Source Material: Hush; The Long Halloween and No Man's Land
Hush is a 2002–2003 DC Comics comic book story arc that ran through the Batman monthly series. It was written by Jeph Loeb, penciled by Jim Lee, inked by Scott Williams and colored by Alex Sinclair. The story depicts a mysterious stalker called Hush, who seems intent on sabotaging Batman from afar, and it includes a large number of guest appearances by Batman villains, as well as various members of the Batman Family and Batman's close ally Superman. It also explores the romantic potential between Batman and Catwoman.
Taking place during Batman's early days of crime fighting, The Long Halloween tells the story of a mysterious killer named Holiday, who murders people on holidays, one each month. Working with District Attorney Harvey Dent and Captain James Gordon, Batman races against the calendar as he tries to discover who Holiday is before he claims his next victim each month, while attempting to stop the crime war between two of Gotham's most powerful families, Maroni and Falcone. This novel also acted as a re-introduction to the DC Universe for one of Batman's most elusive foes, Calendar Man, who knows the true identity of the Holiday killer but refuses to share this with Batman. He instead riddles and gives Batman hints from his Arkham Asylum cell. The story also ties into the events that transform Harvey Dent into Batman's enemy, Two-Face. Enemies such as Scarecrow, the Joker, Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy and the Riddler, among others, also make appearances.
After an earthquake strikes Gotham City the US government declare it a "No Man's Land" and close off the city, and those who choose to remain must deal with all the crime and chaos that ensues. This story was collected into five volumes. Gangs and various super villains Batman had battled over the years swiftly carve up the city. The city's police's commissioner, James Gordon, and several members of his department, who dub their gang the Blue Boys stay behind to protect civilians. Oracle and Huntress also end up on the inside. Bruce Wayne leaves the city to lobby the government to continue aid to Gotham, but fails. Gordon and his men wait for Batman's return, but he disappears for months, leading the police to believe that he has abandoned Gotham. A bitterly disappointed Gordon denounces Batman and refuses even to speak his name.
Directed by Cary Fukunaga, Alex Garland and George Miller (respectively)
A film director is a person who directs the making of a film. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualizes the script while guiding the technical crew and actors in the fulfillment of that vision.
Reasons: Fukunaga is such a hot name right now with titles like the acclaimed flick Beasts of No Nation getting buzz for being snubbed at the Oscar nominations and Jane Eyre in which he worked alongside names like Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender among others. Cary has also worked on the critically acclaimed True Detective and was for a while signed on to direct an adaptation of the Stephen King novel It. Fukunaga's vision and talent has only been newly discovered and he would make a perfect choice to have us delve into the world of our new Batman and his villain's mindsets. Alex Garland would make the perfect middle director in my mind as he would be amazing at helping the audience get into the mind of Batman and what makes his villains so tick. Garland has several great credits including the Oscar winning film Ex Machina, the zombie thriller classic 28 Days Later, and comic book junkie fan favorite Dredd. Not to mention the underappreciated 2007 movie Sunshine. Finally I noticed a trend with comic book movies that may or may not stay true for the future of the genre but it's that the third film in a trilogy tends to be a shadow of the greatness the former two brought to the stage. I wanted to alleviate this by bringing in none other than the man George Miller himself. Miller has been attached to the DCEU for a while now, directing the now defunct Justice League Mortal and being tapped to direct Man of Steel 2. It would take a strong hand to make sure the Dark Knight goes out on a high note after two great directors like Garland and Fukunaga lays their prints on the franchise. Miller reinvigorated an age old franchise and took home the most Oscars for his stellar film Mad Max: Fury Road and I can only think of a handful of directors I would want on this property besides him.
Every screenplay and teleplay begins with a thought or idea, and screenwriters use those ideas to write scripts, with the intention of selling them and having them produced. In some cases, the script is based on an existing property, such as a book or person's life story, which is adapted by the screenwriter. The majority of the time, a film project gets initiated by a screenwriter and because they initiated the project, the writing assignment exclusively becomes his or hers. These are referred to as "exclusive" assignments or "pitched" assignments. Screenwriters who often pitch new projects, whether original or an adaptation, often do not have to worry about competing for assignments and are often more successful. When word is put out about a project a film studio, production company, or producer wants done, these are referred to as "open" assignments. Open assignments are more competitive. In situations where screenwriters are competing for an open assignment, more established writers will usually win these assignments. A screenwriter can also be approached and personally offered a writing assignment.
