Who Would You Have Cast As Rachel?

[Cunning Stunts]

Katie bombed her performance in Batman Begins, and Maggie Gyllenhaal was a pretty good replacement in The Dark Knight... But let's pretend Katie was never cast in the first place, thus likely barring the need for a re-cast, who would you have put in Katie Holmes's place?

I'm curious to hear new names, to let's avoid the "I'd keep Katie" or "I'd have cast Maggie in BB" answers.

[Fenrir]

There isn't much to the role to think of alternative casting suggestions. Any decent actress could've handled it effortlessly.

[Franklin Richards]

How bout Evangeline Lilly?


Just off the top of my head.



:thing: :doom: :thing:

[Cunning Stunts]

There isn't much to the role to think of alternative casting suggestions. Any decent actress could've handled it effortlessly.

I definitely agree, given the way it was written. I mean this in the context of a more well thought-out, less plot-device ridden Rachel.

[Crook]

Amy Adams.

[animexcel]

Jennifer Aniston.

[SuperFerret]

Jennifer Aniston.

:whatever: I thought the '90's were over.

[michephantom]

...me

[Paradoxium]

Rachel was suppose to be older than Bruce (cited in the script IIRC). Holmes did not have that air of maturity (lack of better words) to pull it off.

I've always maintained that someone like Jennifer Connolly would be a more convincing casting choice. And this was before Holmes was cast. At least that was the voice I got when reading the script.

[nathaniel]

How bout Evangeline Lilly?


Just off the top of my head.



:thing: :doom: :thing:

Thats actually a good choice not to model like pretty but good looking enough and a good actress Maggie G is a great actress but just didnt seem like someone bruce would give it all up for in TDK she looked and acted more best freind material.

[Deaths Head II]

No one. I would not have made up a love interest for Batman. I do not feel it is needed, especially seeing as Rachel was the weakest link in both films.

If there was no way to avoid Rachel, I would pick Jennifer Connolly. I didn't actually think of her until Parodoxium mentioned her. Some nice casting there. Even if I don't like Rachel, I wouldn't say no to seeing Connolly on screen.

[nathaniel]

No one. I would not have made up a love interest for Batman. I do not feel it is needed, especially seeing as Rachel was the weakest link in both films.

If there was no way to avoid Rachel, I would pick Jennifer Connolly. I didn't actually think of her until Parodoxium mentioned her. Some nice casting there. Even if I don't like Rachel, I wouldn't say no to seeing Connolly on screen.

Its the way of most media to create love interests even in superhero flicks sometimes its perfectly natural and canon such as Cyclops and Jean Grey or Reed and Sue richards so its understanderble but i agree i dont really want it in a batfilm except maybe the teasing relationship with Catwoman which was done perfectly in Batman Returns.

[maveholic31]

Rachel was suppose to be older than Bruce (cited in the script IIRC). Holmes did not have that air of maturity (lack of better words) to pull it off.

I've always maintained that someone like Jennifer Connolly would be a more convincing casting choice. And this was before Holmes was cast. At least that was the voice I got when reading the script.

i totally agree with you, when the begins script was leaked I immediately imagined Connelly as Rachel, although that character wouldve been weak with anyone.

[Jonathan Crane]

Rachel McAdams. She's very good actress and would be very good Rachel.

[Doctor Jones]

McAdams could really play alot of comic book ladies. Rachel, Lois Lane, Mary Jane, either one of those I would of been happy with.

[Silverglade]

I really like how Maggie did Rachel. I could give many instances as examples, but her work while trapped in the warehouse tied to the bombs was perfection. She also looked amazing at the dinner scene with Bruce, Harvey, and Natasha. She brought such maturity to the role. Makes Katie in BB look horribly miscast. Maggie delivered the goods and I am proud of her and like seeing her in TDK as I watch it repeatedly.

[Cunning Stunts]

Honestly, I think Rachel was created with her death in Nolan's mind. I think characters would have been more angry to see such a legendary and historical love interest get blown away, so Rachel was created, expanded on, and when we started to really feel close to her, killed.

Overall, I think it was perfect manipulation by Nolan.

[Crook]

Too bad the audience never really connected with her. :o

[Cunning Stunts]

I began to like her a lot more in TDK. In BB, I didn't care for her much at all.

[Crook]

That's the problem, since much of Rachel's core is present in BB. TDK was more of a continuation, very little was actually explored.

To be frank, I didn't really like Katie nor Maggie.

[Cunning Stunts]

That's the problem, since much of Rachel's core is present in BB. TDK was more of a continuation, very little was actually explored.

To be frank, I didn't really like Katie nor Maggie.

