The Batman Reboot Casting Thread

[Majik1387]

Especially when Batman has proven to be a big box office intake, even with it's lesser movies.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Especially when Batman has proven to be a big box office intake, even with it's lesser movies.

WB won't make a tv series. As you said, even Batman And Robin was successful enough for them to ponder a sequel to that even.

While I like the idea, it simply won't happen for many reasons. Wanting big bucks being the main

And what they're doing now is this
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[Optimus_Prime_]

They want money from movies, not TV

Successful TV shows dwarf movie profits. They weren't continuing Smallville because is was the charitable thing to do. Also, actors can make serious friggin bank off of TV. They want money however they can get it. Television is a bigger risk, but as a reward it's much better than movie profits.

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

Depends on whether or not WB pulled its head out of its ass and really went balls-out with it.

I simply do not believe that an HBO/Showtime series with directing/writing/acting integrity on par with the likes of Mad Men, Dexter, and Breaking Bad would be "beneath" Batman.

Quite the contrary. If handled correctly, and with the best talent behind it, a live-action Batman series would be the greatest thing ever conceived.

Have to agree, and love the parallel to Breaking Bad because that's exactly the kind of new era drama series I see that make me think Batman is possible. I do agree that WB as a network has made mostly questionable shows, but I wouldn't put it past them to do an edgier and better drama. I think Batman works perfectly for TV because he's honestly not an FX heavy character and he has a great and quite vast supporting cast which makes it easy to draw out his story into episodes. I'd launch the series with him only having Dick Grayson as Robin for about a month, and go from there. I'd have Harvey Dent still as DA, I think that would also bring in fans of the movie because that story arc would be familiar to them. I'd end the first season with Two-Face's transformation. Definitely include Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Catwoman and Mr. Freeze as first season villains. Then the following season two I'd do a multi-part "Demon's Head" story arc.

 

[Rodrigo90]

Successful TV shows dwarf movie profits. They weren't continuing Smallville because is was the charitable thing to do. Also, actors can make serious friggin bank off of TV. They want money however they can get it. Television is a bigger risk, but as a reward it's much better than movie profits.

I honestly don't know how studios make money from TV ratings. Its always been a mystery to me

Movies are safer than TV however, and something tells me WB will want to play Batman safe for a long time

I like the idea of a show, but its movies that do it best. Even a Bat show could plummet after a while in ratings and reviews. Truth be told, the only reason Smallville went downhill was because people were tired of waiting to see Superman. That was only by Season 3!

 

[Optimus_Prime_]

I honestly don't know how studios make money from TV ratings. Its always been a mystery to me

Advertisers. They make literally up to a million for 30 seconds worth (assuming success). If the ratings are good that means they can charge more.

 

[Kyle Rayner]

Batman shouldn't need to be a "REBOOT" for the 10th time. He should be introduced in the JLA movie.

Bale doesn't want to play Batman? That's fine cause their going to need a team player for those films. Bale was/is an OUTSTANDING BATMAN, no questions asked period, but he's not willing to wear the cowl in a crossover that DC fans are wanting to see. That's just a fact.

Also when this final Batman film is done, someone else will come in an messed it all up for WB, DC, and the fans.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Also when this final Batman film is done, someone else will come in an messed it all up for WB, DC, and the fans.

dude...are you f***ing serious? Nolan isn't the be-all-end-all of batman films. their are plenty of film makers out just as qualified to direct a batman and make it as great Nolan's made it, who whos, maybe somebody will come along and improve on some of the stuff Nolan dropped the ball on, which HE DID in certain respects.

 

[Kyle Rayner]

dude...are you f***ing serious? Nolan isn't the be-all-end-all of batman films. their are plenty of film makers out just as qualified to direct a batman and make it as great Nolan's made it, who whos, maybe somebody will come along and improve on some of the stuff Nolan dropped the ball on, which HE DID in certain respects.

Look man, Nolan is not the "be-all-end-all of Batman films." However, for now, Batman/WB/DC Comics will need a break from him for a while. There may be tons of other directors out there that will or can handle the Dark Knight in any way possible to their own discretion. I'm not a hardcore Batman fan like you, but as a DC Fan I'm tired seeing him every other 2 to 3 years in the screen. Is time for Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, Firestorm and the DCU to share the spotlight.

Marvel/Disney are not making the billions of dollars with their properties, then again they are pushing for their characters to be out there one at a time for the Avengers to Assemble next year. Giving old fans and new fans something different, unique as it never has been seen before. I'm telling you how it is been for the last 5 years.

