Harvey Dent/Two-Face Thread

[shauner111]

Jeremy Strong strikes me more as a Lex Luthor type (although Bradley Cooper is my choice for a Abrams reboot).

John David Washington would make a good pre-Two Face Harvey Dent. Like Aaron Eckhart. But I find him too humble and likeable to play Two-Face.

I vote McConaughey for a mid 40’s Dent. Christopher Abbott or Riz Ahmed for a 30-33 year old Dent.

 

[metaphysician]

I don't know, having Harvey Dent be humble and likable is potentially an asset, if you want to have Two-Face stick around as a major recurring character long term. If you want to have the audience buy into Batman's perpetual efforts to reach and help his old friend, you need them to actually *want* Dent to be redeemed, and more generally to want to spend more time with him as a character. You don't want the audience to despise Two-Face, or to view him like a rabid animal whose tragedy is over save for being put down.

 

[shauner111]

I see your point but what I’m saying is i haven’t seen Washington enough to know if he can pull off the Two-Face part, humble and redeemable or not as Dent. We’ll see though because I like JDW and he’s still early in his career.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I don’t think JDW has the intensity for Two-Face. He’s a very low key performer.

If we’re upping the age range, I’d go back to my choice of Sterling K Brown.

 

[shauner111]

JDW is superhero material.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Hot Sauce-Man!

 

[Art Vandelay]

Jeremy Strong is very good on Succession (indeed, he won the best actor Emmy for his performance), but I think he'd be miscast as Dent. I don't think the role suits his sensibilities.

 

[metaphysician]

I don’t think JDW has the intensity for Two-Face. He’s a very low key performer.

If we’re upping the age range, I’d go back to my choice of Sterling K Brown.

I admit, I haven't actually seen any JDW performances yet. However, people keep comparing him to his dad Denzel, which makes me envision. . . basically, the trick is to realize that Bad Harv does not need to be distinguished from Good Harv by being some kind of raving manic psycho. The distinction, the switch, can work where both on the most superficial level seem soft spoken and calm. . . its just Good Harv is nice, he's friendly, he's polite. . . whereas Bad Harv bears the proverbial Mark of the Beast, and evinces an aura of "this monster has no issue with killing and eating you", even if he's not talking loud. Think of some of the scenes in the recent Equalizer movies, or Man on Fire, only even colder and more ruthless.

Relatedly, if this were all being done like 20 years ago, Denzel Washington could have made a great Two-Face. *ahem*

 

[Eddie Dean]

Denzel would have been perfect, but John David doesn’t have the same spark as his dad. He doesn’t command a scene the same way, like I said before he’s way more low key. Denzel always stands out, you can’t not watch him. John David blends in.

 

[shauner111]

I like JDW. But he’s no Two-Face and he’s no Denzel. He’s solid but doesn’t have his father’s screen presence (not many actors do. Those are big shoes to try to fill). Denzel joins Pacino and Nicholson and Cruise, actors who are simply magnetic. Keaton has that quality IMO. Pattinson has it too I don’t care what his haters say. I can’t keep my eyes off of him in movies. JDW is the lead in Tenet but when Rob is sharing the frame, JDW is gone.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Did a sketch of John Boyega as Harvey TooFace

 

[WatchProtect]

Did a sketch of John Boyega as Harvey TooFace

View attachment 41901

That red burn looks sick asf

 

[Eddie Dean]

Def a bit of TLJ motif there.

 

[shauner111]

Question..

Showing Harvey Dent’s journey in a sequel...you think it will A) be too similar to what we’ll see with Bella Real? B) even if he doesn’t become Two-Face until a third movie, is it too much like TDK?

I have no doubt in my mind that Dent is in the sequel. But I propose a 3 year time jump. 2 minimum. ‘Rise & Fall of Harvey Dent’ montage to kick off the sequel. Get you up to speed on Gotham like how Dawn of the Planet of the Apes starts with a montage then a closeup of Caesar’s eyes as he preps for the hunt. I’d do the same transitioning into a similar closeup of Batman’s eyes as we switch POV.

This wouldn’t be rushing his origin because when he’s Two-Face he’ll be showcasing both sides of his personality.

I’m usually in the “eh he’s not exactly main villain material” boat but Batman coming off of his Ego/Jekyll & Hyde movie...and now having a better hold on who he is...this would be a great time to see the tragedy of Two-Face through the eyes of Batman. The amount of empathy he’ll have for Harvey will make for some powerful scenes. And if you have a dynamic enough actor who can keep you invested + sweet prosthetics? Could make for a three-dimensional character.

 

[Razor Crest]

So. A little tired and buzzed, but hear me out.

I really racked my head on who could play a great Harvey Dent. I always wanted someone who I could identify with who can portray how good and evil can be misconstrued. Perhaps a littler older that has had a life in the system that warrants being an experienced district attorney. And I found myself stumbling across Sticks and Stones, watched it for the twelfth time or so... and it hit me. I saw this guy in A Star is Born: he can act and keep things real in something I’d feel is Fincher level grounded for this take of Batman.

You can laugh and I dismiss my idea all you please, but I think... Dave Chapelle would give us a nuanced and completely new take on Harvey Dent.

 

[shauner111]

Yeaaahhh get some rest bud.

 

[Eddie Dean]

This one's for you @shauner111

 

[shauner111]

Why for me haha

 

[Eddie Dean]

It’s yo boy Chrissy Abbot!

or least is supposed to be!

 

[shauner111]

Oh I kinda see it now!

 

[Eddie Dean]

lol

 

[Doc Samson]

As others have said, I'd prefer a Harvey Dent that is a character throughout (presumably) this new series of films. I always thought if Dent were Rachel Dawes (although I understand the need for a love interest I guess) then his fall from grace and death in TDK would've been even more powerful.

 

[emielaen]

What if they show Dent in an even more dense and nuanced way through the GCPD series? He could be built through that, show his downfall, then make him the villain or co-villain in a later film.

 

[shauner111]

That would be the coolest Emie, bc in the show you can have Maroni throw acid in his face and get sent to prison for a lonnnng time. That would work so well especially if we hear about Dent being in the hospital (or there’s a surprise Arkham visit in this movie). Then at the end of season 1 (GCPD) the accident happens, leading to The Batman sequel annnnd off you go. Two-Face is established. You don’t even have to create a opening montage showing his backstory.

 

[emielaen]

Plenty of these characters are suited for a show. He'd be a great recurring character to show rise and fall as the city slowly gets use to this Bat-person-man and the city gets stranger and stranger, maybe, as the mob gets pushed out by the freaks. I think Riddler will be the first big "costumed" villain this world sees. And Dent's story is just a perfect companion with the city succumbing to the craziness, on top of the corruption.