Batman/Bruce Wayne Casting Thread - Part 5

[Marvel united]

Hammer went from paying a KGB agent to a frat bisexual lonely guy to playing an evil CEO psychopath with entirely different mannierisms for each one of those characters.

He played the KGB and Bisexual agent with the same mannerisms. I've never seen him as the Psychopathic CEO. What movie was that?

I'd like to see Hammer play against type like O'Brien. All of his performances that I've seen are too similar to each other

 

[Invader Joker]

You want an example of an actor that looks identical to the part but would really, really suck in the rol? ATJ is your guy.

 

[TheVileOne]

You want an example of an actor that looks identical to the part but would really, really suck in the rol? ATJ is your guy.

I mean, nothing about his look says Batman/Bruce Wayne IMO.

 

[Aximili86]

Dylan O'Brien as in..the Maze Runner kid? Are people actually serious with that?

Whoa. Hoult over that dude any day of the week. Hoult's not right for it either, but dayyyum.

O'Brien might work as a 25 year old Robin or whatever, but...

 

[Invader Joker]

He played the KGB and Bisexual agent with the same mannerisms. I've never seen him as the Psychopathic CEO. What movie was that?

I'd like to see Hammer play against type like O'Brien. All of his performances that I've seen are too similar to each other

Sorry to Bother You. He only appears in the third act but he steals the scenes in which he's in.

 

[Invader Joker]

Yeah, we've already seen ATJ attempting to play a stoic character before... and he sucked.

And don't bring up that whole "but if he was in a better movie." in his case it doesn't apply, Godzilla wasn't great but it was competent enough that a good actor could've been compelling in the role. The same can't be said for Twilight or The Lone Ranger.

 

[Jekecy]

Sorry to Bother You. He only appears in the third act but he steals the scenes in which he's in.

That's the performance that cooled me on campaigning for him. It's the umpteenth role playing "that guy". Yes his words and the context of his scenes are completely insane, but the actual performance itself is not unlike his previous turns as an affluent, well-spoken white man. It truly made me question whether his range is far reaching (Man from UNCLE notwithstanding). I haven't seen his two most recent films so things may have turned around. But right now until Reeves gives his vouching, I'm more cautiously optimistic of his abilities for the part.

 

[flickchick85]

It's the umpteenth role playing "that guy". Yes his words and the context of his scenes are completely insane, but the actual performance itself is not unlike his previous turns as an affluent, well-spoken white man.

Yep. There's zero range in intensity to this guy, y'all. Even when playing "a psychopathic CEO" he's still the same as all the other roles he's played.

 

[Invader Joker]

That's the performance that cooled me on campaigning for him. It's the umpteenth role playing "that guy". Yes his words and the context of his scenes are completely insane, but the actual performance itself is not unlike his previous turns as an affluent, well-spoken white man. It truly made me question whether his range is far reaching (Man from UNCLE notwithstanding). I haven't seen his two most recent films so things may have turned around. But right now until Reeves gives his vouching, I'm more cautiously optimistic of his abilities for the part.

I mean... Bruce Wayne is an affluent, well-spoken white man.
I'm not gonna argue he's the greatest actor chamaleon in the world, he's not, but he's cut from a certain cloth that could be right for Bruce Wayne specifically.

The problem would be thatt we've never seen him play a character like Batman... but then again, he's never been cast as a character like Batman except for the time he was cast as Batman.

 

[Invader Joker]

A similar thing happened to Kevin Conroy only in voice acting. (Although I feel that if he had continued as a live action actor he'd have had the same fate as Hammer) The only character he can play is Batman and Bruce Wayne, that's it, that's why he's not on anything else.

 

[Marvel united]

That's the performance that cooled me on campaigning for him. It's the umpteenth role playing "that guy". Yes his words and the context of his scenes are completely insane, but the actual performance itself is not unlike his previous turns as an affluent, well-spoken white man. It truly made me question whether his range is far reaching (Man from UNCLE notwithstanding). I haven't seen his two most recent films so things may have turned around. But right now until Reeves gives his vouching, I'm more cautiously optimistic of his abilities for the part.

