FANCAST: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

      "Batman Beyond" is easily one of my favorite cartoons in recent history. As a Christmas gift (to myself, with money received on said Holiday), I purchased the entire series, and the direct-to-DVD movie, "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker." "Return of the Joker" takes Batman's arch-nemesis, and places him 39 years into the future. Terry McGinnis underestimates this old nemesis, passing him off as just another crazy. He soon realizes that he is deeply mistaken.

      Much like Gary Shamray stated in his review of the film in Sun Newspapers, I always felt that this movie would have been an excellent live-action film. Sadly, I doubt that this will be a reality... at least in the near future. That hasn't stopped me from giving thought as to who I'd like to see star in this movie. If this were to be made into a live-action adaptation, I imagine it would probably be the first film (due to its popularity, and to easily segue from previous films). For that reason, this would need an origin story. That's why I've included Warren McGinnis, Derek Powers, and Mr. Fixx into this Fancast.

      In my adaptation of this story, I would obviously begin with the origin of Terry McGinnis, and subsequent infection of Derek Powers with the mutagenic nerve gas. We would then flash to a couple months into the future. The story of "Return of the Joker" would commence as normal. At the end of the film, we would see Derek Powers undergoing radiation treatment to rid his body of traces of the nerve gas. We would then see that he has undergone so much radiation, that he has turned into Blight, Batman 2039's Arch Nemesis

      Without further ado, her is my Fancast for "Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker":

Dame Judi Dench as Harley Quinn:
Harley Quinn, in her younger years, was the lover of Joker, and, at times, equally psychotic. She is the Grandmother of the Dee-Dee Twins, making a cameo appearance nearing the end of the movie. I really do enjoy the work of Dame Judi Dench, particularly in the role of M in the "007" Film Series. But, I must admit, I did this based, mainly, on appearances. I also think that it would be extraordinary to get the Dame to agree to a minor, cameo role, such as this.

Tanner Blaze as Matthew McGinnis:
Matthew McGinnis is the brother of Terry McGinnis. He's a bit mischievous and enjoys getting a rise out of his older brother, like most younger siblings. He's an innocent child, who deeply loves his brother. That's what led me to the young Tanner Blaze. I even feel odd choosing him because I've seen him in only one part, the eighth episode in Season 3 of "House" entitled "Whac-A-Mole." He portrays the younger brother of Jack Walters, Will. He shows that he can play the caring, innocent, and mischievous younger brother.

Julianne Nicholson as Mary McGinnis:
I do realize that most people would like to see Gina Davis in this role, but I just think Julianne is a better actress than the ever-gummy Gina Davis. Mary McGinnis is the mother to our hero, and is a strict mother, who loves her children. Julianne Nicholson is probably best known for her role on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" as Detective Megan Wheeler. Of course, she's been in other roles. My reasoning for picking her is her phenomenal performance in John Krasinski's "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men." She shows that she can play more than just a "tough chick." And, don't forget, she's also been cast as Mary Parker in the untitled "Spider-Man Reboot."

Bryan Cranston as Warren McGinnis:
I think this goes without saying, but it seems like the role of the patriarch of the McGinnis family, who is murdered after he discovers Derek Powers intent to distribute a mutagenic nerve gas to terrorists, is tailored specifically for Bryan Cranston. Cranston gained popularity for his role on "Malcolm in the Middle" Hal, the father in Fox's former hit show. But, Cranston has proven that he is far more than just a funny guy with his role in "Breaking Bad" as Walter White, a chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with lung cancer and turns to baking and selling methamphetamine. Bryan Cranston has won multiple awards for this role, including 3 consecutive Emmy Awards for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Brenda Song as Dana Tan:
Dana Tan is our hero's, Terry McGinnis, girlfriend. While she doesn't play a huge part in the actual movie, there is room for her to be a much larger influence. Most popularly known for her role in Disney Channel's "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and "Suite Life on Deck" as London Tipton, she has recently began stretching her legs, and made a move to shake-off that career-threatening "Disney Image," with this past Summer's "The Social Network." From the bit I've seen, Brenda Song is quite funny on those Disney shows, but she really showed her acting chops when she graced the silver screen as Christy Lee in "The Social Network."

Quinton Aaron as Chucko:
Chucko is a member of this third round of Jokerz, and take direct order from the Clown Prince of Crime himself. Quinton Aaron played in the severely overrated, 2009 film, "The Blind Side." While I, obviously, disliked the film, Aaron was a standout in it. His performance was excellent, especially for his first lead role. The main factor in this decision was his large stature. But, I would hope that his acting abilities would give Chucko some depth, rather than just a cookie-cutter thug.

AnnaSophia Robb as The Dee-Dee Twins:
The Dee-Dee Twins are identical twins, with obvious gymnastic abilities, and some mean fighting skills to boot. They are members of the third batch of Jokerz, and are the Granddaughters of Harleen Quinzel. Most people would either cast actual twins in these roles, or two, similar looking, actresses. But, I choose to use the method that David Fincher used in "The Social Network" for the roles of the Winklevoss twins. AnnaSophia would act along with a body double, and then her face would be digitally grafted onto said double's face. AnnaSophia Robb has played in many movies, including "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Bridge to Terabithia," and "The Reaping." She's a great actress, one who would make these characters more than just a Harley Quinn substitute.

