Brolin for Batman?

The next Dark Knight?

In my previous post on this blog I looked at various actors who had been linked to the role of Batman. Not on that list was Josh Brolin. And now he's the early favourite for the role. It's far to say then that Hollywood doesn't pay all that much attention to me and this blog. So why didn't I consider Brolin for the role of Bruce Wayne? To put it simply, I didn't even consider him because of his age. Not that I think he'd make a a poor Batman, I don't, I just didn't think Warner Bros and DC were looking for an older Batman and for that reason I ruled Jon Hamm out of contention for the role too. Despite all of the talk at Comic-Coc and since about using The Dark Knight Returns as inspiration for Batman vs Superman, I just didn't see the studio going with an older Batman when they wanted to kick off a new DC film universe. If the reports of an older actor being cast as Batman are true, then he'd be a very good option to play the Caped Crusader. Below are some thoughts on the possible casting of Josh Brolin as Batman.

The look
There's no doubt that Brolin would easily be able to pull off both the look of the billionaire playboy in a smart suit and the crime fighting Dark Knight. He has the good looks and authoritative air of an important comic book business man and could add real depth to the character with his undisputed acting abilities. He also has a strong chin and would no doubt look good in a Batsuit and cowl. There is a slight issue with his height as he stands at under six feet and while not small, he might need the help of some good boots in order to stand toe to toe with Henry Cavill

His Bruce Wayne
As mentioned above there is little doubt over Brolin's acting skills and he would make a very believable billionaire crime fighter. The role of Bruce Wayne is of course a duel one (not including Batman) which sees a big difference between the public image of Bruce the businessman and the darker, brooding Bruce who sits behind the back computer each night examining finger prints and adding new items to his bat belt. His Bruce Wayne the businessman would be an assured and confident figure who would be well used to the fine arts of big business and Brolin can would easily convince in that rile. How this Bruce Wayne would interact with Clark Kent and possibly Lex Luther would be very interesting indeed. His boardroom power struggles with Lex would add a new edge to the Bruce Wayne character and Bruce using his financial resources to attack Clark would again be another way to shape this character in a way different from Nolan's trilogy. Brolan's Bruce Wayne behinds closed door would be a dark, solitary figure who would still feel motivated from his childhood pain to continue with his superhero alter ego but would have the years of experience behind him to know how and when to pick his fights. Brolin proved in No Country for Old Men that he can play the wounded loner very well and we could expect a complex man behind the batsuit if Brolin is picked.



Brolin as Batman*

His Batman
Any issues with height are minor ones as the Batsuit and the above mentioned pair of good boots will give Brolin any extra height he needs to convince as the imposing figure of the Dark Knight. Brolin has handled physical roles in the past with little problems and he will no doubt get into the shape of his life if cast in the Man of Steel sequel. Due to his lack of superpowers when fighting gods like Superman, this incarnation of Batman will have to increasingly rely on his experience as a fighter, his vast detective skills and his many gadgets in order to win the day. This Batman may have been used to physically dominating enemies before the arrival of Superman and other super powered foes and how he learns to counter-act this big disadvantage could be one of the most interesting aspects of the new set of films. And combining this with how Bruce Wayne will use his vast wealth and his detective skills to find out the secret identity of Superman and how best to defeat him will a great deal to the dynamic between the two heroes which will no doubt evolve as the series of films go on. This older, more experienced and less naive crime fighter might be the perfect foil for the younger Superman and how Cavill portrays his Superman learning from Batman and challenging his authority may prove a unique hook for the film.

Other thoughts
If Josh Brolin is cast then he'll be 46 when filming starts next year and near 50 when the proposed Justice League film hits the cinemas. And while he would still be able to handle the role physically, there might be an issue for an actor such as Brolin to play a superhero character into his 50s. The issue of recasting yet again so quickly might be an issue for Warner Bros and they will no doubt want a Batman who will be around for a good few years after 2015 when Man of Steel 2 opens in cinemas. A big positive for Brolin is his working relationship with Warner Bros which would appear to be excellent, with the star appearing in a number of films for the studio over the last few years, including comic book adaptation flop Jonah Hex and Gangster Squad. Clearly he's a man liked over there and one who the studio continue to have faith with even with past box office failings to his name. He would seem to be the ideal actor to take an already established, experienced and middle aged Batman and place him firmly into the world of the Man of Steel. Whether he'll be the next Dark Knight though, only time will tell.

*picture credit
 http://poumap.deviantart.com/art/Josh-Brolin-as-Batman-363897428

World's Finest: Who should be the next Batman?

The World's Finest logo unveiled at Comic-Con

Batman and Superman are finally going to appear on film together. That's essentially the headline news from Warner Brothers and DC at this year's Comic-Con in California. The film will be a sequel to Man of Steel and will set the World's Finest squarely in the universe that is established in Zack Snyder's first film/ This means much of the same cast set to return from the first film, Henry Cavill as Superman included. Zack will once again direct and it would appear to be involved in the writing process alongside David Goyer who penned the first film. What's not been mentioned yet is who will play Batman. And the casting choice could play a huge part in weather the film will be a success or not, both creatively and financially. If you're going to make a buddy superhero film about the two most famous superheroes, then you better get the right man in to play Batman. Henry Cavill seems to have got the all clear from audiences and critics alike for his portrayal of Clark Kent and there is little doubt he will continue on in the role for at least a couple more films. But what of the Dark Knight?

