I’ve been using this site for a while, so have seen my fair share of fan casts, and one thing I’ve generally noticed is fan boys tend to cast young. Again, I’ve decided to go for older actors and actresses and have cast the characters I’d like to crop up throughout the series rather than one singular film. Also, I’ve decided to give each, well not all but some of the characters here my own unique spin on their origins to further help ground them slightly more in reality and make them a bit more believable and also in some cases because they seemed to lack real motivation, and to me this was the best way to rectify that. Well, I hope you enjoy the fan cast below, as always please leave your thoughts and comments below, thanks.
Notable Roles: Munich
Star Trek
Hanna
My Take: I’m a big fan of Nolan’s take on Batman, so am against the idea of a reboot; ideally if Chris Bale and Nolan decide to quit I’d like Warner Bros to at least carry on from where they left off as certain elements of the character’s history such as his training with the League of Shadows and his part in his parents death and his subsequent attempt at revenge were just fantastic character points. Though I’d like for some flashbacks to further expand on his training essentially he didn’t just train with the League. That being said, Nolan’s Batman has always been presented more as a physical and reactive character, in the next big screen incarnation of the character I’d like to see his detective side explored a lot more. Anyway, with my version of the character, I imagine he’s been active for around 12-13 years and is now in his late 30’s to early 40’s.
Reason for Casting: This is hardly original casting, but he’s got the look, height, and voice, despite that though he’s a very talented actor, and most recently more or less played the character well as seen in ‘Hanna.’ Frankly, I think he can perfectly handle the duality of the character and give us all a fresh take to the character much like Chris Bale did in ‘Begins.’ All he needs to do is work out a bit more and he’d be perfect.
Notable Roles: 24
The Departed
Rubicon
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same.
Reason for Casting: He’s just a very talented actor, he hasn’t had much mainstream attention but he’s definitely got the acting ability. Visually though he hast that right vintage Hollywood look to him so that helps, but despite that he has this fatherly presence to him that I think would undoubtedly serve him well.
Notable Roles: Meet Joe Black
CSI: NY
Camelot
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same. Though it must be said in Nolan’s series her role seemed to be a bit too small, so I’d expect it to be expanded upon a second time round.
Reason for Casting: She’s another very talented actress, in what I’ve seen her in she’s done very well, plus she too looks the part and has a strong motherly presence to her.
Notable Roles: James Bond
Hot Fuzz
Chuck
My Take: I like the idea of a tougher Alfred, and also how he may have been influential in Bruce’s training. With my take, I imagine Alfred was a former SAS medic until he was injured and went to work for the Waynes. Also, I imagine Alfred initially got Bruce interested in Sherlock Holmes and Morse code other detective stuff (prior to his parent’s death) as a hobby, but after his parent’s death and prior to the start of his training Alfred trained him in boxing and some basic martial arts as a means of coping with his anger and grief.
Reason for Casting: I hear he is the fan favourite for the role and couldn’t agree more. He’s a good actor and has the right look and voice needed for the role, personally I think he could top Michael Caine’s version of the character.
Notable Roles: The Matrix
CSI
Assault on Precinct 13
My Take: I liked how Nolan has Lucius being Bruce’s armourer and friend of his father, so would like that to stick, but as Batman’s involvement with the League is presented, I’d expect Lucius to also be involved with them as it just seems logical for him to have a part in designing the Watchtower.
Reason for Casting: Another great actor, visually he looks the part a lot more than Morgan Freeman ever did, but despite that he’s played similar characters before well and could possibly even surpass Freeman in the role.
Notable Roles: The Silence of the Lambs
Monk
American Gangster
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same including how in Nolan’s series he was the cop who found young Bruce at the crime scene.
Reason for Casting: He’s a fantastic versatile actor perfectly able to play villainous and heroic characters, plus visually he looks the part and has the voice and also has this strong authoritative presence to him that would serve him well in the role.
Notable Roles: The Truman Show
The Savages
The Big C
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, including her death at the Joker’s hands.
Reason for Casting: She’s a pretty good actress, more or less always gives a good performance in whatever she is in, and would do wonders here, really that simple.
Notable Roles: The Departed
30 Rock
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same.
Reason for Casting: He’s a another very talented actor, visually he looks the part though, I’d expect him to let the stubble grow a bit more, plus he’s handled tough angry guys well before so I’d be interested in seeing what he could do here.
Notable Roles: House
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, though I’m admittedly a bit iffy about him becoming the Spectre, it was always a very neutral thing to me.
Reason for Casting: He’s a pretty good actor, I admittedly haven’t seen him in much, but what little I have seen him in just convinced me he was perfect for the role, really that simple.
