Though we'll probably be waiting a while for any major new casting announcements for Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II, we do have confirmation that an actor from the first film will be reprising his role.
While being interviewed for GQ, Andy Serkis (Black Panther, Luther: The Fallen Sun) revealed that he will indeed return as Alfred Pennyworth for the upcoming sequel.
Not exactly a huge surprise, of course, but Serkis is a busy man these days, so it's nice to hear that no unforeseen scheduling conflicts popped up.
In the profile, GQ notes that Reeves told them Serkis was his first and only choice to play Bruce Wayne's loyal ally.
“I remember when I signed on to The Batman, one of the first decisions I made, I said, ‘Andy, I want you to play Alfred, and I want to make it really emotional. Because I want people to see your face – not some avatar – and to understand truly what an incredible actor you are.’”
Alfred had a fairly small, if very important, role in the first movie, so let's hope his part is expanded a little for the sequel.
In related news, Stranger Things actor Jamie Campbell Bower has expressed interest in playing Scarecrow.
Bower, who portrayed the evil Vecna in season 4 of the Netflix series, was already a fan-favorite pick for Jonathan Crane, but we can't see Reeves revisiting that villain just yet after Cillian Murphy's more grounded take in Christopher Nolan's movies.
The upcoming Penguin HBO Max series (which is set to begin production in New York this week) is expected to bridge the gap between The Batman and Part II, so it should give us a better idea of what to expect from The Dark Knight's big-screen return.