Uhhh, yeah. There aren't many clips of him from 'Sorry To Bother You' But I came back to say something similar. There's a featurette of him in the movie and he's again playing the role with the same qualities as his character in Social Network and Call Me By Your Name.

What I mean to say is, all of these characters feel like the same person at different stages of life. Compare Hoult as Hank McCoy to Hoult as Nux in Mad Max. Radically different performances.

We're talking about range and that's one of the hallmarks of being a great actor. If Dylan O'Brien can transform himself and his image as teen heartthrob/pretty boy for a role like American Assasin, I can see him going places in the future.

 

[Jekecy]

I mean... Bruce Wayne is an affluent, well-spoken white man.
I'm not gonna argue he's the greatest actor chamaleon in the world, he's not, but he's cut from a certain cloth that could be right for Bruce Wayne specifically.

A tiny part of Bruce. That is, the public playboy facade. Which ideally shouldn't take up much screen time at all. Truthfully it's always been the least of my worries for any actor playing this role. You carry yourself well enough, conceivably anyone can be made to look like an attractive bachelor. We all know women are really just gauging their net worth anyway.

The problem would be that we've never seen him play a character like Batman... but then again, he's never been cast as a character like Batman except for the time he was cast as Batman.

If you can provide that courtesy to someone who hasn't shown very good range, why aren't you extending that to others that do? Out of all the age-range candidates Armie currently looks the most like how I'd picture Bruce, but it wouldn't trump the pure acting talent that many other peers on that same list have consistently shown through their young careers.

They're not my firm choices at all, but I can get behind the talents of O'Connell, ATJ, Hoult, and Patterson, if Reeves and the studio give their blessings. All of them have displayed the range and capability that the part suitably requires, and this is the one (perhaps dealbreaking) aspect Armie is decidedly lacking in.

 

[ArmsHeldOut]

That's the performance that cooled me on campaigning for him. It's the umpteenth role playing "that guy". Yes his words and the context of his scenes are completely insane, but the actual performance itself is not unlike his previous turns as an affluent, well-spoken white man. It truly made me question whether his range is far reaching (Man from UNCLE notwithstanding). I haven't seen his two most recent films so things may have turned around. But right now until Reeves gives his vouching, I'm more cautiously optimistic of his abilities for the part.

Yep. There's zero range in intensity to this guy, y'all. Even when playing "a psychopathic CEO" he's still the same as all the other roles he's played.

Welp, I was hoping this film would convince me otherwise in the event of his casting. Not sure what to think now. Oh well.

 

[Lucellit]

Dylan O'Brien as in..the Maze Runner kid? Are people actually serious with that?

Whoa. Hoult over that dude any day of the week. Hoult's not right for it either, but dayyyum.

O'Brien might work as a 25 year old Robin or whatever, but...

O'Brien is great and all, but personally I thought his doe-eyed youthful looks won't change for next several years. Not really 'fatherly' for Robins.

Visual wise,

That's Jason, Ray and Ben sizes compared to Ezra. And Ezra Miller is taller than Dylan O'Brien.
Ezra himself is bulked up since the Flash role.

I do like the idea of O'Brien as a CBM hero though. But not really fits Batman.

- - - -

BatHammer, Battinson, BatHoult, BATJ, I'm liking these nicknames already.
I hope I'd end up liking more and more actors.

 

[C Prometheus]

That's the performance that cooled me on campaigning for him. It's the umpteenth role playing "that guy". Yes his words and the context of his scenes are completely insane, but the actual performance itself is not unlike his previous turns as an affluent, well-spoken white man. It truly made me question whether his range is far reaching (Man from UNCLE notwithstanding). I haven't seen his two most recent films so things may have turned around. But right now until Reeves gives his vouching, I'm more cautiously optimistic of his abilities for the part.