Notable Roles: Sin City
Eagle Eye
Unstoppable
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same. Similar to Crispus though, I was a bit iffy about her becoming the Question, just preferred her as being part of Batman’s cop squad…
Reason for Casting: She’s hot and is a good actress to, plus she can handle tough female characters well so it’s undoubtable to me that she will deliver in this role.
Notable Roles: Monster
The Italian Job
My Take: Former star reporter, Vicki Vale sold out after having her career practically ruined for trying to expose criminal ties to Commissioner Loeb. After years working as Gotham News anchor, she rebuilt herself with the arrival of the Batman and subsequently became one of his closest allies from there on. Just as a side note, I’d expect her to know Bruce’s secret after figuring it out and to act as a sort of ever present ‘Rachel Dawes’ type love interest, I mean I thought Batman should have at least one normal love interest, and Rachel seemed like the right pick.
Reason for Casting: Visually she looks the part, plus she’s a solid actress and has handled confident and strong female characters well before so I think she could do well here too.
Notable Roles: Veronica Mars
Heroes
Assassin’s Creed series
My Take: Rather than being Batgirl I imagine her to have just been a Batman fan, and when she grew up she became a Wayne Enterprises intern who worked directly for Lucius Fox, leading to her discovering Bruce’s identity and subsequently helping him by creating the Oracle satellite (a bit like the one in ‘The Dark Knight’). Though she should also still get crippled by the Joker as his ‘[frick] you’ to Commissioner Gordon.
Reason for Casting: She’s 30 something but she can pass of as a younger, but despite that she’s a pretty talented and versatile actress, and has played a similar role well before albeit in a vocal capacity only (‘Assassin’s Creed’). All she needs to do is dye her hair and she’s perfect.
Notable Roles: Never Back Down
Forever Strong
My Take: As you may have guessed I’m not a fan of sidekicks, in particular Robin. That being said, I’ve always imagined after Bruce adopts Dick, Dick goes out by himself in search of his parent’s killer (I’d expect him to be 14 when Bruce adopts him, and for him to have decent knowledge in martial arts both due to his acrobatic nature, but also as during his time with the circus he travelled a lot), anyway he ends up flopping and almost dies. So Bruce sees this and recognises the anger Dick feels with how he felt, so trains him after bringing his parent’s killer to justice to become his replacement (so no Robin sidekick shit, just Bruce training him in the cave).
Whereas Dick accepts this at first, after a few years of this Dick runs away (when he’s around 18-19) to soul search and because he’s fed up with Bruce’s shit, but returns a few years later as Nightwing, ready to dish out justice in his own way. As for all his equipment and stuff, I imagine he got it as Lucius Fox invested the money his parents left behind for him, but also as Alfred helped supply him with some spare Kevlar, etc.
Reason for Casting: I haven’t seen him in much, but he’s a decent actor, he looks the part and he is a talented martial artist plus he has the right attitude for the role so I’d really like to see what he could do here. Despite that he’s almost 30 too, but could also pass off as someone in their early to mid-20’s. All he needs to do is work out a bit more and he’d be perfect.
Notable Roles: Kyle XY
Thor
My Take: A Mafia brat who witnessed her entire family get massacred in front of her, she utilized her family’s fortune to train herself and hunt down the people who killed her family and exact her revenge as the Huntress.
Reason for Casting: She’s a pretty good actress, is pretty hot, a big comic book fan, can kick ass and even looks a bit Italian. I think that covers all grounds, so would love to see her give the role a shot.
Notable Roles: 3:10 To Yuma
The Number 23
Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief
My Take: Again rather than being a Robin I imagine Tim gets adopted and trained to be the next Batman by Bruce, though this time round Tim is actually more willing as with my take, both Tim’s parents were part of the secret Project Cadmus Bio-Enhancement Program, which led to experimentations on themselves (and unwittingly their unborn son) which augmented his intelligence so he developed a sort of super memory and also advanced reflexes (a bit like Taskmaster from Marvel) so he can do whatever he sees. Anyway, long story short, he is on the run with his dad who ends up dying, Bruce saves him and adopts him with a new identity or something, etc.
Reason for Casting: I admittedly struggled with this casting choice as their aren’t many young actors that could fit the bill and Lerman has recently done some crap movies, but in both ‘3:10 To Yuman’ and ‘The Number 23’ he gave great performances so I’d be willing to give him a shot.
Notable Roles: X-Men I, II & III
Femme Fatale
My Take: Rather than being a prostitute, I imagine Selina was the daughter of a corrupt cop and high class hooker. She was abandoned young, and raised both on the street and a bunch of rough orphanages (maybe she gets abused here), leading to her becoming tough and cynical and eventually globetrotting and training to return to Gotham as a female Robin Hood of sorts, robbing from big criminals to fund her charity foundation or something which she uses also as a civilian cover. Anyway she too should find out Bruce’s secret as done in the ‘Hush’ storyline. She should also be a metahuman with feline like agility, etc.