All in all, yes, I'm glad the character is gone, as I think her impact is felt much more as the "lost love" than the object of affection Batman is trying to give his job up for.

[RachelDawes]

Honestly, I think Rachel was created with her death in Nolan's mind. I think characters would have been more angry to see such a legendary and historical love interest get blown away, so Rachel was created, expanded on, and when we started to really feel close to her, killed.

I think you're right about Rachel being a disposable love interest in a way that a more established character wouldn't be. Anna Ramirez was created under similar circumstances because Renee Montoya couldn't be a corrupt cop.

I began to like her a lot more in TDK. In BB, I didn't care for her much at all.

Same here, hence my username. :woot:

[p4poetic]

Apparently she's based off of Rachel Caspian from Batman: Year Two.

Just any actress who looks older, the appropriate age. I have to believe she looks like she grew up with Bruce since childhood. In the flashback scenes somehow Bale managed to look younger. Holmes looked way too young. Maggie looked too much like Kirsten Dunst, therefore too much like Mary Jane Watson with a different hair color.

[Cunning Stunts]

I think you're right about Rachel being a disposable love interest in a way that a more established character wouldn't be. Anna Ramirez was created under similar circumstances because Renee Montoya couldn't be a corrupt cop.



Same here, hence my username. :woot:

I generally hate disposable characters, but I think Nolan did it quite masterfully. I think these characters were placed in quite well (Ramirez, Wuertz, Dawes, etc.).

[drunkhomer]

Rachel McAdams

[Shoemeister]

McAdams could really play alot of comic book ladies. Rachel, Lois Lane, Mary Jane, either one of those I would of been happy with.

True story. She's fantastic.

Still, I think Maggie did a wonderful job in TDK. Certainly brought way more to the table than Mrs. Cruise.

[Two-Face]

Natalie Portman or Rachel McAdams been good choices but I'm happy with Maggie G as Rachel Dawes

[RachelDawes]

I generally hate disposable characters, but I think Nolan did it quite masterfully. I think these characters were placed in quite well (Ramirez, Wuertz, Dawes, etc.).

I actually don't mind new, possibly disposable characters being introduced outside the comics. It gives the writers a little more creative freedom and creates some mystery for the audience since we can't predict what will happen with the characters. Every once in a while a new character actually becomes popular and is added to the Batman mythos. I think Harley Quinn and Montoya were inventions of BTAS, for example.

[Doc Samson]

Honestly, Katie Holmes. I know it's not the popular choice, but IMO, especially for these type of roles, it isn't so much about how old the woman is (even though Katie looked too young & Maggie too old) or who's the better actress, its about the chemistry. Katie Holmes had, if nothing else, real chemistry with Bale.

I remember Katie saying she was attracted to Bale, so perhaps Tom put the brakes on her coming back in TDK :cwink:. Whatever the case, I didn't feel any kind of connection between Maggie & Bale and ultimately, it affected the emotional attachment towards certain scenes, at least for me it did. Just like Kirsten Dunst or Liv Tyler, I feel it doesn't matter as much about who has the acting chops, but the chemistry, and with Maggie I certainly didn't feel it. IF Catwoman pops up in the next film, I hope they take that into consideration...

[RachelDawes]

Honestly, Katie Holmes. I know it's not the popular choice, but IMO, especially for these type of roles, it isn't so much about how old the woman is (even though Katie looked too young & Maggie too old) or who's the better actress, its about the chemistry. Katie Holmes had, if nothing else, real chemistry with Bale.

I remember Katie saying she was attracted to Bale, so perhaps Tom put the brakes on her coming back in TDK :cwink:.

I didn't think they had much chemistry and can't imagine Bale and Holmes together in real life at all. :lmao:

Whatever the case, I didn't feel any kind of connection between Maggie & Bale and ultimately, it affected the emotional attachment towards certain scenes, at least for me it did. Just like Kirsten Dunst or Liv Tyler, I feel it doesn't matter as much about who has the acting chops, but the chemistry, and with Maggie I certainly didn't feel it. IF Catwoman pops up in the next film, I hope they take that into consideration...

Can you imagine watching a 2.5 hour movie about Batman and Catwoman and not believing for one second the two have feelings for one another? I think we're going to get Catwoman in BB3 and chemistry's what's got me most nervous.

[p4poetic]

McAdams could really play alot of comic book ladies. Rachel, Lois Lane, Mary Jane, either one of those I would of been happy with.

Rachael - Maybe
Mary Jane - Yes
Lois Lane - No
Vicki Vale - Maybe

[ross2287]

I would have had young Rachel be Tommy Elliot and older Rachel be Harvey Dent.
Who needs love interests. :oldrazz:

I'm only be partially facetious.