Reasons: George Miller (as previously stated) is likely waiting on DC to give him something he can really sink his teeth into as a director and considering Miller wrote his films as well as directed him I doubt this would be an exception. If WB plays their cards right Miller could be the Emperor Palpatine of the DCEU's creative team, helping everything sync in with each other and effectively helping the shared universe style. Now onto the two golden children of the company! First you have Ben Affleck, we pretty much all know and love him at this point and is considered by many to be the best Batman we've had but that shouldn't take away from his behind the scenes work. Affleck did some rewrites on Batman v. Superman and also wrote the very underrated flick The Town and Gone Baby Gone. He's also writing and directing the promising upcoming movie Live by Night. And finally you have David Ayer. A very diverse and talented individual who's work on paper is almost as impressive as is work behind the camera. Ayer is directing the upcoming DCEU release Suicide Squad, which is looking better and better with each new piece of promotion released, and has written and directed the critical hits like Fury, End of Watch and Training Day. If Suicide Squad turns out to be as good as it looks you can assure yourself DC is going to try and tap him for another project within the universe and keeping with the Star Wars comparisons, bring balance to the Force.
Production designers are responsible for the visual concept of a film, television or theater production. They identify a design style for sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, camera angles and costumes, while working closely with the director and producer. Once the concept is decided, designers usually appoint and manage an art department, which includes a design and construction team. They often form a strong partnership with a particular director, who they may work with on many productions. Designers tend to specialize in film, television or theater, although there may be some overlap. In the theater, production designers are also called stage or set designers. Most production designers work as freelancers and so an important part of their work is marketing their skills and experience, making contacts and briefing agents.
Reasons: Stuart Craig is a talented individual. While he may not be on par with names such as Dante Ferretti or Rick Carter he certainly has the vision I see for a Batman film. I chose a different production designer from Batman v. Superman and Man of Steel because I want this to feel like a different film from those two while not quite falling into Suicide Squad territory. I definitely wanted an Arkham type feel but I wanted the sets to feel like a two hour bottle episode for each one, studying the environment in which each villain thrives and feels comfortable in. Craig worked on all eight Harry Potter films as well as Chaplin and The Elephant Man. Craig has an impressive resume and could portray the grimey feel of a prison movie but with superheroes involved.
Composed by Dan Romer
A film composer scores music to accompany a motion picture for film or television. This could include dramatic underscore as well as popular songwriting. The traditional role of a film composer is to provide the orchestral dramatic underscore, and only more recently has the popular soundtrack begun to stand on its own. A film composer usually is hired to write all original dramatic music for your movie. Any scene that has “score music” is part of what the composer should do for your movie. Anything that goes beyond that needs special negotiation with the composer. This includes source music, songs, recording and mixing.
Reasons: Romer has worked with Fukunaga before on Beasts of No Nation and I wanted to rekindle that relationship by bringing him on for this trilogy. Romer has several other impressive credits to his name such as composing the music for critically acclaimed films such as Finders Keepers, Beasts of the Southern Wild, and The Last Season. Romer is a great choice to capture the eerie feeling and tension fueled moments and also give the film its' own sound and give us a break from Hans Zimmer's trademark sound used in both Batman v Superman and Man of Steel.
Film Editing by Steve M. Choe
A film editor is a mechanic who removes the unneeded and fits pieces of film together to make a finished movie. He is a collaborator who works with cinematographers and sound editors to bring sight and sound together. And he is an artist who captures a director's vision and tells a compelling story. Being a film editor requires hours of looking through footage and then assembling a film a half-second at a time, while working quickly to meet the filmmakers' deadlines. Describing the job to a National Public Radio reporter, film editor Walter Murch said it is "a cross between a short-order cook and a brain surgeon"
Reasons: Choe edited one of my favorite action flicks of all time in Snowpiercer and has been keeping up a steady body of work since then. Choe is destined to be a breakout favorite with his keen eye for action and smooth transitions, making him perfect to work alongside someone like George Miller or Ben Affleck. A trilogy like this that studies a variety of villains and even the hero himself needs someone that can condense it down properly for theaters and still keep the attention of the general audience, possibly saving the ultimate cut for a blu-ray release.
Now onto the people you'll actually seen on-screen...