Reason for Casting: She’s a pretty good actress, very hot and was fantastic in a very similar role as Mystique in Bryan Singer’s ‘X-Men’ movies, plus she kind of reminds me of Michelle Pfeiffer, so I’d be willing to see what she could do in the role.
Notable Roles: Eastern Promises
A History of Violence
The Road
A Dangerous Method
My Take: I like how Strange was presented in ‘The Batman’ cartoon as bad guy that was built up on. Basically, he should be around from the start as the head of Arkham Asylum, who has a fascination with Batman, leading to the inevitable conflict between the two.
Reason for Casting: He’s a very talented actor, whereas he may not typically be associated with such a role, I think he could bring grit to the role whilst maintaining a very strong presence and logic needed for the role, plus he’s playing a similar character (Freud) in his latest movie, and looks set to own their again. All he needs to do is shave his head.
Notable Roles: Without A Trace
My Take: Former Star Labs geneticist, Amanda Waller now works for the Department of Metahuman Affairs more secretive research and defence departments, most notably Checkmate (the Suicide Squad) and Project Cadmus. She should be the ‘Nick Fury’ of the DC universe.
Reason for Casting: I haven’t seen her in much, but what I saw of her in ‘Without a Trace’ was very impressive. It’s clear she’s a good actress; she also looks more like the character than Angela Bassett does so that obviously factored in to my casting choice too.
Notable Roles: The Wire
Game of Thrones
Blitz
My Take: I liked how Nolan presented the Joker as an ‘agent of chaos’ but thought the character should be presented as both a physical and mental adversary, so rather than being strong as Batman, I’d expect him to be fast and agile and an expert with knives. With that in mind, I like the idea that the Joker was a former hit man who was already a bit unhinged but went full blown crazy after he was turned on by his gang and given the old scar smile and dipped in tank of toxic chemicals, etc, only to return and wreak havoc against those who seek perfection and order.
Reason for Casting: He’s a pretty good actor, admittedly he hasn’t really had much mainstream attention but he’s played psychotic characters very well before, and most recently gave a great performance in ‘Blitz’ as an almost identical character, so I’d be willing to see him give it a spin.
Notable Roles: Mad Men
The Town
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, though rather than becoming a full blown crime boss, I imagine Harvey to seek ‘peace’ and order through organised crime or rather controlling it after his ‘rebirth.’
Reason for Casting: Similar to Eckhart, Hamm has this old school vintage Hollywood charisma to him that would lend itself well to the role, but despite that he’s a solid actor and could undoubtedly deliver on the duality of the role.
Notable Roles: Unleashed
My Take: I imagine him to be like one of the last old school criminals of Gotham, who manages to integrate himself with the freaks. Anyway, he uses his Iceberg Lounge as a front and is a supplier of sorts to Gotham’s underworld, providing everything from guns and drugs to human trafficking. As for his name, much like in the comics, it was an insult he eventually took on as a badge of pride.
Reason for Casting: Visually he looks the part, but he’s also a pretty good actor, admittedly I haven’t seen him in much, but if he plays the role similar to his character from ‘Unleashed’ then it’s clear he’d be fantastic here.
Notable Roles: Primal Fear
American History X
Fight Club
My Take: I’m sort of merging the Riddler with the Calculator, and reimagining him as a very intelligent sleazy former cop turned private investigator who operates for the mob and after becoming obsessed with Batman becomes a Jigsaw type serial killer villain seeking to play the ultimate game of cat and mouse with the Dark Knight. Basically I’ve taken some inspiration from the version of the character that appeared in ‘The Batman’ cartoon.
Reason for Casting: He’s one of my favourite actors, just a really great actor; more or less everything he’s done is on point. He puts his heart and soul into his roles and whereas he might be a jackass to work with it undoubtable that he definitely helps deliver a certain gravitas to a film.
Notable Roles: Inside Man
Children of Men
The International
My Take: I imagine him to be the sadistic power hungry son of Mafia don who’s trying to go straight, leading to him killing his father to secure his birth right and eventually become the ‘kingpin’ of Gotham. As for his facial condition, I imagine him to be a bit of an adrenalin junkie, so he participates in a few of the hits his gang takes part in, in one such occasion he’s wearing a black latex skull mask, which gets melted onto his face when he is attacked with a Molotov cocktail or something.
Reason for Casting: He’s a solid actor, is tall and imposing and has a very authoritative voice and a knack for playing cold and brutal characters well so I’d love to see him give the role a go.