I actually think it’s more nuanced than that. Hammer isn’t a chameleon actor like O’Connell or ATJ, but he has certain shades and range as an actor that I think we are ignoring. His mannerisms in CMBYN are quite different than what he employs in UNCLE or Sorry to Bother You.

There’s a good video I saw recently about how Ethan Hawke often gets ignored by the public despite his own raw acting skills due to how his approach is more subtle and less attention grabbing than actors like Gary Oldman or Daniel Day Lewis, for instance.



Not that Hammer himself is on par with Hawke, but I think he seems to take a generally similar approach to acting.

 

[Invader Joker]

I can see the allure of wanting a complete chamaleon to play Batman, I really do, and I'd actually have loved for Jake Gyllenhaal to get the part.... but let's get real, the best Batman out there has a filmography that looks like this, and before that he was pretty much only typecasted as "that hot dude with a cool voice", he was pretty much a lesser known Armie Hammer before he became Batman:

Armie Hammer's natural performance is already enough like Bruce Wayne. His mannierisms fit Bruce Wayne and not only the playboy performance, in the scenes where he has to be emotional that kind of emotion would translate well to Bruce Wayne. He'd pretty much only have to modify his performance very little to play Batman, and if he exudes the same coldness he exudes in some of his monologues andd prepares himself adequately he'll do okay, possibly great even because 55% of the role is already tailor made for him.
I'm not saying Batman is an easy part to play, but there are some actors that are amazing at only one character, and I think Armie could have that for Batman.

 

[Marvel united]

O'Brien is starring in a new show created and produced by Jordan Peele so he's certainly building his resume and breaking out of the Styles mold from Teen Wolf.

 

[Marvel united]

Okay I'm really selling myself on Hoult

 

[Jekecy]

I actually think it’s more nuanced than that. Hammer isn’t a chameleon actor like O’Connell or ATJ, but he has certain shades and range as an actor that I think we are ignoring. His mannerisms in CMBYN are quite different than what he employs in UNCLE or Sorry to Bother You.

There’s a good video I saw recently about how Ethan Hawke often gets ignored by the public despite his own raw acting skills due to how his approach is more subtle and less attention grabbing than actors like Gary Oldman or Daniel Day Lewis, for instance.

Not that Hammer himself is on par with Hawke, but I think he seems to take a generally similar approach to acting.

See, I've always appreciated Hawke. The understated straight-man as it were is almost a thankless talent in itself, but I notice it. I just haven't seen it from Armie as of yet. Can you point to some scene(s) which you feel are a highlight of his?

I can see the allure of wanting a complete chamaleon to play Batman, I really do, and I'd actually have loved for Jake Gyllenhaal to get the part.... but let's get real, the best Batman out there has a filmography that looks like this, and before that he was pretty much only typecasted as "that hot dude with a cool voice", he was pretty much a lesser known Armie Hammer before he became Batman

Voice acting is just a completely different trade in gauging performances. That's an important delineation to make if only for the fact a physical performance is completely absent.

He'd pretty much only have to modify his performance very little to play Batman, and if he exudes the same coldness he exudes in some of his monologues andd prepares himself adequately he'll do okay

What are the examples of this?

 

[C Prometheus]

I still prefer O’Connell and ATJ for the part over Hoult, as far as the younger range goes. Granted Hoult wouldn’t be a bad pick.

 

[Marvel united]

I could easily see Hoult pulling off the aloof playboy, albeit in a fresh way. He's giving me Bale 'American Psycho' vibes

 

[Marvel united]

The thing is Invader, the part of Wayne is not the most difficult aspect of Batman to pull off. So, Hammer can do it? So can Hoult, so can ATJ, so can Pattinson So can O'Connell. But what do they bring to the role that he doesn't? Dynamic acting prowess and range. If they can do everything Hammer + give us a multi-faceted performance, what makes him a better choice than any of them? Because he looks more like Bruce Wayne? Smh

 

[Invader Joker]

See, I've always appreciated Hawke. The understated straight-man as it were is almost a thankless talent in itself, but I notice it. I just haven't seen it from Armie as of yet. Can you point to some scene(s) which you feel are a highlight of his?


