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