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne/Batman (Confirmed)
Bruce Wayne, who witnessed the murder of his billionaire parents as a child, swore to avenge their deaths. He trained extensively to achieve mental and physical perfection, mastering martial arts, detective skills, and criminal psychology. Costumed as a bat to prey on criminals' fears, and utilizing a high-tech arsenal, he became the legendary Batman. Bruce is last seen at Superman's funeral with Diana, telling her that they need to find the other metahumans and be ready to fight whatever's coming next.
Reasons: There was plenty of doubt and hate leading up to it but no matter what you thought of the film I think pretty much everyone collectively agrees that Affleck killed it as the Caped Crusader and we're more than ready to see more of him and what else he brings to the table.
Jena Malone as Barbara Gordon/Oracle
Barbara Gordon was the first modern age Batgirl until she was brutally shot by the Joker, rendering her paralyzed from the waist down. Barbara reinvented herself as Oracle, providing intelligence to the DCU heroes and leading the Birds of Prey. She has recently become Batgirl once again to protect Gotham City. Barbara, alongside with her brother, was visiting her father in the Police Station of Gotham City, under the excuse of needing it as part of a college project. Her real motivation, though, was taking a closer look on what the officers thought and knew about Batman, the mysterious vigilant who was similar to her in many aspects, including her smartness.
Reasons: Malone has been confirmed to be in the extended cut of Batman v. Superman, still arousing suspicions that she's indeed playing Barbara Gordon. The debate still lies in whether she'll be a fully capable Batgirl or instead be the aid to Batman and the Bat family as the genius Oracle or even someone else entirely. Well since the extended cut of BvS isn't here as of press time and we have no idea how she'll play into the plot I thought it would be narratively better if she were already Oracle and the events of The Killing Joke already happened, leading us to see Barbara's intense hatred for Joker and trying to walk again through strict therapy and training.
Jack Reynor as Dick Grayson/Nightwing
Born to a family of acrobats, Dick Grayson began his life with an exciting childhood growing up in the circus. With his parents, John and Mary Grayson, his family forms "The Flying Graysons," famed trapeze artists and acrobats. These happy times soon take a turn for the worse, as the mafia begins targeting the circus. At eight years old, Dick witnesses mob boss Anthony Zucco threatens the circus owner, demanding insurance for the safety of his performers. The owner vehemently refuses the extortion and Dick goes along his way. Unfortunately, Zucco decides to use the headlining act, which happens to be The Flying Graysons, as an example. Grayson was adopted by billionaire Bruce Wayne and functioned as his trainee and sidekick for years, even adopting his own superhero persona of Nightwing
Reasons: Not a popular choice, in fact I can't say I've seen this choice at all but hear me out. Reynor is a very promising young actor. He's been in the blockbuster Transformers 4, while that didn't garner him any critical praise it certainly got his name out there in the ether. Reynor followed up his performance in Transformers 4 with critically acclaimed performances in Macbeth alongside Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard and the new John Carney flick Sing Street. This kid has some range and with directors like Garland and Miller at the helm I would absolutely adore this pick.
Colin Firth as Edward Nigma/Riddler
Edward Nigma is a villain obsessed with riddles, puzzles, and brain teasers, who took the alias of the Riddler to commit crimes. Riddler frequently tries to outsmart Gotham's hero Batman, but is always defeated by the Dark Knight. After spending some time 'reformed' working as a Private Investigator in Gotham, he has returned to his old villainous ways. Riddler plays a big part in the Long Halloween arc.
Reasons: I really don't want another Jim Carrey Riddler so that's why I avoided the overdone choices such as Jim Parsons and Neil Patrick Harris. I definitely want this version of the character to be more grounded in reality. Firth is a master class actor and has proved he's still got chops in Kingsman alongside Taron Egerton and Michael Caine. Firth can portray the ruthless cunning of the character and also the insanity that comes with being a criminal genius and a constant foil to Batman.
Will Poulter as Jason Todd/Red Hood
Raised in the slums of the poor side of Gotham City, Jason Todd was a dark haired boy and the son of a petty criminal named Willis Todd. Eventually, Willis was sent to prison and never returned home despite earning his release after a few years. Thus before Willis got sent to prison was the last time Jason ever saw him. This left Jason with Catherine Todd, a drug addicted woman he did not know was not truly his biological mother. In order to survive and for his so-called mother's habit, Jason turned to crime, ripping off car parts for money. Catherine soon died from a drug overdose, and Willis had disappeared after screwing up a job for Two-Face. Jason was left alone on the streets barely surviving, still stealing parts of cars for cash. This led to Batman discovering Jason in an alley stealing the tires off the Batmobile. Jason Todd was the second Robin, brutally murdered by the Joker. Resurrected, Jason initially turned against his mentor, taking on the Clown Prince's former codename: the Red Hood.
