What Might A Batman Series Look Like On HBO?

Last week, Gotham (FOX’s television series centered around a young Jim Gordon) had its penultimate season finale, which mostly set up the final 13 episodes of the show for either the fall or early next year. Overall, I’d say Gotham is entertaining and worth the watch, but it falls in line with similar superhero shows like Arrow, Supergirl, and The Flash. In other words, it’s no Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad, which is fair; it was never expected to be.

 

But what if a Batman series was started with the hopes of being an all-time great television show on a premium network such as HBO? It could chronicle the beginning of Bruce Wayne’s journey as the iconic hero similar to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy—and instead of several hours to tell the story, it would have several seasons.

 

If HBO were to green light a series centered around the Caped Crusader, this is what the cast could realistically look like.

 

The Extended Wayne Family

 

Bruce Wayne (Batman): Richard Madden

 

 

I think any potential series should start with an origin story, and Richard Madden is the perfect age to play Bruce Wayne as he becomes Batman. HBO might also want someone they’re familiar with to lead such an ambitious series, so who better than Robb Stark?

 

 

Alfred Pennyworth: Pierce Brosnan 

 

 

Again, this should be when Batman is just coming into existence, so Pierce Brosnan is an ideal candidate to play Alfred based on both his chops as an actor and age difference from Richard Madden. Plus, Brosnan formerly being James Bond should make any action sequences with the loyal butler more believable.

 

 

Lucius Fox: Clarke Peters

 

 

The only two people who know who Batman is early in the series would be Alfred and Lucius Fox. The latter could be played by Clarke Peters, who many might know as Lester Freamon in The Wire. It’s easy to picture Peters managing Bruce Wayne’s business by day and equipping him for his “hobbies” by night.

 

 

Thomas Wayne: Jon Hamm

 

 

This would only be a Season 1 role, but I like the idea of using flashbacks to show Bruce Wayne learning from his parents before their death. Jon Hamm would do a fine job displaying Thomas Wayne’s commitment to improving the city and being a loving father in a cruel world.

 

 

Martha Wayne: Carice van Houten

 

 

Carice van Houten wouldn’t have a big role as Martha Wayne, but she’d be able to make an impact with little screen time as a philanthropist and humanitarian before being tragically murdered with her husband.

 

 

GCPD and Political/Media Figures

 

Jim Gordon: Bryan Cranston

 

 

Cranston is a television legend for his portrayal of Walker White in Breaking Bad, but why not take another starring role in what could be a hit, critically-acclaimed series? The 62-year-old would probably get top billing behind Madden’s Batman, and it’d be worth it for HBO to have him bring Commissioner Gordon to life, as Cranston would knock it out of the park.

 

 

Harvey Bullock: Michael Madsen

 

 

I don’t know if Michael Madsen would be interested in a recurring television role, but if he is, this one is perfect. In the comics, Harvey Bullock is seen very favorably by his fellow cops despite his rampant and well-known corruption, and Madsen has the requisite charisma to pull that off with Gordon trying to clean up the city.

 

 

Renee Montoya: Zoe Kravitz

 

 

Detective Montoya is worth a more central role in a potential HBO series because there is a lot to explore in her character. Zoe Kravitz, who currently stars as Bonnie in Big Little Lies, could probably handle Montoya’s personal life and potential encounters with the Caped Crusader.

 

 

Mayor Michael Akins: Idris Elba

 

 

There have been upwards of a dozen different mayors in Batman lore, but Michael Akins seems like the best fit for this universe—and it allows us to cast Idris Elba in another HBO show. Akins is a former cop who is on the fence about the Dark Knight and his relationship with the GCPD, particularly Commissioner Gordon.

 

 

Barbara Gordon (Batgirl): Zoey Deutch

 

 

I think Batman works better alone (hence why there is no Nightwing or Robin, at least to start the show), but he could use at least some assistance. Barbara Gordon doesn’t necessarily need to turn into Batgirl, but a role similar to Detective Blake in The Dark Knight Rises would work. Besides having the looks and acting ability, Zoey Deutch should have some built-in chemistry with her TV father after playing Bryan Cranston’s daughter in Why Him?

 

 

Vicki Vale: Alice Eve

 

 

It was only a short role in the final season of Entourage, but Alive Eve joins many others in this cast that have a history with HBO. She would excel as a hard-hitting reporter Vicki Vale, a potential love interest for Bruce Wayne that gets close to the action when he fights crime as Batman, which potentially leads her to connect the dots in regards to Bruce’s secret identity.

 

 

Organized Crime Families

 

Carmine Falcone: Robert De Niro

 

 

Gotham’s most notorious crime lord, Carmine Falcone was originally based on Vito Corleone, so this could be our chance to see Robert De Niro basically be the older version of the character he played in The Godfather: Part II. Of course, Falcone would be much more involved and almost over-the-top with his ruthlessness, but De Niro could play the part in his sleep, and it wouldn’t last any more than one or two seasons.