Many would say (myself included) that we don't need another film about Batman. We've only just finished a trilogy of films by Chris Nolan featuring Christian Bale as Gotham's saviour. Sometimes you just need to let a character rest for a while. With a release date of 2015 for the Man of Steel sequel (don't be shocked if that is pushed back to 2016), there will only be three years between the end of one Batman series and the start of another. That seems too quick for me and it may prove very hard for any actor to replace Christian Bale in such a short time period. Will audiences accept someone else  so quickly? Only time will tell. So what options are available to Snyder, Warner Brothers and DC? Below I've gone over a few of the names that have been linked to the role of the Bruce Wayne in the past and will no doubt be linked again. Of course it's entirely possible that none of these men will get the role but hey, it's fun to speculate.

Who shouldn't/won't play Batman in the Man of Steel sequel:

Christian Bale
It's best I just make this point quickly and move on. Christian Bale doesn't want to come back (or at least not without Chris Nolan directing) so it's very unlikely we will see him don the black cowl again. Which for me is a good thing. As far as I'm concerned Christian Bale is the Batman of the big screen. For my generation he is what we think of when we see someone wearing the Bat suit (well apart from Kevin Conroy). But there is no need for him to return. He and Warner Brothers should accept that his trilogy is a stand alone set of films and shouldn't be brought into this new DC universe. And they couldn't put Bale in the role of Batman within the Man of Steel universe and let this Dark Knight have a different back story to the one we've seen over the past few years. That would just be too confusing.So we need a new Batman (well we don't since we're getting one we better pick a new actor).

Armie Hammer

Great name. Excellent jaw line. Very good in The Social Network. But he's not right to be the next Batman, at least for me. In many ways he is the perfect choice. Young, good looking, tall and with an excellent physical build. However his name has been attached to previous DC projects that have fallen through (he was set to play Batman in a Justice League film that was never made) and he has recently talked openly about his reservations on how DC could match Marvel and release a successful group film and this would point towards the ship sailing on him being the new Dark Knight. Combine that with his recent box office failings with the Lone Ranger and mixed reviews for his performance in J. Edgar and it seems increasingly unlikely that Armie will be the next caped crusader. But you just never know.

Jon Hamm

As a massive Mad Men fan, I can confirm that Jon Hamm is the man. Not only has he helped to create one of the coolest characters ever on the small screen in Don Draper, but he's also helped to tear that character down & show the many mental fractures that scar a successful business with a troubled past. So really, he should be perfect to play Batman. And in different circumstances he would be. However Jon will be 44 when the film gets made & while still in great shape, Warner Brothers are likely to want a younger actor to play Batman. With a Justice League film set for 2017, it seems likely that Warner Brothers & DC will go for a younger man to play opposite Cavill. If this really was an adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns then he might have been perfect. As it is, it seems unlikely.

Ryan Gosling 
I just can't see this one happening. An actor who has earned very impressive reviews over the past few years and with a broad appeal with both sexes due to playing a variety of roles, he could make a physically impressive & darkly brooding Bruce Wayne who would be a hit at the box office. But here's the thing, he simply won't tale the role. Gosling has been very public in his refusal to be drawn into big mainstream Hollywood films & this just doesn't seem on the cards. He also recently announced he will be moving away from being in front of the camera and work is well under way on his directing debut How to Catch a Monster. This would all point towards Gosling not being the man to play Batman or any other superhero.


Michael Fassbender

A fantastic actor who fits the bill in every way possible. Except, like Gosling, he is unlikely to accept the role, especially as he is set to star and produce in the adaptation of Assassin’s Creed which is set for release in 2015, the same year as the Man of Steel sequel. Fassbender has built an impressive career around dark and tortured characters and while not a massive name, much like Bale before Batman Begins, he's a true actor who can transform himself for the role needed. He would provide the perfect foil for Cavill's headstrong young Superman and could provide depth to a character who will struggle to get the kind of extensive back story that Bale enjoyed as Bruce Wayne. If Warner Brothers were able to get him on board, he would be an astute choice.


Who I'd select for Batman (from the likely available options)

Joe Manganiello

Manganiello is impossibly good looking and is a fine actor in his own right, to me he should be the next Batman. While he may not have the critical acclaim of a Gosling or a Fassbender, he has a solid acting career behind him that includes appearing in two of the original Spider-Man films and has shown good comic and dramatic skills in a variety of roles on both TV and film. He's 6'5, in fantastic physical shape, a very big comic book fan and would provide his own unique and interesting take on the role of Batman. He had previously been linked to play Superman before Cavill got the role and he would seem a great choice to play opposite Clark Kent in the upcoming film. Some may question casting a relatively low profile actor as Batman, but for me that is not a negative. After all this is a new take on the character of Batman, it would be set in a different DC universe to the one built by Nolan in his Dark Knight series and I believe Manganiello could carve out his own Bruce Wayne over the course of future DC movies.

So that's my thoughts on who should play the next Batman. With so many details about the film up in the air, it's impossible to know right now which direction Warner Brothers and DC will go in for the Man of Steel sequel. With a Flash film set for 2016 and a Justice League film set for 2017, there would appear a lot of work available for whoever gets cast as Bruce Wayne and the tone and style of the next film may have a big impact on those future films. If we really do need a new Batman film and if it does have to be directed by Zack Snyder, then I think Joe Manganiello would be the perfect choice.