The Batman Reboot Casting Thread - Part 5

[EliteF50]

Talent is important, but so is being right for the part. If the part is a badass square-jawed superhero, you can't cast a weaselly-looking twentysomething just because he can act and looks good in a suit.

Agreed. Acting can only do so much. If you don't look or sound the part, there isn't much else you can do.

Why not cast Gosling as Gandalf? He's a good actor, isn't he? No. It just doesn't work for the part.

 

[georgec]

^ Which is why none of the most popular suggestions really grab me. Armie Hammer, Joe Manganiello, Jon Hamm, etc. They might have a couple of qualities that fit but don't seem like great matches. I can't put my finger on it, though.

 

[Eddie Dean]

Gosling as Gandalf is such a ridiculous example. Of course he's wrong for that part.

Batman is a role that lends a lot to interpretation. Really, how much do Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and Bale have in common? The majority of good actors in reasonable shape (you're not going to cast Philip Seymour Hoffman) and between 25 and 40 could probably pull off Batman. It's not very hard.

 

[EliteF50]

... it's not very hard? If that's what you think, then you understand Batman at all. Of course any young actor with a decent build can play Batman, but how many of them can do it well? I'm not looking for another Clooney, Kilmer or Keaton, I'm looking for someone to become the definitive Batman we know and love from the comics. If that's what they're trying to do with the DCCU, then casting someone like Gosling or Gyllenhaal is completely wrong. They should be looking for actors with more of an edge to them, more "manly" actors, more gruff.

Gosling and Gyllenhaal are both too clean for someone like Batman, they'd be fine for someone like Spider-man, Flash, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, etc.

 

[regwec]

This 'manly/gruff' thing is deeply comical. A decent actor, doing their job of acting, can produce that as easily as snot. Some meathead with a voice like a cigarette, however, will not become a competent actor by the addition of a costume.

The straw man parallels do nothing to negate this fact.

 

[EliteF50]

Since I assume you're referring to Joe M, he is a competent actor. He's no Christian Bale, but he's got some talent and lots of room to grow in the coming years, especially if cast as Batman. Where did all this "meat head" stuff come from anyway? Is it because he's muscular? Is it because he always has a beard? I don't understand. What about him screams "I'm stupid" to you?

 

[Serpico Jones]

Matt Bomer or Ian Somerhalder.

 

[regwec]

What about him screams "I have a genius level intellect" to you?

I am sure he's a nice guy, and I am not deliberately singling him out, other than in the sense that his is the most frequently recurring name that I consider to be inappropriate in that they are just a set of abs.

As to the basis of that feeling, it's pretty difficult to quantify. He just looks and sounds a bit thick.

 

[Majik1387]

Bale never screamed genius intellect to me; quite the opposite actually. Same goes for a lot of suggestions I see for bats.

 

[EliteF50]

What about him screams "I have a genius level intellect" to you?

Joe M? He doesn't. Joe M as Bruce Wayne, however, I'd most likely be able to see it because that'd be the role he's playing.

Acting like you're a genius is far easier than acting like you're a man when you sound/look like a boy.

 

[Mr.?]

Karl Urban for Batman is the only suggestion I want/can think of at the moment.

 

[EliteF50]

What do you guys think of Liam McIntyre as Batman? I don't know much about him, but he seems like he'd fit the part, and he apparently wants it.

 

[Double B]

What do you guys think of Liam McIntyre as Batman? I don't know much about him, but he seems like he'd fit the part, and he apparently wants it.

Never seen him act, so can't judge him on that. Physically, I'm not sure. In some pictures, I think he'd be great, in others, he's a world away from how I picture Bruce.

 

[GreySpider]

i dont see karl urban at all im surprised hes so popular, hes sooo ugly

 

[DorneyDave]

i dont see karl urban at all im surprised hes so popular, hes sooo ugly

That's one of the worst reasons I've ever heard.

I think Urban would be great. Dredd demonstrated he would be great under the cowl and I definitely think he has the chops for Wayne.

 

[regwec]

Joe M? He doesn't. Joe M as Bruce Wayne, however, I'd most likely be able to see it because that'd be the role he's playing.

Acting like you're a genius is far easier than acting like you're a man when you sound/look like a boy.

Not sure about that, within the field of contenders we're discussing. Most suggestions look like adult men, apart from a few rogue outliers. Like Chris Pine.

 

[DorneyDave]

My prediction is that it is going to be someone completely out of nowhere and it's going to cause a huge uproar. IE Ledger as the Joker.

It probably won't be anyone we think of.

 

[regwec]

That's fine, as long as they have the talent. The problem is that most unknown actors are unknown for a good reason.

 

[GreySpider]

That's one of the worst reasons I've ever heard.

I think Urban would be great. Dredd demonstrated he would be great under the cowl and I definitely think he has the chops for Wayne.

how so? thats a character trait of bruce wayne. an attractive large dude who can be charming to a crowd and put on the dark traits when in privacy. i can kinda see him as batman, but not bruce wayne, sorry. he just doesnt LOOK like wayne to me.

 

[DorneyDave]

how so? thats a character trait of bruce wayne. an attractive large dude who can be charming to a crowd and put on the dark traits when in privacy. i can kinda see him as batman, but not bruce wayne, sorry. he just doesnt LOOK like wayne to me.

That's the thing, looks are subjective. Using that as your main reason against him is silly.

 

[DorneyDave]

That's fine, as long as they have the talent. The problem is that most unknown actors are unknown for a good reason.

I wasn't talking unknown. Just someone you wouldn't expect for the job.

Matt Damon is a weird example I could throw out there.

 

[regwec]

But then I wouldn't be able to see the film.

 

[GreySpider]

That's the thing, looks are subjective. Using that as your main reason against him is silly.

to an extent i agree. i just dont see it, but it is only my opinion. its just when i feel there are other better choices thats a big enough reason.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

the next couple of months are gonna be interesting

i'm sure they will cast Batman/Bruce by the end of the year because filming will surely begin early next year

 

[The Game]

What do you guys think of Liam McIntyre as Batman? I don't know much about him, but he seems like he'd fit the part, and he apparently wants it.

He can want it but I highly doubt he gets it, his acting was barely average in Spartacus, and does not have the look nor the ability to play the BW/BM role