 

 

Salvatore Maroni: Bobby Cannavale

 

 

Anyone who has watched even one scene with Bobby Cannavale in Boardwalk Empire could probably tell that he killed it in the role of Gyp Rosetti, and his performance was so good that it won him an Emmy. I would love to see him play a mobster once again, especially if he’s going head to head with De Niro for power in Gotham as Salvatore Maroni—the man who usually causes Harvey Dent to turn into Two-Face.

 

 

Mario Falcone: Adrian Grenier

 

 

As stated, Carmine Falcone wouldn’t last more than a couple seasons, but his legacy will be able to live on with his children. Mario lives in Italy after fleeing Gotham similar to Michael Corleone in The Godfather, but he is the oldest Falcone child compared to Michael being the youngest Corleone. I think Adrian Grenier would be a great choice for a small cameo, and it would probably cause Entourage fans to go nuts.

 

 

Sofia Falcone: Drea de Matteo

 

 

I wasn’t sure who should play Falcone’s only daughter, but Drea de Matteo obviously worked with HBO before on The Sopranos, and she might be able to play the Gotham version of Sonny Corleone—funny as that sounds considering what a hothead he was. More than Carmine’s other children, though, Sofia is ruthless and can lose her temper, so it’d be interesting to see if “Adriana” has what it takes to take over the role as head of the family business in a Batman series.

 

 

Alberto Falcone: Lee Pace

 

 

Alberto was also a difficult casting, but I think it’s worth exploring the character because the dynamic that can be created due to the lack of respect given by his father and the rest of the family; staying with The Godfather theme, he’s basically Fredo. Lee Pace could definitely pass as the college-educated Falcone that wants to get in the business after Carmine’s death.

 

 

Primary villains

 

Joker: Rhys Wakefield

 

 

A lot of people might care about the Joker casting more than any other, including Batman, and perhaps that’s fair for such a great villain. I thought Rhys Wakefield was had the perfect look for the role when I first saw him in The Purge, but it also takes acting talent, which he has. And if you don’t want to take my word for it, take HBO’s; they recently cast Wakefield in Season 3 of True Detective, so I think he could be excellent as the Clown Prince of Crime.

 

 

Harvey Dent (Two-Face): Dominic West

 

 

The beginning of this series would probably deal with the mob bosses like Falcone and Maroni, which would bring Harvey Dent into the fold by him prosecuting them and working with the GCPD and Batman. At some point, though, an accident turns Dent into Two-Face, and the former District Attorney of Gotham City becomes a mobster himself. Dominic West is a brilliant choice to bring the darkness out of Dent as DA and then for his descent into madness.

 

 

Oswald Cobblepot (Penguin): Stephen Graham

 

 

The Penguin is undoubtedly a ruthless villain, but he also has some empathetic qualities about him. Stephen Graham showed in Boardwalk Empire as the infamous Al Capone that he could be unhinged in one moment and then show his soft side the next, and that could be used for Cobblepot, who basically wants to rule the city after a difficult upbringing. Plus, Graham has the stature at five-foot-six to easily play the character with a little hunch and a cane.

 

 

Edward Nygma (Riddler): Hugh Dancy

 

 

There have been many different iterations of the Riddler on the screen through movies, television, and other media, but the character is at his best when he’s a dangerous criminal mastermind that feels a need to prove he’s smarter than everyone else (similar to Gotham’s version), including Batman. Based on his acting abilities in Hannibal and The Path, Hugh Dancy would nail Edward Nygma’s psychotic obsession with riddles.

 

 

Selina Kyle (Catwoman): Haley Bennett

 

 

Haley Bennett has been heavily connected to the role of Catwoman in the DCEU, but sometimes a great casting choice just picks up steam because fans agree it would be perfect, and it doesn’t actually end up happening. I hope the rumors are true, but if not, Bennett would be the ideal actress to sink her claws into the character for a premium television series.

 

 

Harleen Quinzel (Harley Quinn): Brittany Snow

 

 

This might be the most difficult casting in the show because of the job Margot Robbie did as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad and is sure to do in future movies, but Brittany Snow is a choice somewhat out of left field that could be sensational in the role. Her unique (and questionable) method of training her dog with a cartoon voice shows that she has the range to do more of a high-pitched, Brooklyn-style accent for Harley.

 

 

Pamela Isley (Poison Ivy): Megan Fox

 

 

For whatever reason, people might be opposed to Megan Fox being cast for a significant part in an HBO show, but the former Transformers star has the natural allure to play a convincing Poison Ivy. Plus, like Haley Bennett as Catwoman, Fox has been rumored as Ivy for Gotham City Sirens. I think it’d be awesome to see her take on Wayne Enterprises and everyone else for what she believes to be the mistreatment of plant life.

 

 

Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow): Burn Gorman

 

 

Many of these villains should have some sort of backstory to explain why they are the way they are, but I have a preference for how Nolan’s trilogy handled Scarecrow, as you don’t really need to explain that a guy who wants to bring fear upon an entire city has some serious psychological issues. Burn Gorman—who already played a bad guy for HBO as Karl Tanner on Game of Thrones—can bring out the subtleties of Dr. Crane similar to Cillian Murphy in Batman Begins.