 

[shauner111]

If they're planning on starting over again by doing a younger Batman/Origin then i would scale everything down & use Hush as the villain. BUT i would rather have it as a mid to late 30s Batman who's fully developed in that world. No villains repeated from the Nolan films..not yet anyway.

Michael Fassbender as Bruce Wayne, Malcolm McDowell as Alfred, Bryan Cranston as Gordon, Charlize Theron as Vicki Vale. dont think id bring in Lucius Fox, but if so id go with Denzel Washington. The Riddler would be the only villain with Penguin for the sequel. For Nygma id choose Michael C Hall and Penguin (ive seen some names tossed around like Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Suchet, Bob Hoskins) i like the idea of Suchet.
Don't remember if it was in this thread or somewhere else but i remember somebody describing Oswald pretty well. something like, he shouldnt be deformed just short, older, well-dressed/classy & the type that would order a murder of a character and then proceed to go the opera. LOL perfect for actors like Suchet or Hoskins. Hoffman im sure could be one helluva Penguin too but he can even pull off a great Rupert Thorne.

But for the immediate film after TDKR, im gonna go with Fassbender, McDowell, Cranston, Theron and Michael C Hall. maybe even a slight introduction to Grayson. Could fit well for a sequel where Penguin orders a hit on the Graysons, hmmm.

 

[shauner111]

Also come to think of it i wouldnt mind if they held off on a villain like The Penguin and brought in Hugo Strange instead. People would freak seeing Daniel Day Lewis cast as Strange. that guy picks his roles very carefully but coming off of Lincoln, it couldnt come at a better time in his career IMO.

 

[Young Superman]

How about Ben McKenzie as a live action Bruce Wayne / Batman?

 

[Rodrigo90]

Christoph Waltz would make an awesome Hugo Strange

 

[Jordacar]

How about Ben McKenzie as a live action Bruce Wayne / Batman?

Way too short.

 

[Project862006]

for a reboot they need to go a different route make batman older maybe dark knight rises adaption or something

 

[Young Superman]

My dream pick for an older Batman is Jon Hamm.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Look man, Nolan is not the "be-all-end-all of Batman films." However, for now, Batman/WB/DC Comics will need a break from him for a while. There may be tons of other directors out there that will or can handle the Dark Knight in any way possible to their own discretion. I'm not a hardcore Batman fan like you, but as a DC Fan I'm tired seeing him every other 2 to 3 years in the screen. Is time for Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, Firestorm and the DCU to share the spotlight.

Marvel/Disney are not making the billions of dollars with their properties, then again they are pushing for their characters to be out there one at a time for the Avengers to Assemble next year. Giving old fans and new fans something different, unique as it never has been seen before. I'm telling you how it is been for the last 5 years.

What the...?

Every two to three years? Batman Begins was released in 2005, The Dark Knight in 2008, and The Dark Knight Rises is due to come out in 2012. Before Batman Begins, Batman & Robin was the last Batman live-action related film to come out which was in 1997. I don't know about you but an eight year gap is too long for one of the most storied and celebrated superheroes of our time NOT to appear on the big screen -- especially considering that the Batman franchise (along with Superman franchise) is the most successful in both the DC and Marvel stables to appear in theaters.

I'm all up for other DC characters sharing in the glory but Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Donna Troy, Firestorm, Citizen Steel, Captain Atom, and Cyborg are either not as recognizable as Batman & Superman (therefore they are not marketable), or the new generation has yet to seen them in a legitimate film or tv show.

 

[Changeling]

Johnny Depp for Batman?

 

[Kyle Rayner]

What the...?

Every two to three years? Batman Begins was released in 2005, The Dark Knight in 2008, and The Dark Knight Rises is due to come out in 2012. Before Batman Begins, Batman & Robin was the last Batman live-action related film to come out which was in 1997. I don't know about you but an eight year gap is too long for one of the most storied and celebrated superheroes of our time NOT to appear on the big screen -- especially considering that the Batman franchise (along with Superman franchise) is the most successful in both the DC and Marvel stables to appear in theaters.

I'm all up for other DC characters sharing in the glory but Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Aquaman, Green Arrow, Martian Manhunter, Donna Troy, Firestorm, Citizen Steel, Captain Atom, and Cyborg are either not as recognizable as Batman & Superman (therefore they are not marketable), or the new generation has yet to seen them in a legitimate film or tv show.

