Looks like we’re getting The Batman news fast and furious. Earlier today we reported that Jonah Hill is currently in talks to play a villain in the Matt Reeves film but contrary to prior speculations, Hill will not be playing Penguin but rather, The Riddler. Now, we’ve got some more casting news, this time on the character of Commissioner James Gordon.
According to THR, Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) is currently in negotiations with Warner Bros/DC to play the classic Batman law enforcement character, Commissioner Gordon. The character of Jim Gordon typically is portrayed as someone who becomes one of Batman’s closest ally. While he doesn’t always agree with Batman’s methods, he understands that The Dark Knight is exactly the type of unhinged ruthlessness Gotham City needs.
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The character has been played on the big screen and small by many different actors including J.K. Simmons (Justice League) and Ben McKenzie (Gotham). The best version to date, though, was portrayed by Oscar-winning actor Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy alongside Christian Bale.
If the Jeffrey Wright deal comes through, it will mark the first time the character is brought to life by a Person of Colour, which is, of course, awesome in its own right. But don’t mistake this for a “diversity stunt,” (I’m looking at you comment section), Wright is an incredibly talented actor — check out his work in Westworld, The Hunger Games franchise and Source Code — who will certainly bring another dimension to the character.
The Batman is shaping up to be one heck of a project. It stars Robert Pattinson as the titular character and is helmed by Matt Reeves, the director of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War For the Planet of the Apes. Reeves has said that his film will be a neo-noir that highlights Batman as a masterful detective.
Matt Reeves’ The Batman will begin filming this November/December and is set for a summer 2021 release.
