great job, and I think Ian McKellen is the definitive Magneto, so it shouldn’t be terribly hard to suspend any, “Hey isn’t that Magneto?” thoughts that might race through my head as he flies around Gotham.
But in this context, Fassbender just seems like an afterthought. His name seems to come up for any middle-aged, white, semi-grumpy lead, which makes him a pretty generic choice in my opinion. And on that note, there’s a reason McKellen is the definitive Magneto, and it isn’t just that he came first. I’d like to see the next Batman redefine the role as opposed to just take it over.
#poll3
John: We always knew Pearce was an incredible actor, but we now know he can take on superheroes head on, considering he fought valiantly against Iron Man this summer.
Pearce captures the look of a billionaire playboy who is tortured, beaten and bruised. His charm and wit would give us a new kind of Batman, and his acting ability would rival any who have donned the cape and cowl.
Travis: In general, I’m pro-Guy Pearce, and like my comments on Fassbender, I’m sure he’d do a fine job. But like Fassbender, it’s just not a choice that I think adds anything to the character. Casting Pearce would really just be a continuation of what Christian Bale already established, in which case, why not just pay Bale a few more bucks and have him come back.
If DC is going through the trouble of reimagining Batman, then I think you need to avoid casting someone who is probably regularly up for many of the same roles as your last Batman.
Then again, if the world isn’t ready to move on, bring on Mr. Pearce.
John: You want something new and different to the role, Travis? Try this pick on for size.
This could be the shot in the arm a Justice League movie needs. Put aside race and just look at sheer star power.
Washington is one of the most consistent stars in Hollywood, and his performances are always spot on. Washington brings a maturity and intensity to the role that pretty much no other actor could.
He’s a physical presence that we could see battling Henry Cavill and eventually mentoring him. That’s an assumption I’m making, but I think it’s a fair one.
The two-time Academy Award winner would be a totally unexpected choice for the retired Dark Knight, and that’s exactly what DC needs to do, surprise us.
Travis: I really want to like this choice of John’s, but I just can’t get there. Every time I picture Washington saying a classic Batman line, or even the famous “Dark Knight Returns” line that was read at Comic-Con, I just shake my head. Denzel Washington is a fine actor, and he does action really well, but he’s not Batman and he’s not Bruce Wayne. I don’t know, maybe I just can’t get Jay Pharoah’s Washington impersonation out of my brain. With all that said, I was totally wrong on Heath Ledger playing the Joker, and I’d happily be proven that wrong again.
Travis’ picks
Travis: Matthew McConaughey is a pretty straightforward choice, in my opinion. I don’t see anyone else on this list that pulls off billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne as easily as McConaughey. And as for Batman — the projects McConaughey’s been working on lately prove there’s a terrifying dark side to the actor that will transfer to shadowy vigilante with a generous amount of credibility.
I know it’s easy to scoff at his romantic comedy history, but if we look at the man post-“Ghost of Girlfriend’s Past,” I think he deserves a look. I’m also fairly confident Lois Lane would agree.
John: Despite some bad choices, I've always been a McConaughey fan. His performance in "A Time to Kill" should always stand as a testate to his acting ability. I also believe that "Mud" is the best movie of 2013 and McConaughey's performance in the title role is nothing short of amazing.
With that said, is he capable of dumping the Southern drawl? If he is, I say let him be Batman, if not, I just can't swallow that pill.
Travis: In some ways, Batman is just James Bond without the license, so I don’t think saying Daniel Craig would be a great Batman and Bruce Wayne is taking much of a leap at all. He lands in the age they’re looking for, I’m convinced Henry Cavill would be too afraid to fight him, and he’s already accustomed to the amount of physical work it takes to command a role like Bond and Wayne. I concede that this might be a little too on the nose, but while we’re outsourcing all of our superheroes, Craig’s a fine actor who should be definitely considered.
John: So Travis tells me Fassbender and Pearce are too obvious for the role and then throws out Craig? Pretty weak move, T.
I really like Craig, and I think he'd do a fantastic job, but I want something a little different.
Travis: What Batman fan wouldn’t want to see Keaton reprise his role as an older, retired caped crusader (I’m sure I’ll find out in the comments). If Bale isn’t going to come out of Batman retirement for this role, casting Keaton would be kind of brilliant.
Look, all the current rumors are suggesting Batman has been around in this new “Man of Steel” universe, and he’s ironing the cape again after a long hiatus. If that’s true, Keaton immediately sells that by association. Even if you drop the Burton universe, you still make a lot of fans smile, and Keaton has proven himself as Gotham’s Dark Knight.
It won’t happen, but it should. And when it doesn’t, they should consider him for an older, semi-retired Joker.
John: I like the nostalgia and nod to Batman history with this choice. I don't really think Keaton is the best choice, but he is the most fun choice. He may be a bit older than the filmmakers are wanting, but it could make for a fun two hours at the theater.
Travis: Paul Rudd is my Keaton backup. I still really love the idea of a totally unhinged, possibly crazy-but-more-often-than-not-chooses-good vigilante in Gotham. The idea that Batman and the Joker are two sides of a coin is a really compelling way to sell the Bruce Wayne character, in my opinion.
Keaton nailed this in Burton’s Batman, and I think Rudd could really be the 2.0 version of Keaton in this series. It’s an element they dropped in Nolan’s Batman universe, and I’d love to see it come back with the stories David Goyer is currently developing.
John: I am a Paul Rudd fan, but at first it crossed my mind to slap Travis across the face for this. Then, I remembered how odd it was to cast "Mr. Mom" as Batman, but how awesome that turned out.
Rudd would have to bulk up and drop some of the charm, but if he can find that darkness and sprinkle in that wit, he'd be a gamble, but one that could really pay off.
Travis and John agree
John: Schreiber has a lot going for him when it comes to playing Batman. He’s a physical force, he’s an incredible actor, he’s the right age and he already has a Batman voice, he doesn’t need to fake it.
Schreiber has played myriad characters, but his latest role on the Showtime series “Ray Donovan” proves he has the physicality and brutal nature one needs to be the Caped Crusader.
Travis: I was locked up in a hotel this weekend, flipping channels, and moments away from talking myself into the hotel gym when I landed on Showtime’s “Ray Donovan.” Five minutes before that happenstance, I would have told you Schreiber was a terrible choice for Batman. After finishing the episode, I’m still not sure how well he’d pull off Bruce Wayne, but I have absolute faith in his Batman abilities. If Schreiber gets the opportunity, I’m someone who will not hold “Salt” or “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” against him. Travis Poppleton has been writing film reviews and movie news for Deseret News and KSL.com since 2010, and continues to contribute coverage for film festival and other live events in Utah. You can contact him at tspoppleton@gmail.com.
