Casting Batman/Suicide Squad

Casting Batman/Suicide Squad

In spirit of the upcoming DCCU films, I've made just what the world needs, another fancast.

Fan Fic
By raypOWeLl - May 28, 2015 03:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman

Admittedly, I'm really just a Batmaniac, rather than a huge fan of DC as a whole (I know, sue me), but I know Batman like the back of my hand, and I'm also a dedicated cinephile, meaning the whole business of movie making and acting fascinates me. That being said, I wanted to make sure I put my knowledge of these things on the table and create a truly original fancast; avoiding the casting choices that everyone else (including myself, in the past) have made. I'll list older/alternate casting I have made as "Understudies". In addition, I've also got a couple of cast members who are switchers, as in they can fill one or the other of two roles... so watch out for those. 

And here... we... go.


Directed by Denis Villenueve (Prisoners)
Score composed by Jonny Greenwood (There Will Be Blood)




Billy Crudup (Almost Famous) as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Understudies: Guy Pearce, Joaquin Phoenix, Alessandro Nivola 




Bruno Ganz (Downfall) as Alfred Pennyworth
Understudies: F. Murray Abraham, Malcolm McDowell




Geoffrey Rush (Shine) as James Gordon
Understudies: Martin Sheen, Kenneth Branagh




Brie Larson (Short Term 12) as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl
Understudies: Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Olsen, Alicia Vikander




Michael B. Jordan (Fruitvale Station) as Dick Grayson/Nightwing
Understudies: Ben Barnes, Daniel Zovatto




Jack O'Connell (Starred Up) as Jason Todd/Red Hood
Understudy: Ezra Miller




Tyler James Williams (Dear White People) as Tim Drake/Red Robin
Understudies: Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster




Evan Bird (Maps to the Stars) as Damian Wayne/Robin
Understudies: Jasper Newell, Isaac Hempstead-Wright




Monica Bellucci (Irreversible) as Silver St. Cloud
Understudies: Tilda Swinton, Lucy Liu




Lara Pulver (Sherlock) OR Shannyn Sossamon (The Cyclist) as Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Understudies: Natalie Dormer, Kate Mara




Lara Pulver (Sherlock) OR Shannyn Sossamon (The Cyclist) as Talia al Ghul
Understudies: Olivia Wilde, Emily Blunt, Gemma Arterton, Yasmine al Massri




Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year) OR Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as Ra's al Ghul
Understudies: Daniel Day-Lewis (he'd never do a superhero film), Chrisoph Waltz




Oscar Isaac (Ex Machina) OR Chiwetel Ejiofor (Dirty Pretty Things) as Dr. Hugo Strange
Understudies: Robin Williams (R.I.P.), James Spader 




Ben Whishaw (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) as Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow
Understudies: None




Adrien Brody (The Pianist) as Dr. Kirk Langstrom/Man-Bat
Understudies: James Ning, Andy Serkis




Terence Stamp (Unfinished Song) as Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze
Understudies: Mark Strong, Ben Kingsley, J.K. Simmons




Sarah Snook (Predestination) as Dr. Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy
Understudies: Christina Hendricks, Alexandra Daddario, Gabrielle Union, Rene Russo




Jack Plotnick (Rubber) as Edward Nigma/Riddler
Understudies: Kenneth Branagh, Andrew Scott




Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist) as Roman Sionis/Black Mask
Understudies: Sam Rockwell, Giovanni Ribisi




Vincent Cassel (La Haine) as Victor Zasaz
Understudy: Aaron Paul




Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder) as Amanda Waller
Understudies: None (let's be honest, there really never was another choice here)




Ben Foster (The Messenger) as Floyd Lawton/Deadshot
Understudies: Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelson




Michael Kenneth Williams (The Gambler) as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke
Understudies: Joel Edgerton, James Caan




Jake Weary (It Follows) as George Harkness/Captain Boomerang
Understudy: Jon Bernthal




Raymond Cruz (Breaking Bad) as Chato Santana/El Diablo
Understudy: Eduardo Noreiga




Richard Brooks (Firefly) as Eric Needham/Black Spider
Understudy: Donald Glover (consolation for not getting to be Spiderman, I guess...)




Takamasa Ishihara (Unbroken) as Chang Jie-Ru/Yo-Yo
Understudies: None




Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) as June Moone/Enchantress
Understudy: Ivana Baquero




Gemma Ward (The Black Balloon) & Amanda Seyfried (While We're Young) as Lime & Light
Understudies: None




Taryn Manning (Orange is the New Black) as Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn
Understudies: Zooey Deschanel, Jena Malone, Juno Temple, Rosamund Pike, Christina Ricci




Ethan Hawke (Predestination) as Joker
Understudies: Christian Slater, Vincent Cassel
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the
the - 5/28/2015, 10:30 PM
Don't know why your Black Mask bothers me so much. What's the rationale behind that?

