Batman/Bruce Wayne Casting Thread - Part 1

[MadderMaximus]

Those years in his twenties when Bruce was an Instagram thirst trap.

lol

 

[KevTravels]

Gyllenhaal is 37 or almost 37. Amazing that he's been around so long. I thought his career might have been over in 2010 after Prince of Persia flopped. But he rebounded with Source Code/End of Watch/Prisoners/Nightcrawler.

Shame he got snubbed by the GG for Stronger.

 

[KevTravels]

Anson Mount I mean he deserves a 2nd chance at being a superhero considering the failed experiment of him playing Black Bolt in Inhumans but also taking into account his performances like for example in Hell on Wheels he would be perfect for Bruce Wayne/Batman

Or how about Alex O'Loughlin of Hawaii Five O? How has no one suggested him yet

Or how about Nikolaj Coster-Waldau playing Bruce Wayne/Batman?

But if they go younger then either Matt Bomer or Sam Witwer

if these are legit options, they should go for a complete unknown. No way the star of H50 would be cast in this.

Maybe Coster-Waldau for a villain role. Bomer would have been good years ago for Bruce Wayne.

Anson Mount has the look but not the "fame" that WB would look for.

Honestly if they are rebooting then they should beg Jake Gyllenhaal.

 

[MadderMaximus]

lol

I think he rebounds well because he's smart with picking the smaller projects instead of hopping on another attempted blockbuster. Prisoners was damn good, and I've heard good things about Nightcrawler but haven't gotten around to watching it.

 

[MadderMaximus]

Looked up Matt Bomer because his name sounded familiar but didn't click. I recognize him now from The Nice Guys.

Also saw this picture...

He sure can look the part of a younger Bruce.

 

[LaughterLives]

Not even close. Urban is not on Bale's level, and never will be. And Reeves is not on Nolan's level.

He doesn't have to be on Bale's level to play Batman. He wouldn't have to try as hard as Bale did.

When it comes to getting actor's to perform, I think Reeves is totally on Nolan's level. But I don't think Reeves is a great Director overall.

 

[LaughterLives]

Ya, That's Bale.

 

[FatRobin]

Well, to be fair, everything stated is completely subjective. And i'm more a film enthusiast than I am a comic book fan. I happen to be a Batman fan, and like you, I want a great Batman film. We just happen to have different views on how to get there.

You are on the Jake Gyllenhaal hype train and I just can't board it yet. I don't see what you see and vice versa. No one is right or wrong in this forum unless you mention something out there like Danny Devito.

I don't think Bruce Wayne is as deep a character as you are making it out to be. Yes, he has layers, i'm not denying that, but, and you and I disagree here, Affleck did a rather good Bruce Wayne in BvS as did Bale and Keaton (As a more reclusive Wayne)

I respectfully disagree I've been so on the Affleck hype train for the last 2-3 years, but recently I've watched TDKT again and noticed how much more layered and subtle a performance that Bale gave in that role. There was just something in his mannerism and facial expression that Affleck and all the "good actors" out there lack, IMO. I didn't know much about Batman back in 2005 but the moment I saw his performance it just snapped. I immediately understood what the character was all about, and later on when I read the comics it was almost exactly the same. Affleck didn't do that for me, he was just angry and full of vengeance in BvS, which was surely a characteristic of Batman but not all there was about the character.

Sure good actors will be able to carry out what the role and the director require for a movie. But a great actor can give additional layers and dimensions to the character. Hence I don't think Karl Urban would be a great fit. (Plus his face just looks weirdly small for a cowl )

Just my two cents.

 

[LaughterLives]

hahahahaha! You must be high. Karl Urban's face is huge!

 

[FatRobin]

hahahahaha! You must be high. Karl Urban's face is huge!

Spoiler

Looks stubby to me there I dunno.

And he's older than Affleck too. Too many reasons...

 

[Astro13Zombie]

I respectfully disagree I've been so on the Affleck hype train for the last 2-3 years, but recently I've watched TDKT again and noticed how much more layered and subtle a performance that Bale gave in that role.

I just watched through the Nolan trilogy again between yesterday and today and I completely agree.
Snyder/Affleck’s Batman made me appreciate what Nolan and Bale did even more.

 

[LaughterLives]

Hahaha! He clearly has the widest face in that picture.
The size of his face is nearly inhuman. You completely lost me on how you could call that thing small. I thought you were joking until I realized you weren't

Also Affleck is not a good actor. He's good at doing comedy but sucks at everything else. Urban is not nearly as bad.

 

[combocaz]

A younger batman in his 30s i would look at an unknown like ethan peck.

 

[superman-mos]

I like Urban for the role but Hamm being mentioned is kind of cool and intriguing as well. Hamm could realistically step in and continue on without to much of a fuss. He favors Ben to a slight degree however I always thought Hamm was on the short side but looked it up and it says he is 6’1”-6’2”. Not sure how true that is but if so that’s great and he looks like how I picture Bruce in my head.

 

[shauner111]

Urban would be a boring choice. So boring that I wouldn't care about a new release (much like Affleck). I can't believe I didn't see Justice League in a theater. And had more of a curiosity than excitement going into BvS. A lot of that had to do with me not being a fan of Zack Snyder or Joss Whedon, but it also had to do with Ben Affleck.

I like Urban, but it would be more of the same for me. I like Reeves too but I don't LOVE any of his films, so it comes down to who is cast and what Reeves is doing with the character and Gotham. That will determine whether I get excited or not for The Batman. Right now, options like Matt Bomer, Armie Hammer, Karl Urban, Richard Armitage or even some unknown has me bored. I'm always down for a younger, unknown actor but not within this DCEU. It's a toxic shared universe already, and they need a name that gets my heart beating quicker. Affleck and co have left such a boring, negative feeling of zero depth when it comes to story and acting, as well a style over substance mentality. I'm done with it. The only films I'll see in a theater going forward will be Wonder Woman 2 and The Batman (but only if I like what I'm seeing beforehand).