Reasons: Of all the picks I've had this tends to be the most divisive so I'm going to explain myself a little more thoroughly than I would my other choices. Poulter is such a promising young actor and is in the right age range to play Jason Todd (who is already confirmed to be dead). He has the range as we've seen him in films like The Revenant, The Maze Runner and he was even going to play Pennywise in Cary Fukunaga's would-be adaptation of It. If what he's done already and on top of that putting him in with a director he's signed on to work with before doesn't convince you then please tell me what issue you have and I'll address it in the comments.
Will Smith as Floyd Lawton/Deadshot
The younger son of a wealthy couple who hated each other, Floyd Lawton idolized his elder brother, Edward, although he lived in his shadow. When he was a teenager his mother Genevieve convinced Floyd to try to kill his abusive father. He climbed a tree with a rifle, but somehow his aim went astray and he accidentally killed his brother instead. Swearing that he would never again miss a shot, he began training as a sharpshooter. As an adult he joined the Marines and spent some time with the League of Assassins before seeking independent employment as a mercenary and assassin. Following an attempted hit on a senator that was interrupted by Batman he was sent to Belle Reve, where he was invited to join the Suicide Squad.
Reasons: Smith is a really good actor and can play a variety of roles (although some people don't believe so). Like the casting or not he's confirmed to be the character and he could definitely bring his talents to Long Halloween trilogy, ending up back in prison after Suicide Squad and breaking out in No Man's Land, facing off against the man that put him back in there in the first place, Batman. Miller has a knack for creating imposing characters and I could very well see Deadshot being similar to Immorten Joe if done correctly.
Jared Leto as The Joker
The Joker, Clown Prince of Crime, is Batman's arch-nemesis. An agent of chaos known for his purple three-piece suit and insidious smile, he has caused Batman more suffering than any other villain he has ever faced. His origin, name, and true motivations remain a mystery. The Joker's origin is shrouded in mystery. His skin and joker smile are commonly attributed to accidentally falling into a chemical bath while he was under the persona of Red Hood.
Reasons: Leto has no shortage of classics and modern pieces of art on his filmography so his acting should be in question by absolutely no one. He turned in an absolutely stellar performance in Dallas Buyers Club, which won him an Oscar. He was a revelation in Requiem for a Dream, playing the drug addicted protagonist Harry Goldfarb and the protagonist in the complex existential flick Mr. Nobody, showing that Leto is indeed one of the most transformative and versatile actors working today. As Suicide Squad approaches I have no doubts he'll turn in an amazing performance as the Clown Prince of Crime.
Roman Sionis, AKA the Black Mask, is a ruthless Gotham City-based mob boss and leader of the False Face Society. At various times he has been the supreme leader of the Gotham criminal Underworld. Possessing an extreme hatred for Bruce Wayne, and a sadistic talent for torturing his victims, makes the Black Mask one of Batman's most dangerous adversaries.
Reasons: James Badge Dale is a crucially underrated actor. People may know him best as the guy that shot Leonardo DiCaprio near the end of The Departed. However, Dale has turned in really good performances and is considered severely overlooked for his roles in films like Stretch and 13 Hours. He also appeared in Flight playing a cancer sufferer alongside Denzel Washington. Shame, The Walk and The Black Donnelys all are to his credit. Perhaps his finest hour was in the much-maligned The Lone Ranger, where he continued his fraternal roles as the older brother of Armie Hammer’s eponymous protagonist. However, unlike Hammer, Dale had the stoic, self-assured confidence and charisma of a hero.
Lee Pace as Dr. Hugo Strange
One of Batman's earliest villains, preceding even the Joker and Catwoman, Dr. Hugo Strange is a brilliant but disturbed psychologist who forms an obsessive vendetta against Batman. He is also one of the few villains who have successfully deduced that the Batman's real identity is Bruce Wayne. Hugo Strange's origins remain shrouded in mystery. Bruce Wayne himself said, "Professor Hugo Strange. The most dangerous man in the world! Scientist, philosopher and a criminal genius ... little is known of him, yet this man is undoubtedly the greatest organizer of crime in the world." Hugo has been described as Batman's Moriarty.