Jamie Bell as Ghoul:
Ghoul, like the previous three, is a member of the Jokerz gang. He has multiple stitches in his skin, skull features, and grey skin. He very strongly resembles former villain of Batman, Scarecrow. Monster movies and Horror movies are what inspire his gimmick. Jamie Bell is the extraordinary young actor who played in "The Chumscrubber." I really think that Bell has the looks to pull this off, and his ability will make this character a bit more memorable than "Scarecrow with Christopher Walken's Voice."

Ethan Suplee as Bonk:
Bonk seems to be the ringleader of this version of Jokerz, as well as being the muscle. This character isn't as 1-Dimensional as the others. I do see a resemblance of Killer Croc in there, as well. Ethan Suplee, former star of "My Name is Earl," as well as the movie "Remember the Titans," and the films from the View Askew family. Suplee is hilarious, that's common knowledge. But, as shown in "Remember the Titans" and "The Butterfly Effect," he can pull off the dramatic roles, and the intimidating ones as well. Even thinking about this pick makes me excited about the prospect of a Batman Beyond movie, because I'm curious what he would look like in life.

Idris Elba as Mr. Fixx:
Mr. Fixx is the enforcer for Derek Powers. He is the one who kills Warren McGinnis, on orders from Derek Powers. As with when I chose him to play Killer Croc in my "Joker" Fancast, I truly feel that Mr. Elba will be a fantastic villain. Idris is rather large and intimidating, which also helps with the choice.

Jeremy Irons as Derek Powers (aka Blight):
Derek Powers is the CEO of the former Wayne Enterprises, now called Wayne-Powers. When Warren McGinnis discovers that Powers has created a mutagenic nerve gas, he is killed by Mr. Fixx. Derek is transformed into Blight after exposure to his own nerve gas, which is only cured by massive amounts of radiation. I really came at a crossroads when it came to this choice. Most of the choices came easily to me, but this one really gave me issues. The problem came because I think there are 2 actors who could play this role: Jeremy Irons and Christoph Waltz. Ultimately, I feel Jeremy Irons plays a far better villain than Christoph Waltz. One particular role springs to mind: Simon Gruber in 1995's "Die Hard with a Vengeance." He played such an excellent villain, he almost surpassed Alan Rickman as Hans Gruber in the original "Die Hard." Irons is such a wonderful actor, and his portrayal as any villain has to be, partially, attributed to his voice. While he has a British accent, I think that is something that can be changed, and nobody get too angry.

J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon:
The friend of Batman, and the tough, incorruptible Commissioner of the GCPD, James Gordon is a force to be reckoned with in Gotham City. While, to the best of my recollection, Gordon wasn't visible in this film, it is still revealed that he was one of very few people who knew the truth about what happened to Joker. And, regardless of a characters "worth" to the story, every role should be cast as-if it is the lead role. J.K. Simmons is best known as J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man Trilogy." He's a decent actor, who can range from funny to dramatic with ease. It was his role, oddly enough, in "I Love You, Man" that made me think this was a good choice. We already know he can play the tough guy roles, but his role as the father in "I Love You, Man" is something I'd like to see in Gordon. That same "paternal" feeling was brought to Gary Oldman's version, and I know Simmons can pull it off.

Mila Kunis as Harley Quinn:
We all know who Harley Quinn is. The naive and, sometimes, psychotic accomplice, and lover, of Joker. I've always felt that Mila Kunis would make a perfect Harley Quinn (as seen in my Fancast of "Joker" and my Photo Manipulation). She's beautiful, sexy, and funny. There's really not anything more to say about it. And, watching her in "Black Swan" really shows how she's evolved as an actress.

Emma Stone as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl:
In this movie, the demise of The Joker is depicted through an overused method: the flashback. But, a flashback works here, because we get a glimpse into what Batman was before he was the bitter old man he is now. An integral part of the story is that of Barbara Gordon, formerly Batgirl. Emma Stone has shown us that being the "funny girl" comes easily for her in movies like "Superbad" and "Easy A." And her upcoming role as Gwen Stacey in the "Spider-Man Reboot," will show us if she can act a bit more dramatically, and how she handles herself in the world of action. Not to mention, she's a dead ringer for the character.

Liev Schreiber as Bruce Wayne/Batman:
Major props go out to CBMer Nimibro for this casting choice. I never would've thought of Liev Schreiber as the original Batman, but it works fantastically. For the longest time, I couldn't remember his name, so he was stuck being called "Cotton Weary" when I spoke of him. Not only did he play that part well, but almost any role I've ever seen Schreiber in, he's been exquisite. But, two roles of his that I can think of that secure this pick would be his role as Cotton Weary in the "Scream Trilogy," and Sabretooth in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." He plays scary and intimidating exceptionally well, traits that are needed to play a successful Batman.

