Andy Serkis and Collin Farrell to Join The Batman (2021)2 min read

The Batman is set to be released in 2021, following the critical flop of both Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017). The Batman, dir. Matt Reeves, will have an entirely new cast and plot, making it the sixth iteration of Bruce Wayne’s character.

Ever since Robert Pattinson was cast as Bruce Wayne, audiences have been intrigued by who else Warner Bros might sign on. Most recently, Andy Serkis and Colin Farrell have been considered for the project.

Serkis will play Wayne family butler, Alfred Pennyworth. If he signs on, he will join the list of actors who have been in both DC and Marvel projects, including Ryan Reynolds, Chris Evans, and Ben Affleck.

Unlike some of his counterparts, Serkis has a history of playing villains, and scummy ones at that. In both Black Panther and Avengers: Age of Ultron, he played arms dealer Ulysses Klaue. Serkis also played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings series and Snoke in Star Wars Episode VII and VIII.

Other, recent portrayals of Alfred include Jeremy Irons in Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, as well as Douglas Hodge in Joker. Irons’ role broke the character’s traditional mold; Alfred was portrayed not as a butler but as Bruce Wayne’s bodyguard.

Colin Farrell is in talks to play Oswald Cobblepot (Penguin), a villain who was previously portrayed by Danny DeVito (Batman Returns, 1992), Burgess Meredith (Batman, 1966), and Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham, 2014-2019).

Farrell has reportedly joined on after Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen, who were both being considered for the role, dropped from production.

Penguin is a comedic, clownish villain, both in the comic books and in Danny DeVito’s iteration, so it will be interesting to see the more straight-laced Farrell’s take on the character.

Earlier fan castings nominated Serkis to pay the Penguin alongside Pattinson, however many will be intrigued to see his portrayal of Alfred should negotiations follow through.

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