Reasons: Pace is a very skilled actor, having acting training from Juilliard of all places. He turned heads with his role in the 2003 film Soldier's Girl. Pace has also impressed in his his role in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and in the critically acclaimed Lincoln starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Pace is arguably most known for portraying Thranduil in the Middle Earth franchise and Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy. Some would say his talents were wasted in Guardians so I would certainly want plenty of screen time for him if he were to play the man obsessed with becoming Batman himself.
Ashraf Barhom as Ra's al Ghul
Ra's al Ghul, whose name translates to "The Demon's Head" in Arabic, is the centuries-old leader of the League of Assassins. He seeks to purge humanity of crime and corruption, utilizing the rejuvenating Lazarus Pits to maintain his immortality. Though Ra's seeks to make Batman his successor, Batman opposes him. Ra’s al Ghul was born 700 years ago in a tribe of nomads in one of the Arabian deserts. When Ra’s was young, he became fascinated with science, but due to his nomad tribe, he was unable to study. Ra’s decided to leave his tribe and move to the city where he could study science. He became a physician and then quickly married the love of his life, Sora. Later, Ra’s discovered the secret lair of the Lazarus Pit.
Reasons: Barhom is a master actor and my only choice for the Demon's Head himself. He's given great performances in The Kingdom, The Syrian Bride and Coriolanus. Ashraf also starred in the art house film Paradise Now which received rave reviews and is a look inside the mind of two terrorists and is considered both fascinating and frightening. The final nail in the coffin for choosing Barhom was an interview he did for The Kingdom in which he stayed (for the most part) in character and his performances he kept up for Tyrant, a show that had pretty weak writing admittedly but Barhom never phoned it in and that's the class of actor I want on board this project especially with people like Affleck and Garland working behind the camera.
Brie Larson as Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy
A brilliant botanical biochemist, Pamela Isley is a fervent eco-terrorist out to save the world's plant life by any means necessary. She often finds herself at odds with Batman, though they have, on occasion, fought on the same side. She has had a long friendship with Harley Quinn and is responsible for Harley's meta-human abilities. Ivy, Harley, and Catwoman later teamed up as the Gotham City Sirens. Post-New 52, she was a member of the Birds of Prey for a time before betraying them to further her cause.
Reasons: Male or female, Brie Larson is one of the best actors working today and her recent Oscar win for Room cements her status as a force to be reckoned with. She's able to play a variety of characters and personas on-screen and convey multiple emotions better than most. This is why I chose her for Poison Ivy because Brie Larson could easily portray the brilliance of Pamela Isley and the conflicted pursuits of Poison Ivy. I do hope they go for a less seductress vibe more reminiscent of the New 52 though because Brie Larson is much more than just eye candy unlike a lot of other choices I've seen for the character and I, personally, have disliked certain characterizations of Ivy as a fan.
Sam Rockwell as Thomas Elliot/Hush
Thomas Elliot is a renowned surgeon and childhood friend of Bruce Wayne. A meticulous planner, Elliot resents the fact that Bruce's father thwarted his plot to murder his parents. Aware of Bruce Wayne's secret identity, and assuming the identity of criminal mastermind Hush, he sets out to destroy Batman. Tommy was a close childhood friend of Bruce Wayne (Batman). Both were born into wealthy families. Bruce's father, Thomas, was happy to see the children become friends, something he thought Bruce needed so much. The boys loved to play strategy games, but Tommy was always able to outmaneuver Bruce.
Reasons: Rockwell is just a camera darling. If you put him in a role and tell him to play it he'll pretty much do it better than 90% of the other guys you had in mind. He was very charming and fascinating in Seven Psychopaths but also kept that air of danger about him in Joshua. Rockwell is the perfect choice for Hush because in his first appearance Thomas Elliot needs to get the audience on his side and like him which is something Rockwell does so easily. And while he haven't to my knowledge seen Rockwell in a role where we're scared of him I think it'd be really easy to pull off especially since Cary Fukunaga is my choice to direct this film
Sheila Vand as Talia al Ghul
Although a member of her father’s criminal empire, and one of his closest advisors, Talia is often shown to be not as convinced of the goals of his enterprise as he is. One of the reasons for her doubt was her father's indication that she should choose Batman as a mate. Batman actually had a calming influence on her, and led to a less radical path than her father. Since then she has done other altruistic actions such as coming to Batman’s aid during Hush, or aiding in the resurrection of Jason Todd. She has also shown a degree of loyalty to her son which is apparently stronger than any other loyalty which she has.
