The Batman is coming and I couldn’t be more excited. Robert Pattinson will be taking the cowl in Matt Reeves’ more down to earth gritty version of the character. And with a new take on Bruce Wayne/Batman, that also means that we’ll get an all new supporting cast of characters. Some awesome actors were already announced and in the teaser trailer, including Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, but Batman has such a rich cast of supporting characters so I’,m hoping we will see a lot more familiar faces from the comics. And with rumors that The Batman is the first movie in a new trilogy, Reeves’ will have time to flesh out Gotham City and all of its supporting players.
It is time to see Vicky Vale again! She was portrayed memorably by Kim Basinger in Batman ’89, but sadly was underused when she didn’t return for any of the sequels. With Batman rumored to be in his second year, it would make sense for one of Gotham City’s best journalists to be on the case. I like the idea of Vale being older than Bruce, so Naomi Watts would add a new layer to the character while still being able to have a great chemistry and back and forth with Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne.
A gritty reinvention also offers the chance to bring new life into Dick Greyson/Robin/Nightwing. Zac Efron looks the part, and I’m shocked that he hasn’t been a superhero yet. Sure, Pattinson is only a year older than Efron, but I don’t think Bruce being a kid’s ward and endangering him by training him to be Robin works in a more realistic take on the characters. So why not make them partners? Both are forged by tragedy, but Wayne has the resources that Greyson needs. I really hope that we see some of the Batman Family in the new movies.
And the same goes for Stephanie Brown. Emma Stone looks the part and showed in Cruella that she can hold her own. Carmine Falcone, portrayed by John Turturro, has been confirmed for The Batman, so we know the mob ties into whatever story is unfolding. So adding a vengeful Brown as Spoiler would fit right in. Is she a friend or a foe? Does she take things too far causing her to come face to face with Batman and/or Nightwing?
Another way to expand the family would be to introduce Luke Fox, aka Batwing. Derek Luke looks the part and is a fantastic actor. I’m honestly tired of the same supporting casts and characters series to series, so I think I’d just replace Lucius Fox with Luke. Morgan Freeman was brilliant as Fox, so why rehash the character or arc. Luke Fox could be Bruce’s right hand at Wayne Corp, maybe he is in on Bruce’s secret and makes sure he is well equipped and has backup ready in the form of Batwing.
With Andy Serkis as Alfred, maybe it is a good time to introduce his daughter, special agent Penny Pennyworth, and would would be better to portray her than Imogen Poots? This vibes well with a younger Batman Family and gives Alfred a little more to do. Not only is the man he loves as a son putting his life in danger every night, but his estranged daughter is as well.
What supporting characters would you like to see in The Batman and it’s sequels?
