So, can’t wait another couple years to see The Caped Crusader in the form of Ben Affleck? Fear not for those lovely chaps at Fox are bringing us their very own series chronicling the early days of a pre-Batman and Jim Gordon. Wait what? Fox? Young Bruce Wayne? No Batman? How is this going to work? First of all Batman is owned by DC and does this mean we will have to watch at least five seasons to see Bruce don the cape? Or will they do a Smallville and end the show once he dons the cape? Either way there could be much to worry about but fear not, the show is in the right hands. Bruno Heller, mostly known for Rome and The Mentalist series is writing and show-running the project. Danny Cannon of CSI fame is executive producing and directing. So with those two names alone our worries should be kept at bay. Thankfully the cast is not lacking either.
But still how is it that Fox is making this and why? Well let’s say you bought the rights to a series only to do diddly squat with it until a year or so away from the contract expiring and the threat of being fined too… sound familiar? Cough-Amazing Spiderman-Cough. Let’s also not forget the bucket loads of money the Nolan movies have brought in. They would have been nuts to let this one pass. So let’s have a quick look at who will be playing who.
Bruce Mckenzie from the O.C will be starring as a young James Gordon, the series protagonist. Taking cues from Frank Miller’s Batman Year One, Gordon will be ex-army, probably the only honest cop in Gotham and let’s hope a bit smarter than Oldman’s Gordon. Don’t get me wrong, I loved his performance but you have to admit, Nolan’s Gordon wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box. He’s married and his wife is played by Erin Richards.
Donal Logue will be playing Gordon’s rough around the edges partner Harvey Bullock. Logue is mostly known for his role in Sons of Anarchy and Blade 1 to name a few.
David Mazouz as Bruce Wayne. Most of us were sceptical about how much of Bruce we would get but according to Heller, he and Gordon’s relationship will be the centre of the series.
Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth. As a fan of Pertwee I was excited to hear he was cast. Alfred is known to be Bruce’s legal and spiritual guardian after the death of his parents. Unlike previous incarnations Alfred will be an ex marine from East London who will be highly protective of Bruce.
Now one thing that has made Batman such a famous and well loved character are his villains and this series does not fall short. First we have Robin Lord Taylor in his breakout role as Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin. Possessing a genius intellect with a sadistic side, Cobblepot works for the character especially created for the show Fish Moony played by Jada Pinket Smith. Since the producers are taking the Nolan route and making this show as real as it can get, I think it’s safe to say that The Penguin won’t undergo some transformation and turn into Danny deVito, either way it still looks interesting.
Camren Bicondova will be playing the 13 year old Selina Kyle, a highly skilled pickpocket, who will grow up to become the anti-heroine Catwoman.
And finally(for now) Edward Nygma one of my favourite villains. Here, he is a forensic scientist working for the Gotham Police Department who speaks in a cryptic language. I can only suspect his role and character will grow somewhere in the middle of the season. I have seen in the trailers that Poison Ivy is also included but for some reason she is hardly listed anywhere. My thoughts is that she will have a bigger role in later series.
As for now that’s all we got. Heller and Cannon have stated that eagle eyed viewers will catch a glimpse of the young Joker somewhere around. I can only wonder what story arc they will use for him. Hell his story has been changed so many times throughout the years, no wonder Chris Nolan had Ledger’s Joker recite three different back stories.
It would seem the writers and producers have taken Nolan’s cue and will be delivering a “realistic” take, for season’s one and two at least because later, most of these guys will be wearing some rather ridiculous outfits. (Come on let’s not kid ourselves) However it takes a skilled craftsman to make us look past the silly costumes, Nolan was one of them. Heller from what I have seen from Rome and Cannon with CSI are not too far off. Either way it will be a nice filler of time until we finally get a Justice League movie. Until then, bring on Gotham.