Reasons: Vand has previously worked with Affleck before, playing Sahar in his feature film Argo alongside Bryan Cranston and John Goodman. She also starred in the critically acclaimed film A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night which currently holds a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. Sheila gave an amazing performance in the aforementioned flick and is currently an indie darling and will be looked at by multiple filmmakers. Vand could easily play Talia and be a foil and ally to Affleck's Batman.
Zachary Quinto as Victor Zsasz
Victor Zsasz is the most unrepentant of sociopaths, a serial killer who marks the death of his victims on his skin with tally marks. He believes that human beings are mindless 'robots' who attempt to give themselves purpose and meaning by materialistic and shallow means. He is very intelligent and deceptively cunning, often trying to manipulate or intimidate his victims before killing them and arranging them in lifelike poses for the police and Batman to find. He is highly unpredictable, killing people at random. He is a very capable killer, as proven in Detective Comics 815 where he kills four policemen and an Arkham psychologist without using any weapons except for a pen and four metal poles attached to a collar he is restrained with. In the same comic, he accurately throws a knife into the torso of a police officer from a distance. He is incredibly agile and has even been able to sneak up on Batman undetected on several occasions.
Reasons: I'd actually want Zsasz to be the main antagonist of The Long Halloween, replacing the Holiday Killer. Quinto is quite the gifted actor. He's best known for playing Spock in the new Star Trek movies but his other roles and performances get thrown by the wayside when looking at the blockbusters. Quinto held his own and impressed many alongside Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey and Paul Bettany in Margin Call. American Horror Story, Hannibal and the upcoming film Snowden seem to indicate his rising star power and incoming critical acclaim.
Demián Bichir as Bane
Forced to serve a life sentence for the crimes of his father, Bane was born and raised in the underground prison, Peña Duro. There, he forged himself into the pinnacle of physical and mental potential all without seeing the light of day. Escaping to Gotham City, Bane pitted himself against Batman and became famous as "The Man Who Broke the Bat". Characterized initially as an amoral product of a corrupt prison system and an unscrupulous super-soldier program, yet ultimately fated for greater things, Bane was shown to be savage in physical combat and shrewdly calculating in matters of strategy. Venom made him more powerful than most of his foes, allowing him to defeat the likes of Killer Croc, Robin and even Batman himself.
Reasons: Bichir comes from a family of actors and I've always felt Bane should be played by someone Hispanic and that also CGI would be needed to truly bring to life the behemoth that is Bane. Demian is an excellent actor appearing in The Heat, The Hateful Eight and Machete Kills. His chops would be perfect to play the role of a hardened criminal desperate for a way out hellbent on rage and Venom. Bichir is talented enough to portray Bane before the transformation but also great enough to enhance the character through motion-capture.
Michael Pitt as Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow
The son of a father obsessed with understanding and controlling fear, Jonathan Crane was used as the subject for illegal experiments from a young age following the death of his mother. Repeatedly locked in a small room beneath the floor and dosed with fear-inducing toxins, he became completely unhinged after his father unexpectedly died in the middle of an experiment. Utilizing a fear-inducing gas known as fear toxin, Jonathan Crane preys upon the people of Gotham City as the villainous Scarecrow.
Reasons: Pitt's ability to induce fear into an audience shouldn't be in question considering he starred in the 2008 U.S. version of Funny Games. Pitt also has credits to his name including Seven Psychopaths with Sam Rockwell and Rob the Mob alongside Ray Romano. Pitt has kept up a steady resume of great work and will be seen alongside Scarlett Johansson in the Ghost in the Shell reboot set for 2017. His talent isn't simply limited to the big screen though as many people know him as Jimmy from Boardwalk Empire or Mason from Hannibal.
Walton Goggins as Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat
Kirk Langstrom was a dedicated geneticist interested in extracting and isolating traits from one species and transferring them to another; however, he was so obsessed with his work he started to lose his wife and became a mockery of the field. He was hoping to use the enhanced hearing of bats to overcome his deafness. When he made a breakthrough he requested more funding but was denied. he serum succeeded and returned his hearing to him. He quickly makes amends with Francine, but Kirk's hearing has become superhuman and then it happens, he starts mutating into a man/bat hybrid. His mind is overcome by instincts and he is plagued by frequent blackouts.