 

[Rodrigo90]

Aidan Turner?

 

[Boom]

Nah, gotta save him for the next James Bond.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Only thing I've seen him in was the Hobbit films. He was okay there but the whole love story with him and the elf just felt so unnecessary. He's supposedly one of the frontrunners for Bond though, isn't he? If so, then he might be good.



Also, the whole thing about Urban being better than Bale makes me laugh. The main reason anyone ever suggests Urban is because of Dredd. And the main reason anyone ever says Bale sucks as Batman is because of his Batman voice. Which is fine, but Urban sounded like he was doing an SNL impression of Bale's Batman voice in Dredd.

 

[Rodrigo90]

He’s a Bond frontrunner? Awesome!

But Craig is back? I’d rather chance for the Bat than wait years for a stab at Bond

 

[KevTravels]

with so many Brits doing roles of our cultural heroes, why not select this the ideal time for an American to debut as Bond

I haven't read anything about Gyllenhaal's take on the rumors. I'm curious if he would legitimately take this.

He was almost Spiderman back in 2004 (taking over for Maguire) and was 1 of the last round choices for Batman in 2005 (he and Joshua Jackson).

 

[Boom]

I haven't read anything about Gyllenhaal's take on the rumors. I'm curious if he would legitimately take this.

I think he would. He's auditioned for the role before, so we know he at least has general interest in the part. It's proven to be a meaty role when in the right hands, so he has plenty to work with as an actor. But there's another incentive for him. Gyllenhaal is one of the best actors working today, but the simple fact of the matter is his films tend to under-perform at the box office. To use a recent example, he absolutely crushed it in Stronger, but the film did remarkably poor financially and he's been a complete non-factor this awards season. His talent is undeniable, but he's struggling to break into "household name" status.

A role like Batman changes that with one press release.

 

[EyesOnly]

He’s a Bond frontrunner? Awesome!

But Craig is back? I’d rather chance for the Bat than wait years for a stab at Bond

It's possible Turner is too old for Bond by the time they're ready for Bond 26.

 

[Rodrigo90]

That could leave him in a chance for Batman, then...

 

[LaughterLives]

Urban would be a boring choice. So boring that I wouldn't care about a new release (much like Affleck). I can't believe I didn't see Justice League in a theater. And had more of a curiosity than excitement going into BvS. A lot of that had to do with me not being a fan of Zack Snyder or Joss Whedon, but it also had to do with Ben Affleck.

I like Urban, but it would be more of the same for me. I like Reeves too but I don't LOVE any of his films, so it comes down to who is cast and what Reeves is doing with the character and Gotham. That will determine whether I get excited or not for The Batman. Right now, options like Matt Bomer, Armie Hammer, Karl Urban, Richard Armitage or even some unknown has me bored. I'm always down for a younger, unknown actor but not within this DCEU. It's a toxic shared universe already, and they need a name that gets my heart beating quicker. Affleck and co have left such a boring, negative feeling of zero depth when it comes to story and acting, as well a style over substance mentality. I'm done with it. The only films I'll see in a theater going forward will be Wonder Woman 2 and The Batman (but only if I like what I'm seeing beforehand).

Urban is not a top pick for me, I'm just saying he could absolutely do it and he's far from a bad pick. Affleck was always a bad pick. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt cuz unlike most, I am actually a Snyder fan and Affleck wasn't terrible as Superman that one time. Snyder was wrong to go with Affleck doh and now we all know it for certain.

I don't love any of Reeves films either outside of Apes, I was actually disappointed in hearing he was the next director for Batman. I wanted a director who can do crime/mystery/horror films very well However, I recognize his ability in getting his actors to perform. That's one thing I rate him for. Also, I see Reeves as a director who continues to consistently improve where I see a director like Nolan doing the opposite since TDKR.
This makes me hopeful that Reeves will make a solid movie.


hahahaha! Ya Bomer, Armitage, and Hammer are all misguided picks but I do think all of them would be better Affleck.
If Wonder Woman 2 doesn't look like a rip off of another Captain America flick then, I'll be interested. The first movie was just as forgettable for me.

Also, the whole thing about Urban being better than Bale makes me laugh. The main reason anyone ever suggests Urban is because of Dredd. And the main reason anyone ever says Bale sucks as Batman is because of his Batman voice. Which is fine, but Urban sounded like he was doing an SNL impression of Bale's Batman voice in Dredd.

Bale was perfect in Begins, He sucked in the sequels and not cuz of his voice but because he wasn't as natural as he was in Begins. In the sequels you can tell he's performing and trying so hard with it that it's almost like he's doing a parody of himself. Its not awful but its also cringe worthy to watch. Especially in the third movie.

Urban looks more natural with it and under the right direction like I said, He's capable of being a Better Batman than Bale. But I don't automatically think he will be.
Urban sounded more like he was doing impression of Snake Plissken. I didn't think Batman once until I read it on boards like these.

 

[Deck Rickard]

with so many Brits doing roles of our cultural heroes, why not select this the ideal time for an American to debut as Bond

I haven't read anything about Gyllenhaal's take on the rumors. I'm curious if he would legitimately take this.

He was almost Spiderman back in 2004 (taking over for Maguire) and was 1 of the last round choices for Batman in 2005 (he and Joshua Jackson).

Yeah, I remember the Spidey thing with him. It’s funny because in those days, he really looked like Tobey. Glad it didn’t happen though; I loved Tobey in the first 2 Spidey films. And even though he was kinda awful in Spider-Man 3, he did provide the internet with some of the best gif material of all time.