Zachery Gordon as Tim Drake/Robin:
Tim Drake, the true center of this story, is the third person to take on the title of Robin. Zachery Gordon is best known for his role in "Diary of a Whimpy Kid" as Greg Heffley. He did an excellent job in that movie. I've never felt more hatred towards a child than I did of the fictional character he, so brilliantly, played. I think this kid has got a bright future ahead of him, and I think he could easily pull off Tim Drake/Robin.

Helen Mirren as Commissioner Barbara Gordon:
Barbara Gordon has followed in her father's footsteps, and become the new Commissioner of the GCPD. She also serves as the storyteller. The one who fills Terry McGinnis in on the story of what happened to the Joker years ago. Helen Mirren is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest actresses of all time. But, if I were forced to pinpoint one role that brought me to this decision, I would have to go with her role as Victoria in "RED." She just played the badass so unexpectedly well. I know she's a brilliant actress, but anything I've seen her in, it's usually in a dramatic role. But, her "Badassery" skills would be well-suited for the GCPD Commissioner of 2039.

Michael Ironside as Bruce Wayne:
The old, grumpy, crippled Bruce Wayne. A shell of the man he once was. The original Batman is now the mentor to yet another young boy, Terry McGinnis, 2039's Batman. I realize that the normal pick for this role is Clint Eastwood. But, I've always disagreed for a couple reasons. One, his voice might work, but his build is wrong. Two, he's Clint "F*CKING" Eastwood! Nobody will watch this movie and think, "Oh, look. It's an old Bruce Wayne." They would think, "Look! Clint Eastwood's playing Bruce Wayne!" Some might not notice the difference in these statements, but there is. An actor needs to "become" the character, like Vincent D'Onofrio in "The Cell" or Christian Bale in "The Fighter." And, no offense to Eastwood, he will not be able to "become" Bruce Wayne, it will be the other way around. Michael Ironside, on the other hand is a master at method acting. He truly becomes the characters he portrays, such as Ham Tyler in "V: The Final Conflict," and I'd even go so far to say that he has become the iconic Sam Fisher from the "Splinter Cell" video game series. He's made it so, if they were to make a film, anyone who took the lead would pale in comparison. Also, he did voice Batman in an episode of "The New Batman Adventures'" entitled "Legends of the Dark Knight" in what was an adaptation of "The Dark Knight Returns."

Zac Efron as Terry McGinnis/Batman:
Gotham City's protector in the year 2039 is more than just a punk kid, as Bruce has found out. He's got a long way to go before he can equal the greatness of his predecessor, but he's got mad potential. Some may dispute this choice, but I will stand by this choice, more than any other. Zac Efron got his start as a Disney lackey in the "High School Musical Trilogy," and bit roles in "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" and "The Replacements." These are not the roles that Efron should be remembered for, though. Roles in the Lifetime Original Movie, "Miracle Run," "Seventeen Again," and particularly "Me and Orson Welles" and "Charlie St. Cloud," are roles that he should be most recognized with. While "Charlie St. Cloud" was, basically, a Romance version of "The Sixth Sense," his acting was excellent, and some of the best I've seen. This kid has got a future, and he's going to be around for a very long time. We can also expect to see Mr. Efron take the lead in the film adaptation of "Fire."

Jason Flemyng as The Joker:
The Joker, Batman's greatest nemesis. Brought back from the grave, is now wreaking havoc upon Gotham City. Rather than have two actors play the old and young versions, I opted for one actor for both. The reason being that Joker really doesn't look too different from his young self, to the older one. I was first introduced to Jason Flemyng via "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," where he played Dr. Henry Jekyll. But, what I think sold me on picking him as The Joker was his role as Henry Creedlow in George A. Romero's "Bruiser." While that role was a bit more sympathetic, Jason Flemyng did play the off-the-hinges character rather well. Flemyng will be next seen in the problem-child of Fox, "X-Men: First Class" as Azazel. I'm sure his portrayal will shine the brightest in what is expected to be a very dim film.

Kevin Kline as Tim Drake:
Tim Drake, as stated above, is the true center of this story. The former Robin saw his career end when his last adventure led to being tortured by, disfigured to resemble, and viewing the death of The Joker. Years of therapy helped him to maintain a "normal life." For this, I chose my favorite actor, and my choice to voice Finster if a "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" reboot were to happen. A fellow Indiana native, Kevin Kline is, in my eyes, the best actor around, or ever, for that matter. The first film I saw him in was "French Kiss," at the insistence of my mother, once I began showing interest in films as an art, rather than a procrastination tool. But, I believe that his role in "My Life as a House" (my personal favorite movie) is what drives my choice. He plays a man who is so wise and proud, but becomes rather vulnerable. Wisdom would've been something he learned through Bruce Wayne and pride from Batman. The vulnerability comes into play when he begins to realize that he might have something to do with the Joker sightings, and all of the crimes being committed. Kevin Kline is a multi-award winning actor. And, if you can't agree with my feelings about him, you can't deny that he is one of the greatest actors to ever live.