Reasons: Goggins is another Hateful Eight actor to make the list alongside Demian Bichir. Goggins has been world class talent for a long time now, with films like Lincoln and Django Unchained on his immediate list of recognizable films. He's also been in The Apostle alongside Robert Duvall and The Bourne Identity. Goggins is more than enough to bring the brilliant scientist that turns into a giant bat to life,
Charlie Hunnam as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow
Oliver Queen was a spoiled, thrill-seeking playboy, until he was left stranded on a deserted island for several years. There, he trained to become a master archer in order to survive. After his return home, he used his new-found skills to became the costumed vigilante known as Green Arrow. Following the events of The Emerald Archer Trilogy, Oliver now has an adoptive daughter in Emiko to care for while he attempts to keep Star City safe from crime lords and gangs of super villains flooding in from both Gotham and Metropolis.
Reason: I always thought it would be a fun thing to play with cinematically having Green Arrow and Batman have quips about being so similar yet exploring how they are so different. Hunnam was the star I chose to be Oliver in my Green Arrow Trilogy fancast and I certainly plan on having the events of that affect the rest of the universe's status. During the release of multiple criminals from prison during the adaptation of No Man's Land it would be a pretty sweet cameo for our other resident billionaire orphan to show up and help Bruce out à la The Dark Knight Returns.
Ray Stevenson as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
Genetically engineered to surpass all human limits, once a soldier, Slade Wilson now works as one of the most feared assassins in the DC Universe. He has frequently clashed with the Teen Titans, Batman, the Justice League, Green Arrow, and even Gods! Depending on the writer, Deathstroke can be a "violent gun-toting mercenary, unafraid to kill", a likeable anti-hero, or just another hired gun meant to fill in the pages. His character is molded by a certain Code of Ethics, that may change at any given time depending on the situation of his life. When his code is more strict, he can become one of the good guys, while other times he can almost completely throw his honor out the door, and do something as cold blooded and senseless as destroying an entire city, as in the destruction of Blüdhaven in the Infinite Crisis story arc or murdering a group of teenage mercenaries.
Reasons: You can't just have Oliver show up in Gotham for nothing though right? Being a shared villain of both Arrow and Bats Slade would be the thread that connects the two storylines as he escapes prison himself and attempts to recruit the most dangerous villains in the world for a new formation of Task Force X in his own image. Oliver travels to Gotham to stop him, eventually crossing paths with the Caped Crusader himself.
Patrick Fugit as Harvey Dent/Two Face
Formerly the D.A.. of Gotham City, Harvey Dent was an ally of Batman and Commissioner Gordon until he had acid thrown onto the left side of his face by a mob boss, scarring him for life. The incident drove Harvey insane and he became Two-Face, obsessed with chance and always carrying a double-headed coin, which he flips to determine his every decision. Born and raised in Gotham, Harvey Dent was brought up in a lower-class and violent household. His father was an abusive alcoholic who repeatedly beat the boy, often using a double-headed coin to give the child a "chance" to escape a beating. Dent spent much of his early life suffering from various mental issues, notably bipolar disorder and paranoia. Despite his early hardships, he was a good student and able to obtain a law degree. Deciding that he wished to make Gotham a better place, he ran for and won the position of District Attorney in Gotham. He was noted for his dedication to justice, and his seeming untouchability.
Reasons: Fugit is most known for being the star of the classic film Almost Famous alongside the now deceased Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Fugit has mostly stayed out of the limelight since then but has turned up in more than a few films and given some excellent performances to show he wasn't just a flash in the pan. He's made appearances in films like We Bought a Zoo and Gone Girl but most importantly is the lead in the critically acclaimed series Outcast. With the talent I've chosen to work behind the camera Fugit is a relatively odd but great choice for the conflicted villain.
Ron Perlman as Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze
Bruce Wayne was instrumental in firing Victor from Wayne Laboratories and decommissioning the research that he was working on--namely bio-cryonics. Freeze, enraged by this, hurled a chair at Bruce, which hit the cryotanks in the laboratory and exploded all over him. The accident left Victor biologically changed, his skin cells now storing the cold and rendering him unable to live without being in constant cold temperatures. Freeze goes mad when he is convinced that even after decades of research and experiments his deceased wife can be saved and restored to life despite being frozen for years.
