Commissioner Gordon is a character who has been close to my heart since I first saw BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM in theaters. He is a character with a history as long as Batman’s himself, and aids in creating one of the most endearing relationships in comics, in my humble opinion.
Gordon is a character that has had very little justice done for him in the land of Hollywood. In the Burton/Shumacher films, he was reduced to a blubbering idiot, but Nolan came closest to bringing the character some much needed depth. However, there has always been an aspect to the Gordon that has remained untouched: his infidelity. With BATMAN: YEAR ONE, Frank Miller made Gordon HUMAN, where Jim made mistakes and wasn’t this cookie-cutter good cop. BATMAN: YEAR ONE gave me a new understanding of Jim and his capacity to make mistakes helped me to relate to him AS a character.
While Nolan’s Gordon is by far the most true to form version of the character (who also made mistakes; i.e. lying to all of Gotham), I still think that Gordon could go further on the big screen. I want to see Gordon’s infidelity, I want to see Gordon smoke a cigarette, and I want to see a Gordon who questions whether or not his city is worth saving.
Now that THAT is out of the way, here are the top 3 actors I could see in the role:
#3 GUY PEARCE
Pearce was on many a fanboy’s Batman lists when it was rumored that WB/DC was looking for an older, more rugged Batman to go up against Cavill’s Superman. He obviously lost the role to Mr. Affleck, but I had a thought… In the comics, Gordon isn’t too much older than Bruce and Pearce is about five years older than Affleck, so why the hell not? As an actor, Guy has done everything from drama to action to family films, he even showed off his ability to land a joke in IRON MAN 3. But it was his turn as a villain in the film LAWLESS that really sold me. And he has shown that he can pull of the caring, father-esque figure in films like TWO BROTHERS. The guy can pretty much do anything! He is an Oscar-nominated actor (but it’s a mystery as to why he has yet to win one) and is arguably one of the best actors in Hollywood nowadays.
#2 IAIN GLEN
Sir Jorah Mormont would be a kick-ass Gordon because he is kick-ass! And as elementary as that sounds, this statement is the best way to sum it up! In GAME OF THRONES, Iain Glen displays the fatherly, determined, loving, and heroic aspects that would lend themselves brilliantly to Commissioner Gordon. Glen is a classically trained, British actor who is also famous for his role in DOWNTON ABBEY, plus he is eleven years older than Affleck for those who prefer the older Gordon. Anyone who has seen GAME OF THRONES can attest to this pick.
#1 BRYAN CRANSTON
Despite what recent rumors would like us to believe, I still see Cranston as Gordon. Cranston is a great actor, who would admittedly be an amazing Luthor, but I can’t help but think that he is too old. And Bryan has already played Gordon in BATMAN: YEAR ONE, which some people would argue is enough, but I say nay! He was an awesome Gordon, and when he still had his hair on BREAKING BAD, when coupled with his mustache and glasses, it was as if David Mazzuchelli’s art had leapt right off the page. With Cranston, I daresay that he would be the definitive on-screen Commissioner Gordon, even moreso than Gary Oldman.
I love the character of Commissioner Gordon and want nothing more than for him to be done right for the DCCU. I guess we will just have to see what happens…