Voice acting is just a completely different trade in gauging performances. That's an important delineation to make if only for the fact a physical performance is completely absent.


What are the examples of this?

His scenes in the social network, pretty much. That same cold way of expressing himself also works for explaining crime scenes to Alfred, to Gordon, etc. And coldness explaining things or complaining is pretty much a big part of every Batman's dialogue even in the comics.
I feel like the same things you guys dislike about Hammer are the same things I and other people like which is his naturality, the fact it doesn't even feel like he's acting... but that's the entire point of his performances. That's exactly what the directors ask of him. And that naturality isn't exactly too far off from Bruce Wayne, he'd just have to modify the way he carries himself a tiiiiny bit more and that's it.
Also, 90% of playing Batman is pretty much voice acting since nobody can see your face inside the mask, that's why I put Conroy as an example.

 

[Jekecy]

The thing is Invader, the part of Wayne is not the most difficult aspect of Batman to pull off.

This doesn't get talked up enough, but I genuinely have never seen a bad live-action Bruce Wayne. But I've seen plenty of bad Batman's, or at least moments. Odds are that Batman is clearly the more difficult persona to pull off. It was always weird to me fans focused so much on the importance of nailing the Bruce Wayne aspect despite this historical disparity in success versus failure.

His scenes in the social network, pretty much. That same cold way of expressing himself also works for explaining crime scenes to Alfred, to Gordon, etc. And coldness explaining things or complaining is pretty much a big part of every Batman's dialogue even in the comics.

Welp, I just can't agree there. Saw Social Network again just a few months ago, and the Winklevoss twins are the epitome of entitled rich snobs, and not in the way that I think is befitting of Bruce (facade or not). It doesn't help that Armie's natural speech is especially that of a child from well-off family and has all the privileges in the world. He's even acknowledged this on several interviews so I do kinda feel bad that it's just apparently inherent to his being.

Also, 90% of playing Batman is pretty much voice acting since nobody can see your face inside the mask, that's why I put Conroy as an example.

Keaton is a highly acclaimed Batman and he barely spoke. I can confidently say that performance was carried more by his physical acting and expressions than it ever was dialog. So nah, I can't jive with that statement.

 

[C Prometheus]

See, I've always appreciated Hawke. The understated straight-man as it were is almost a thankless talent in itself, but I notice it. I just haven't seen it from Armie as of yet. Can you point to some scene(s) which you feel are a highlight of his?

Sure! I haven’t seen the entirety of Call Me By Your Name yet for myself, but the scenes I’ve found on YouTube like the first kiss, the infamous Peach scene come to mind. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to link either scene here though, given the content revolving around a seventeen year old adolescent and a young man in his twenties, but both moments aren’t very hard to find on YouTube.

Obviously the more immediate scene stealer in the film and in those scenes tends to be Chalamet, but like Hawke, Armie tends to be a nuanced “dance partner” of sorts. His very palpable chemistry with Chalamet and the acting decisions he makes in conjunction with Chalamet allow the former to shine all the brighter in his standout moments.

And yeah, as Invader pointed out, The Social Network is a valid answer too. Armie does a very convincing job as an actor to sell the Winklevoss twins as being two people. Not just the special effects Fincher and Co. employ, but the small nuances in how Armie plays the two brothers from each other.

Personally I don’t know if Hammer is my favorite pick for Batman... but he would hardly be a poor choice for the role either. I may want an actor like O’Connell or Abbott personally for that Marlon Brando type energy, but Hammer could definitely bring the goods in his own way for Batman too. He’s just a different type of actor.