BATMAN-ON-FILM.com delivered a real doozy of a news story on August 1st, claiming that WB/DC is looking for an older actor to play a “mid-40s” Batman in the upcoming MAN OF STEEL sequel. Then, on the 3rd, we were greeted to a list of actors being “considered” for the role from THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER; this list consisted of the following names: Josh Brolin (True Grit, age 45), Ryan Gosling (Drive, age 32), Joe Manganiello (Magic Mike, age 36), Matthew Goode (Stoker, age 35), Richard Armitage (The Hobbit trilogy, age 41), and Max Martini (Pacific Rim, age 43). Early speculation points to Brolin as the front-runner, with Gosling in tow. A poll conducted by ComicBookMovie.com’s own Mark Julian reveals similar results, with Brolin currently in 1st, Armitage in 2nd, and Manganiello in 3rd. Gosling rounds out the top 4, as of this writing.
While skimming through the comments, between the cries for Karl Urban and the praise for Brolin, I came across many remarks stating that Manganiello would be a good choice. Manganiello (or “Buff-Jesus”, as I call him) was in heavy consideration for the role of Superman in MAN OF STEEL, before the role eventually went to Henry Cavill due to scheduling complications. Fan casted numerous times for the roles of Superman, Batman, and even Punisher, it appears to be about time that Buff-Jesus got himself a CBM role. However, upon continued comment reading, I found that those praising Manganiello were often met with complaints that he is “too tall” and that his 6’6” frame would dwarf the likes of Cavill’s meager frame of 6’1”. I have seen complaints like this before; when not slamming the very idea of Armie Hammer being Batman, people were often complaining that this 6’5” actor was ALSO “too tall”.
But how tall is “too tall”? Is a Batman who happens to be taller than Superman such big deal? Why are people so up in arms?
Well, dear reader, the simple answer is: Height doesn’t matter. Does not matter. DOES! NOT! MATTER! This is 2013, afterall.
- Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin Oakenshield in THE HOBBIT trilogy, is 6’2” and was turned into a dwarf between the height of four and five feet, simply by using trick photography and scale models.
- To make Elijah Wood appear Hobbit-sized in the scene from THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING, when Frodo first meets Gandalf on the road, Ian McKellen and his cart of fireworks were closer to the camera.
- In THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, actor Tom Hardy had to wear special boots with 3-inch heels, in order for him to be the same height as both Christian Bale (6'0") and Morgan Freeman (6'2").
Manganiello (above) and Hammer are both 6’5”, only four inches taller than Cavill, which isn’t that much when you stop to think about it. That is the same height difference between Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth in MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS. The fact of the matter is that this height difference would only matter when Batman and Superman are in the same shot, in close proximity. Not that it would even matter then. Batman is going to be taller than Superman anyway because of his ears. Not to mention the fact that Superman has a bit of an ego problem: he KNOWS that he is powerful and could kick the crap out of everyone in the room. In Superman/Batman #11, 2004, Superman finds himself engaged in an argument with Big Barda (who is easily a foot taller than him), and when he finds himself loosing said argument, he levitates off the ground until he is looking down on her, in an attempt to prove his superiority.
People don’t like the idea of Batman being taller than Superman because:
1) “Superman should be taller because he is more powerful and the leader.”
and
2) “They should be the same height to show that they are on equal ground."
You don’t have to be the same height to show that you are on equal ground. Batman is as powerful MENTALLY as Superman is PHYSICALLY, and as long as the films show this, they ARE on equal ground (figuratively speaking, w/o bringing up the green stuff). Calling someone “too tall” is just a poor excuse.
BOTTOMLINE:
This is 2013, and we can do anything we want to manipulate size, shape, color, you name it. The casting of an actor should not be faltered by his or her height. This goes for any and every film project based off of a pre-conceived idea, be it a novel, comic, cartoon, anything. Batman is supposed to be the physical epitome of human perfection, and Joe Manganiello fits this description to a tea, unlike the other listed actors. Don’t rule him out just because he is tall.