[Doc Samson]

I didn't think they had much chemistry and can't imagine Bale and Holmes together in real life at all. :lmao:

Lol, well she said it, not me. But honestly, I could see them together alot more than him & Maggie. Did you really get any kind of spark between them in any of their scenes? I know I didn't, but in BB, it seemed like these were two people who had a genuine relationship of some sort, especially in the Hotel scene when he sees her after his return & the ending when he's sealing the cave hole. Just those two scenes easily beat anything that happened in TDK between the two characters, at least IMO.

Can you imagine watching a 2.5 hour movie about Batman and Catwoman and not believing for one second the two have feelings for one another? I think we're going to get Catwoman in BB3 and chemistry's what's got me most nervous.

No I can't imagine it, and hopefully none of us will have to endure it, because it will be completely impossible to swallow, considering that this Batman has at least some of his morals in common with that of the comic book. Add to that the level of "grounded realism" Nolan uses, and it'll be a hard sell having this Batman running around with a criminal, no matter how sexy she is...

[Travesty]

All in all, yes, I'm glad the character is gone, as I think her impact is felt much more as the "lost love" than the object of affection Batman is trying to give his job up for.
I agree. And to me, is one thing I hated about TDK. I felt like it was just Bruce Wayne whining the whole time about being Batman. It just seemed that Bruce wanted nothing more then to take the cape off, so he could be with his girl.:whatever:

[RachelDawes]

Lol, well she said it, not me.

Yes, the :lmao: was directed at Katie, not you. :cwink:

But honestly, I could see them together alot more than him & Maggie. Did you really get any kind of spark between them in any of their scenes? I know I didn't, but in BB, it seemed like these were two people who had a genuine relationship of some sort, especially in the Hotel scene when he sees her after his return & the ending when he's sealing the cave hole. Just those two scenes easily beat anything that happened in TDK between the two characters, at least IMO.

Eh, I think Katie and Bale tried to project feelings for one another in BB, but they weren't quite believable. Katie seemed too young and preachy for him and she didn't come off as an ADA at all. There weren't too many romantic scenes in TDK between Rachel and Bruce, but the movie didn't have time for that and BB had already set up their feelings for one another. I thought Maggie made Rachel more likable, which was crucial for me in buying into their relationship and Bruce's sorrow at her death.

No I can't imagine it, and hopefully none of us will have to endure it, because it will be completely impossible to swallow, considering that this Batman has at least some of his morals in common with that of the comic book. Add to that the level of "grounded realism" Nolan uses, and it'll be a hard sell having this Batman running around with a criminal, no matter how sexy she is...

I can't see him "running around" with her, but could see Batman becoming infatuated with Catwoman. He's only human, after all. Maybe Nolan could have Batman repeatedly chase Catwoman but let her get away (perhaps subconsciously) at the last second.

[dogwonder78]

I don't think Maggie was a good pick either...I can't think of someone who would have been perfect, but Katie and Maggie just didn't do it for me.

[Spider-Fan83]

Interesting that most of the suggestions, basically still fit same mold (looks wise) as Holmes

I am the only one who wouldn't of minded them going alil more ethnic with the role
(since it was a made up character, she didn't have a set look to be based on)
most of the female characters, especially lover interests, from the comics aren't very diverse

on that note, I was thinking maybe...
Rosario Dawson


Edit: though, with her being one of the servant's daughter, it could of possibly been seen as a tad racist

[Bruce Stark]

McAdams could really play alot of comic book ladies. Rachel, Lois Lane, Mary Jane, either one of those I would of been happy with.
:up:

[Eggyman]

I wouldn't have cast her. I would've chopped that b**** out of the script. My favourite scene was her getting blown to bits. Such a dull character that has generated probably the most negativity for this franchise.

I didn't like her in BB... I didn't like her in TDK. She was a pain in the arse. She served a purpose, but there are other characters that would/could fulfill that purpose better and with more charm.

Would've been more satisfying to see Holmes get blown to pieces, but either way, I'm glad she's dead.

[RachelDawes]

I wouldn't have cast her. I would've chopped that b**** out of the script. My favourite scene was her getting blown to bits. Such a dull character that has generated probably the most negativity for this franchise.

I didn't like her in BB... I didn't like her in TDK. She was a pain in the arse. She served a purpose, but there are other characters that would/could fulfill that purpose better and with more charm.

Would've been more satisfying to see Holmes get blown to pieces, but either way, I'm glad she's dead.

This whole post made me :cmad: so much! Did you even consider how that might make me feel before you wrote that?






JK :cwink: