I should start by saying, sorry guys, I´m new to the site and I´ve tried everything to do an official poll, but the feature is just not working for me, anyone who can help, let me know.
A lot, of names have been popping up as to who should play the next Bruce Wayne.
Because three actors in particular have done such iconic jobs portraying him, its hard to say just who has the right charisma to pull it off. (well actually four, if you include Adam West. You may not like him now, but admit it, he was fantastic when we were but wee nippers) The three I´m thinking of are: Keaton who was superb, Val Kilmer (the best thing about a rather lack luster film) and of course our generations Batman, Christian Bale.
Between the four of those guys, and, the great cartoon iterations, the next live action Batman has some very big boots to fill.
I´ve picked out some of the best choices that I´ve seen so far, to be the next generations Gotham Night. Let me know who you think, fits the bill.
1) Josh Harnett
Pros – Always liked him, he has a cheeky, dark charm about him. Might make for an interesting Bruce Wayne. Underrated as an actor.
Cons – He more looks like Robin than Batman. If anything it´s his look that is the problem
Memorable Roles
Lucky Number Slevin
Black Hawk Down
O
Sin City
The Faculty
2) Alex O’Loughlin
Pros – I´d never thought of this guy, but I really like him. I´ve only seen him once in Criminal Minds and he made such an impact on me. Any criminal minds fan will know he´s been one of our favorite and most memorable unsubs of all time. Also he´s relatively unknown, which might be a good thing,
Cons - I will get back to you on this one, once I´ve seen him some more, but I have to say he was pretty powerful in that episode of CM.
Memorable Roles
Hawaii Five-0
Criminal Minds – Guest Star
The Back-up Plan
3) Michael Fassbender
Pros – He´s my choice, hard to be objective, but I´ll say this. He´s not my favorite actor and I chose him before I heard that he was such a fan fave. And this is why; he´s young, very talented, and of all the new kids on the block, Fassbender really has that dark edge you see in Batman. If you see Shame or his Magneto, he can play a quiet burning rage, ready to explode at any moment, very well. He also already has a kind of raspy voice, that won´t sound as fake as Bales, which is why I think he is a serious contender.
Cons – His Magneto performance, did anyone notice him slipping back into his natural Irish accent at times? I´ll be having none of that for Bruce Wayne Batman. No sir.
Memorable Roles
Shame
X-Men First Class
Prometheus
And everything Leo Dicaprio and Ryan Gosling haven´t been cast in, in the near future. Actually this is another con.
4) John Hamm
Pros – He´s got the chin for it.
Cons – If somewhere down the line they do a Frank Milleresque Dark Knight Returns movie, he´d be a very good choice; he´s a great actor, but, lets get someone young and vibrant, who can be in for the long hall and will look good next to Henry Cavill in Man Of Steel please.
Memorable Roles
Madmen
Bridesmaids
The Town
5) Idris Elba
Pros - No one will go and see the movie, so he doesn´t have to worry about filling some rather large shoes. Plus from what I hear, he´ll defo fill the cod piece.
Cons – I like him as an actor, but Bruce Wayne is supposed to come from old money, generations back, like at least the 1800´s. Sorry, I´m black, and I don´t think there were that many super rich black families in America, in those days. It will just seem like a gimmick. There are other comic characters that can easily be made black, but Bats isn´t one of them.
Memorable Roles
Luthor
Prometheus
Ghost Rider 2
6) Liam McIntyre
Pros – I don´t know him. He has the right look though.
Cons – I don´t know him.
Memorable roles
I really like him in that film I haven´t seen yet.
Spaticus, apparently ☺
7) Jake Gyllenhaal
Pros - A lot of charisma. Has a kind of dark look about him. When he wants to he can act his little socks off.
Cons – Is he Batman? His best roles by far (Donnie Darko, Broke Back Mountain, The Good Girl, Zodiac) all have been him being a bit nerdy; a kind of cool loser. Every time I see him TRY and be cool or confident or suave, something of the Gyllenhaal charm seems lost. Maybe a role as Batman can change that; but would he really want to take that risk, right after Bale and Nolan´s success?
Memorable Roles
Donnie Darko
Zodiac
The Good Girl
8) Joe Manganiello
Pros – It´s kind of obvious isn´t it. His big man chest, God like abbs, and nipples that can cut trees. I have to say, I can see it. It is one way to go, I could see a more rough, rugged version of Bats, like what they´ve done with James Bond, less words, more action type. Could be interesting.
Cons – Is Batman really in need of such an iteration, more physical. I´m not sure he really has the charisma to take on Bale or Keaton´s performances.
Notable roles
Spiderman (As Flash)
True Blood
9) Ryan Gosling
Pros – Brilliant Actor. Really diverse.
Cons – I don´t think the role of Bruce Wayne Batman plays to his strengths. He´d do a good job, but I see him as a better Steve Trevor (Wonder Woman´s Man) or The Flash. The reason is, he´s got a real kid like cheekiness about him, we know he´s a ladies man, but he pulls that side off better when he´s being goofy or cheeky, than when he´s being mysterious. Which is what Bruce Wayne is, his ultimate charm is in being brooding and mysterious. Ryan doesn´t seem right for that and I think if he were chosen, he´d be the worst Bruce since George Clooney.
Notable Roles
The Believer
Half Nelson
Blue Valentine
So who do you think? Do you agree with my pros and cons? Have I missed the obvious.
Thanks for reading.
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