Notable Roles: Underworld
Unthinkable
Frost/Nixon
My Take: I enjoyed how he was presented in Nolan’s series so would like elements of that to stick, though after his tenure at Arkham is over, he becomes a serial killer of sorts, performing fear gas experiments on unwitting victims.
Reason for Casting: He’s a solid actor and is the fan favourite for the role, really that simple. Frankly, I’d love to see him give it a shot.
Notable Roles: Alpha Dog
Hostage
The Mechanic
My Take: A serial killer who is often hired for special jobs by the Russian Mafia; he was one of the first freaks Batman encountered.
Reason for Casting: He’s a very talented actor, and can easily play psychotic characters and always gives unflinchingly powerful performances so would love to see him give it a spin.
Notable Roles: Devil
Dark Blue
My Take: Again rather than being a former Robin, I imagine Jason Todd was a 17 year old member of an illegal underground cage fighting ring, and is ‘saved’ by Batman and used by him as undercover agent to expose certain criminal ties or something, only to be discovered and killed by the Joker and later resurrected as done in the ‘Hush’ storyline. From here he becomes a dark vigilante counterpart to Batman.
Reason for Casting: Similar to my other Bat-family cast members Green looks a lot younger than he actually is, so that obviously works into my favour, but despite that he’s a solid up and coming actor and I think he is just perfect to bring that rough and tough gruffness Jason is known for.
Notable Roles: Inglorious Bastards
Centurion
X-Men: First Class
My Take: I imagine him to be a product of Project Cadmus that is initially brought to Gotham to hunt down Tim Drake, and to later become a member of the Suicide Squad.
Reason for Casting: He’s a very talented actor, always gives a fantastic performance in what he’s in and would be perfect as a young Batman, so I thought it would be fitting if he played this role.
Notable Roles: Deadwood
The Crazies
Justified
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, though he should be the team leader for the Suicide Squad.
Reason for Casting: He’s just a really cool actor, didn’t really like him before, but most recently his work has really caught my eye and I think he’d be perfect here.
Notable Roles: Dexter
My Take: In my take, I imagine Thomas Elliot was a child prodigy who got a scholarship to attend the same school as Bruce, as his parents weren’t very rich and were scumbags, they abused him and forced him to become friends with Bruce to up their social status. Eventually Elliot killed his parents and became obsessed with Bruce, seeing his life as ideal and even wanting to become him, leading to the inception of Hush.
Reason for Casting: He’s a very talented actor, admittedly I haven’t seen him in much but in ‘Dexter’ he has shown a lot of versatility and talent, but despite that he actually looks a lot like the character so that obviously helps.
Notable Roles: Collateral
No Country for Old Men
My Take: His mother was a whore, and his father was her pimp who he killed when he was 12 in her defence. After that he was sent to Santa Prisca juvenile prisons, unable to readjust to the outside life, he forcibly remained in prison eventually becoming one of Santa Prisca’s biggest underworld drugs baron and participant of experimental drug ‘venom.’ Eventually leading to his conflict with Batman after hearing tales of the legendary Dark Knight of Gotham, provoking his childhood fear of Bats and the dark, and then later becoming a member of the Suicide Squad.
Reason for Casting: He’s the fan favourite for the role and a top notch actor, great at playing intimidating and powerful characters plus he has a hell of a deep voice and more or less played the part before well. All he’d need to do is work out a bit more and wear some lifts to appear a bit taller.
Notable Roles: Underworld I, II & III
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, though rather than being a human crocodile I imagine him to just have a rare genetic disorder which makes his skin rock hard and some of his bones protrude out of certain areas; this led to him doing a stint in a freak show before becoming a cannibal hit man.
Reason for Casting: Another fan favourite, visually he looks the part and he’s a decent actor too so that of course helps.
Notable Roles: Prison Break
Constantine
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same.
Reason for Casting: He’s a pretty good actor, he has the right creepy look/presence needed for the role plus he just has this very imposing and threatening feel to him too.
Notable Roles: Castle
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, though it must be said I hate Damian Wayne so he should never be included in anything again.
Reason for Casting: She’s a pretty good actress, is very hot and has the right exotic look needed for the role. Despite that though, she could also pass of as my Ra’s pick’s daughter too so that helps.
Notable Roles: Gangs of New York
There Will Be Blood
My Take: I enjoyed the route of the character so far, so everything should pretty much remain the same, though I’d expect Ra’s and the League of Shadows to have a bigger and more supernatural presence in the DC universe; basically they should be DC’s version of the Hand.
Reason for Casting: He’s just a brilliant actor and another fan favourite. I think he is the only actor around that may be able to surpass Neeson, but despite that he looks the part too so that obviously did factor into my decision.
Well, that’s my take on Batman, remember to comment below!