The rest, as long I know the characters/actors, I'm ok-sold on.
Avenger123
Avenger123 - 5/29/2015, 3:20 AM
Great cast, I was hoping that I will se Killer Croc, but that doesn't matter! I relly like your Deathstroke pick and it is very original.
SimplyAz
SimplyAz - 5/29/2015, 3:50 AM
Some interesting choices. I like it, keep up the good work.
Only thing I don't like are the race changes.
the
the - 5/29/2015, 7:54 AM
@raypOWeLl It's a touchy subject, but you really found some of the best guys for their respective roles.

Well, that Black Mask makes perfect sense. I also just found out he's got several gangster flicks under his belt. I don't know if he played a mob boss in those.
raypOWeLl
raypOWeLl - 5/29/2015, 7:56 AM
Thanks for the comments, guys!

My rationale with allowing for race changes is actually kind of personal. I'm a white guy, and I write stories a lot. One day, it just occurred to me; "Why am I making all my main characters white?". I wasn't making an active decision to make them white, they just were white by default. The only answer to the question was because I'm white, no other reason. It's just what I though of as normal. I realized that was unfair and really limiting to my character building, so I instantly began making characters of varying races, and I realized it just added more interesting dynamics to the story, while also allowing for even more people to relate to the characters then before when they were all white.

Now, apply that same logic to the people who have created our comic book characters. Why is Dick Grayson white? No reason other than the person who made him is also white. There was nothing essential about Grayson's development as a character that was dependent on him being white. They don't lose/gain anything by being white, so why not change it? Anyhow, that's how I see it. For some characters like Bruce, it would be difficult because the Waynes are Gotham's elite ever since the 1600s, and therefore, would not be a black family. Then again, one could simply make Martha black and BOOM!, mixed race Batman. But anyhow, I digress. At the end of the day, what really should matter is the actor's talent, and I'm sorry, but Tyler James Williams is just a better actor than Dylan O'Brien, and has displayed multiple of Drake's personality traits in very interesting ways in the past. Then again, Logan Lerman would kill it, he's a great actor. But once again, the point was to make this cast different, and we all know it's not exactly original when you cast the Robins as Somerhalder, Hutcherson, Lerman, and Butterfield, in that order.

Also, @oMonRo, I see Black Mask as a man whose personality is a sarcastic, witty businessman with anger issues who is constantly frustrated by the people he works with for not being as smart as him. Now, if you see Ribisi in films like "Heaven" or "Lost in Translation", he doesn't play a character with that exact persona, but he does display that nature very well, especially in his smaller part in the latter film I mentioned. Plus, his facial structure is very, how should I put it... bony?
raypOWeLl
raypOWeLl - 5/29/2015, 8:00 AM
Well, I edited my big fat comment and made it even fatter, and now it looks like @oMonRo predicted the future. Whoops I guess.
PapaLazarou
PapaLazarou - 5/29/2015, 4:09 PM
Dude this is [frick]ing fantastic. Great job. Some are a little iffy but still, pretty great. Personally id say stick to chiwetel for ra's and make Spader Strange. Spader as strange is just...wow, thatd be fantastic. And Oscar Isaac as Black Mask. Those three fit those roles better imo. Anyways, great originality, hope you make more casts
TheTank
TheTank - 5/29/2015, 5:02 PM
I was ALWAYS a fan of having Billy Crudup play Bruce Wayne, he's a great actor. And while this fan cast is pretty good, Ben Affleck is playing Batman lol
TheTank
TheTank - 5/29/2015, 5:11 PM
As much as I loved Christian Bale as Batman, I think Crudup would have been even better in the role. He's a VERY versatile actor and in a non homo way I think he's a better looking dude than Bale, and would have had more of that playboy billionaire look. I was happy when he was casted as Dr. Manhattan, because finally he was casted as a superhero but...Watchmen was eh, and is ultimately forgettable amongst comic book movies.
KurtCrawler
KurtCrawler - 5/29/2015, 7:02 PM
To many race changes for the sake of race changes.
ToxicCap
ToxicCap - 5/29/2015, 7:07 PM
Very original. Props.
01928401
01928401 - 5/29/2015, 11:06 PM
@raypowell
Not a huge fan of the Gordon pick, but otherwise I like this cast.
And my hat is off to you for your decision to see through the color. Great rationale.
FlyntCoal
FlyntCoal - 5/30/2015, 8:11 AM
Not a huge fan of your Batman choice, he's not intimidating or large enough. Your Robin(s) and Slade choices are ass, sorry man.

I love diversity in film, but you have it in all of the WRONG places. Dick Grayson is half white, half Gypsy-Romani and Damian is half Middle Eastern. Tyler James Williams is decent for Tim though.

Changing the already not-white characters to black or white is wrong.

Also Alfred looks like a Mob Boss. And Black Mask looks like a thug that would work for Black Mask.

Otherwise, solid cast. Your villains are amazing for the most part.
FlyntCoal
FlyntCoal - 5/30/2015, 8:13 AM
I love your philosophy on character race but you said that Dick Grayson is white. He's not, man.
WakandaKing
WakandaKing - 5/31/2015, 3:05 PM
I like your way of thinking behind the castings
redhood2710
redhood2710 - 5/31/2015, 8:19 PM
Nice work on originality and not casting the same people....

