If Spike and Byrd hadn't beaten me to the punch, I would've had these up sooner. But I, too, have decided to recast an earlier casting of mine. The new Ultimate Batman Universe...
Batman/Bruce Wayne - Ryan Phillipe
Not the most traditional choice for the Caped Crusader, but his role in Cruel Intentions showed that he could be a cunning, manipulative spoiled brat, which is how I eventually want to portray the Wayne facade. And his role in a movie called Franklyn showed that he could be the raspy voiced, mysterious vigilante going up against a city of corruption. He's also played a soldier twice, which is a key part of Bruce's backstory in the game.
Alfred Jarvis - Jude Law
Seeing Sherlock Holmes shed a new light on how I could potentially portray the younger Alfred's relationship with Bruce, which is very much like the Watson to Holmes - doting and loyal, yet skeptical and consistently bothered by the fact that his own life is being disrupted by his friend's unusual occupation. Brothers not in blood, but in bond.
Henri Ducard/Ra's Al Ghul - Ralph Fiennes
While I still like my original choice of Benecio Del Toro, Fiennes brings more of a quality that Liam Neeson brought to the role in Begins, which is a mentor with practical experience and a worldly sense of being. It also doesn't hurt that he played Neeson's brother in the Clash of The Titans remake.
Talia Ducard - Olga Kurylenko
After seeing her in Hitman and Quantum of Solace, I think she'd be able to pull off the role well. It doesn't require an Oscar caliber actress more than an exotic face that sticks with you, as it does Bruce for the rest of his life.
Phillip Wayne - Bruce Greenwood
Continuing the tradition of former Batmen in the role, Greenwood embodies the man on the path to redemption through surrogate fatherhood over young Bruce. Plus, I personally felt he was a great Batman in Under the Red Hood, so I wanted to give him his props.
Lucius Fox - Robert Townsend
Physically, he's the perfect counterpart for the role. It's as if Lucius jumped off of the page. Townsend was also a childhood favorite of mine as the Meteor Man.
Salvatore Maroni - Mark Strong
His role as a mobster in Kick-Ass was pretty much perfect for the archetype Maroni represents.
Carmine Falcone - Christoph Waltz
Wasted opportunity as a mobster in the Seth Rogen Green Hornet, he'd be better used as Gotham's notorious top don.
Helena Bertinelli - Jessica Biel
Given where the character is going to go, I needed an actress who could play tough-as-nails yet completely vulnerable to her emotions, which is what Biel is to a tee. For proof, reference Blade: Trinity and The A-Team.
Oswald Cobblepot - Ray Liotta
Cobblepot isn't meant to be a short, pudgy and dignified gentleman in this universe, more than a mean spirited wannabe mobster. Liotta could do great things with the role, while adding a familiar face to round out the cast.