Let me go back here for a minute. Best BATMAN movies have a gap of 20 years, the 60's Batman was good and spawn a horrible movie but it was a great character for that period. Tim Burton's Batman was almost 20 years later, again another great movie followed by the sequel. After that Batman Forever and Batman and Robin ruined comic book films for maybe a year, since Blade came out a year later. Nolan's Batman is just 20 years after Burton's Batman.

You can sit there and throw at my face that Batman and Superman are the biggest franchises out there HOWEVER, Batman almost killed the superhero movies and Superman III, IV and Superman Returns left a bad taste on everyone.

Now you could say that Batman and Superman found the most success in the small screen from animation to live action. Then again, you can only reinvent Batman every so often, so far in the last 20 years there's been 5 Batman cartoons (including apperances in JLU) and Superman had a ton of live shows from Lois and Clark, Superboy and Smallville the last one didn't live up to the hype of seeing Clark wearing the Superman costume.

You can make all the money in the world but there is a point when you need to move on. Again, Marvel may not be pulling in the Billion dollars that TDK made, but they are at least pushing out characters to build a franchise already establish in comic books. WB/DC are still trying to figure out what to do.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Let me go back here for a minute. Best BATMAN movies have a gap of 20 years, the 60's Batman was good and spawn a horrible movie but it was a great character for that period. Tim Burton's Batman was almost 20 years later, again another great movie followed by the sequel. After that Batman Forever and Batman and Robin ruined comic book films for maybe a year, since Blade came out a year later. Nolan's Batman is just 20 years after Burton's Batman.

You can sit there and throw at my face that Batman and Superman are the biggest franchises out there HOWEVER, Batman almost killed the superhero movies and Superman III, IV and Superman Returns left a bad taste on everyone.

Now you could say that Batman and Superman found the most success in the small screen from animation to live action. Then again, you can only reinvent Batman every so often, so far in the last 20 years there's been 5 Batman cartoons (including apperances in JLU) and Superman had a ton of live shows from Lois and Clark, Superboy and Smallville the last one didn't live up to the hype of seeing Clark wearing the Superman costume.

You can make all the money in the world but there is a point when you need to move on. Again, Marvel may not be pulling in the Billion dollars that TDK made, but they are at least pushing out characters to build a franchise already establish in comic books. WB/DC are still trying to figure out what to do.

ANY director can kill a franchise, and just the fact that both Batman and Superman have that much influence speaks volumes to their popularity domestically and internationally over the Superhero genre. Yes, Batman and Superman left millions with a bad taste but guess what? So did X-Men III, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ang Lee's Hulk, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Spiderman III, Blade Trinity, etc. Yet, did those films destroy Marvel's credibility? No.

Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series are two of most iconic cartoon tv shows of the 90's and continue to be the most popular amongst the Superhero genre. Other than X-Men, no other Superhero came close to those shows. Maybe it's just you but Smallville also enjoyed great success. The first five seasons were highly praised by both fanboys and non-fanboys.

WB will continue to expand in the near future (Watchmen and Green Lantern can be acknowledged to be the first steps to a new era) but WB isn't in a hurry, nor does it really care. Nolan's trilogy brought (and will probably rake in another billion) in a substantial amount of money and attention. That to them is enough for the time being since Batman is now the poster boy for WB. Man of Steel is on its way and if it proves to be a success under Snyder and Nolan & his crew, then expect another probable derailment. Last I heard though, Flash and Wonder Woman adaptations are in the works -- both are to be released in 2013-2014. The Man of Steel film and a Green Lantern sequel are set to be released in that time period as well. WB knows what it's doing but is indifferent to the situation until Batman and Superman lose popularity (which seems unlikely now). DC, on the other hand, is pushing for a Justice League film and expansion of the DC Universe on the big screen.

 

[EliteF50]

Johnny Depp for Batman?

Johnny is, imo, the best actor in Hollywood (just before Bale), but he's wrong for Batman.

Riddler or Joker would be perfect though.

 

[Steve Holt]

Oded Fehr for Ra's Al Ghul

 

[elgaz]

I'm going to throw out a wildcard, and laugh if you will, but I think Joshua Jackson (currently on Fringe) would make an awesome Bruce Wayne in a reboot - or even going down the JLA route.

If you can look past the blot on his early CV called 'Dawson's Creek', he's actually a very capable actor. As a big fan of Fringe, I've found he has that intensity in his eyes and can come across as dark/dangerous, then switch to the smiley friendly guy a second later. Perfect for Bruce Wayne.

He's 33 and 6"2 also, so the stats work.

 

[Rodrigo90]

You want an actor to match Cavill's age.

 

[BatBat]

You want an actor to match Cavill's age.

Nah. Batman should be older than Superman.