I like you Batman,Red hood, Tim, Batgirl, Deadshot, Joker and both you Ras choices...

Dick Grayson is Gypsy - Romani so Your other choice being Ben Barnes would of worked but I'm not against Michael B but Dick Grayson is Romani..

overall Nice job
raypOWeLl
raypOWeLl - 5/31/2015, 9:11 PM
@TheGustache Thank you for not being afraid to criticize while also not being an obnoxious hater, I have mad respect for that.

I see your point and agree with it to an extent, but for all intents and purposes, Dick has been white. He may, in his backstory, hail from Romani heritage on his mother's side, but in just about every iteration of him, he's been pasty as glue. I could go on about the Native American in my family tree, but at the end of the day, I'm a white boy (I know that's not exactly an equal comparison, but you get the essence of what I'm saying). Either way, issues of diversity aside, I genuinely feel Jordan would portray Dick phenomenally, better than any previous choice I've considered. If I were aware of a half-English/half-Romani actor who I could confidently say would capture the character of Dick Grayson as well as the incredibly talented Fruitvale/Chronicle actor, then I don't know, I'd probably cast him. But I don't, so it goes to Jordan (really, he is perfect for capturing that pretty-boy/flirty side of Grayson... have you seen this guy in a rom-com? That's actually what really sealed the deal for me, tbh, like the icing on top of his oscar-worthy performance in Fruitvale).

I also pseudo-agree with your statement about changing the race of non-white characters being wrong, if only for progress' sake; we all know whitewashing is something that needs to be abated. However, in the theatre, it should idealisticallybe a non-issue; as in no matter what race you are, you should be able to play any character you have the ability to play, period. Think of it this way; if an actor auditions for a role and does the best job and is very passionate about the role, it'd be silly to turn them down by saying "Sorry, you're not part Romani." At the end of the day, it's nice that my casting choices help add diversity, but I truly made them because I feel they are the best choices. Especially M.K. Williams as Slade, something about that just really clicks for me.

Ahh yes, and as for Crudup, you'd be surprised the things they can do is Hollywood to magically make people taller. And as for his adorable face, I can totally understand your point. For me, he just manages to capture the image of Bruce completely on more than one spectrum, unlike others I've considered; like a nice middle ground between Keaton, Bale, and the Jon Hamm iteration that has never happened (and I hope will remain that way).
raypOWeLl
raypOWeLl - 5/31/2015, 9:15 PM
@TheGustache Thank you for not being afraid to criticize while also not being an obnoxious hater, I have mad respect for that.

I see your point and agree with it to an extent, but for all intents and purposes, Dick has been white. He may, in his backstory, hail from Romani heritage on his mother's side, but in just about every iteration of him, he's been pasty as glue. I could go on about the Native American in my family tree, but at the end of the day, I'm a white boy (I know that's not exactly an equal comparison, but you get the essence of what I'm saying). Either way, issues of diversity aside, I genuinely feel Jordan would portray Dick phenomenally, better than any previous choice I've considered. If I were aware of a half-English/half-Romani actor who I could confidently say would capture the character of Dick Grayson as well as the incredibly talented Fruitvale/Chronicle actor, then I don't know, I'd probably cast him. But I don't, so it goes to Jordan (really, he is perfect for capturing that pretty-boy/flirty side of Grayson... have you seen this guy in a rom-com? That's actually what really sealed the deal for me, tbh, like the icing on top of his oscar-worthy performance in Fruitvale).

I also pseudo-agree with your statement about changing the race of non-white characters being wrong, if only for progress' sake; we all know whitewashing is something that needs to be abated. However, in the theatre, it should idealistically be a non-issue; as in no matter what race you are, you should be able to play any character you have the ability to play, period. Think of it this way; if an actor auditions for a role and does the best job and is very passionate about the role, it'd be silly to turn them down by saying "Sorry, you're not part Romani." At the end of the day, it's nice that my casting choices help add diversity, but I truly made them because I feel they are the best choices. Especially M.K. Williams as Slade, something about that just really clicks for me.

Ahh yes, and as for Crudup, you'd be surprised the things they can do in Hollywood to magically make people taller. And as for his adorable face, I can totally understand your point. For me, he just manages to capture the image of Bruce completely on more than one spectrum, unlike others I've considered; like a nice middle ground between Keaton, Bale, and the Jon Hamm iteration that has never happened (and I hope will remain that way).
FlyntCoal
FlyntCoal - 6/1/2015, 3:34 PM
Of course man, I understand that a lot of people can be dicks on this site so I try to go out of my way to be fair and honest. You clearly put a lot of work and time into this and most of the choices, so kudos on that. Also, most of your choices are amazing IMO.

Yeah I've always had an issue with the comics portraying him as lily-white even after they've stated he's Romani. But MBJ is a great actor and could be an excellent Dick Grayson, it's just that I want a wider spectrum of diversity than Hollywood/DC is apparently willing to display.

Yeah I'm sure Crudup would work but he just screams Ray Palmer, Reed Richards, Maxwell Lord, or someone else like that.

I can't wait to see another cast from you dude, you killed it.
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