Jeremy Irons Says His Version Of 'Alfred' Is "More Of A Man Who Can Actually Do Anything If He Has To"
While attending the Toronto Film Festival, Jeremy Irons had the chance to speak on his portrayal of Alfred in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. While he didn’t say nothing too revealing, he revealed some traits of the character. For those interested, hit the jump to check it out!
As you know, Alfred in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy was portrayed by Michael Caine. When the reboot was announced, it was revealed that Jeremy Irons would take his place as Bruce Wayne’s butler. Many speculated on how Irons would portray the role of Batman’s best bud, and have a meaningful impact in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Well, it turns out that Alfred's presence will indeed be felt, and that assumption is just based on the things he’s said in the trailers!
Anyhow, Jeremy Irons, while promoting his new film at the Toronto Film Festival, took the time to talk about his experience while filming Zack Snyder’s blockbuster film. “It was a month in Detroit, which is actually longer than you’d imagine. But big films move slowly. It’s like a huge oil tanker.” He’s got a point there, especially since this film was delayed once, due to Ben Affleck’s injury.
Aside from his filming experience, Irons then talked about how his representation of Alfred didn’t have to carry the weight of the previous Alfred seen in the Dark Knight trilogy. “Zack Snyder, the director, wanted to create a completely different Alfred. So I felt I didn't have to carry any baggage from previous ones.” He then told how his version is sort of a reincarnation. “It's sort of a reincarnation if you'd like. I had a feeling I was creating my own Alfred, more of a man who can actually do anything if he has to.”
That's pretty bold considering the things Alfred has done in Nolan’s films. But hey, at least none of them died (or will die) from a heart attack after Wayne’s mansion blows up (as seen in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2). Even though I’m sure that won’t happen, it’ll still be interesting to see how Irons' performance will compare to Caine’s performance - which is currently slated as the best Alfred portrayal on the big screen. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
Fearing the actions of a god-like super hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before. Starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, with Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, and Holly Hunter, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is directed by Zack Snyder, written by Chris Terrio from David S. Goyer's screenplay, and is scheduled to open March 25, 2016!