Reasons: Perlman is a man of many faces and I've picked him for a variety of roles for that very reason. We need a good on screen representation of Mr. Freeze that we simply haven't gotten yet in live-action. Many people can bring this to the table but I chose Perlman for his wide range of acting abilities and the fact he's played a towering yet sympathetic character before in Hellboy. Freeze would present a moral dilemma for the Dark Knight as what he wants to accomplish isn't inherently evil but hurts innocent people in the process.
Chandler Riggs as Tim Drake/Robin
Tim Drake is the son of Jack and Janet Drake. When he was a child, he visited the circus with his parents and managed to get a photo with the Graysons before the show. That night, Tim met Dick Grayson before the young acrobat's parents were assassinated. Tim Drake had followed Batman and Robin's career ever since the murder of the Flying Graysons. One day, he saw the original Robin on television performing a move he had seen Dick Grayson perform at the circus; he quickly made the connection that Dick Grayson was Robin, and after learning that Dick Grayson was the ward of Bruce Wayne, he realized that Bruce Wayne was Batman.
Reasons: As a (former) fan of The Walking Dead it's not hard to see that the cast was and still is very talented and I've been searching for a role I feel Riggs could play. Riggs is a very talented growing young actor and Drake is a very talented growing Robin. The parallels work great for an accurate portrayal of the character and Riggs should definitely work his way into the movie scene sooner rather than later and George Miller with his endless array of characters could guide and work out an amazing performance from Riggs to share the screen with the likes of Affleck and Jeremy Irons.
Maika Monroe as Stephanie Brown/Spoiler
Stephanie Brown is the daughter of the C-list Batman villain, the Cluemaster, who spent most of Stephanie’s early childhood in jail, away from Gotham City. On return to the city she finds her father back to his old tricks, except he no longer feels the need to leave clues behind. In an attempt to try and stop her father she created a costume of her own and began to call herself the “Spoiler”. For years Stephanie fought crime without any advanced equipment or martial arts training. Stephanie is armed only with her martial arts and gymnastic skills. She once beat a Prudence, who had a gun, easily, even though Prudence was trained by the League of Assassins. She is skilled at handling a motorcycle, grappling hook and various gadgets. Has some minor training in various forensics and detective skills but became more elite as her tutelage under Batman grew closer.
Reasons: Monroe is a great up and coming actress, impressing in films such as The Guest and It Follows. She got her start by impressing in the smaller film At Any Price and will next be seen in the blockbuster sequel Independence Day: Resurgence alongside Jeff Goldblum and Liam Hemsworth. Straying from the comics I would have Stephanie Brown be a protégé to Batman before Tim Drake and have her act more as an older sister to the young hero rather than a love interest.
Jennifer Carpenter as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Catwoman, the costumed alias persona of Selina Kyle, is a cat burglar with an on-again, off-again, romantic relationship with Batman. She is shown as a woman who is very strong-willed, independent and morally dubious. Selina Kyle was born to Brian and Maria Kyle in the slums of Gotham City. Her mother was never close to Selina or her sister Maggie and would often rather spend time with her cats then her children. Her father was an abusive and drunken man who would always quarrel with Maria, a homemaker. In her spare time, Selina took gym lessons not just as an extra curricular but to sometimes avoid the domestic violence at home. One day, as she returned home from school, Selina found her mother lying in the bath tub filled with blood. Apparently, Maria had committed suicide by cutting her wrists with a razor blade. Selina’s father hated Selina because she looked like her mother, eventually he drank too much and succumbed to alcohol poisoning.
Reasons: Carpenter is a fantastic actress and not the usual choice for Catwoman especially in the same age range as Affleck. She's probably best known for playing the character of Debra Morgan on the Showtime thriller Dexter but has also been in The Crucible and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, both in which she received acclaim for her performance. Carpenter is an oddball choice that doesn't receive nearly enough credit or opportunities as she deserves and in my personal opinion would make a damn fine Catwoman.
Thank you all for sitting through another one of my fancasts! I worked very hard and hope you enjoyed it. Closing out the gif is one that's not actually random as I was unable to make a grid for it. My choice for Helena Bertinelli aka Huntress, Eliza Dushku
via GIPHY