 

 

Bane: Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson

 

 

Quite literally the World’s Strongest Man (he won the competition this year), Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson is basically the real-life version of Bane in terms of size and strength. Not only would he be more than enough as a physical adversary to Madden’s Batman, but Björnsson has experience acting and intimidating with his face covered as “The Mountain”.

 

 

Floyd Lawton (Deadshot): Timothy Olaphant

 

 

A television series could go in several different directions with the greatest marksman in the world, including a Suicide Squad storyline. I doubt I’m alone in thinking Timothy Olaphant would be believable as a character that never misses a shot, and he could also play up Deadshot’s humanity when it comes to his family.

 

 

Victor Fries (Mr. Freeze): Tobias Menzies

 

 

Mr. Freeze can be one of the more intriguing Batman villains, but it can be difficult to do the character justice in live-action form. However, I think Tobias Menzies would be able to balance the love for Fries’ wife, Nora, with the cruelty and coldness of the character following her death.

 

 

Dr. Hugo Strange: Christoph Waltz

 

 

BD Wong does a great job as Hugo Strange in Gotham, but any similarities to other movies or shows in terms of actors/characters wouldn’t be a good thing for a standalone HBO series. Instead, Christoph Waltz could play the evil genius as a direct threat to the Dark Knight and his identity while having his fingerprints all over Gotham with various schemes.

 

 

Ra’s Al Ghul: Daniel Day-Lewis

 

 

This might be a tough casting because Daniel Day-Lewis retired from acting last year, but a Batman series could be reason enough to come back if it’s a high-quality production, which it would be on HBO. And the three-time Oscar winner (six-time nominee) might also be rejuvenated by a role that would require training as a martial artist to teach Bruce Wayne before he becomes Batman.

 

 

Secondary villains

 

Jervis Tetch (Mad Hatter): Martin Short

 

 

The Mad Hatter can be one of Batman’s strangest enemies, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t extremely dangerous. A former scientist who formed an obsession with the book Alice in Wonderland, Jervis Tetch is an expert in hypnosis and mind control. I think Martin Short has the look and could thrive playing the off-kilter character.

 

 

Slade Wilson (Deathstroke): Michiel Huisman

 

 

Michiel Huisman has risen to prominence as Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones, and the role has certainly allowed him to show what he can do with a weapon in his hands. The 36-year-old would play a younger version of the Deathstroke than in the comics, but he’d prove a worthy challenge to the Dark Knight as the most skilled assassin in the world.

 

 

Roman Sionis (Black Mask): James Marsden

 

 

A premium Batman series should have several storylines in which the Caped Crusader isn’t even directly involved, and that includes rival mobs battling for turf. The Black Mask is easily the most menacing figure in a city with many of them, and he has an intense hatred for both Batman and Bruce Wayne, which would be fun to dive into. The furthest I’ve seen James Marsden go as a villain is Jack Lame in Anchorman 2, but I think he’d pull off the evil Roman Sionis.

 

 

Arnold Wesker (The Ventriloquist): John Lithgow

 

 

The Ventriloquist is another crime boss that vies for power in Gotham’s underworld, but he’s not alone, as Scarface—a gangster puppet—is the one who calls the shots instead of the soft-spoken Arnold Wesker. If there’s someone that could perfectly play the part of a troubled, meek old man that has been taking orders from a puppet, it’s John Lithgow.

 

 

Julian Gregory Day (Calendar Man): Lars Mikkelsen

 

 

Lars Mikkelsen did an exceptional job playing the sociopath villain Charles Augustus Magnussen in BBC’s Sherlock, but this character would be even more deranged, as the Calender Man plans odd crimes based on dates and holidays throughout the year. He’s not necessarily a huge threat to Batman, but the Calendar Man could have a storyline centered around a popular holiday like Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas on a TV show.

 

 

Lazlo Valentin (Professor Pyg): Alex Karpovsky

 

 

Professor Pyg needs to have somewhat of a distinct look, and Alex Karpovsky—who starred in Girls for six seasons on HBO—fits the billing. Lazlo Valentin is certainly one of the weirdest bad guys in Gotham, and his desire to transform people into “perfect Dollotrons” is like something straight out of a horror movie; the network would have the resources to bring it to the screen.

 

 

Barton Mathis (Dollmaker): James Ransone

 

 

While Professor Pyg wants to transform people into Dollotrons while they are still alive, Dollmaker is a serial killer that turns his victims into dolls after he murders them. James Ransone has a relationship with HBO from playing “Ziggy” in The Wire ten years ago, and I think he can get to a dark place as an actor for a short role as Barton Mathis.

 

 

Garfield Lynns (Firefly): Theo Rossi

 

 

Theo Rossi already earned a role in Marvel’s Netflix series Luke Cage after his breakthrough run in Sons of Anarchy ended in 2014, but why wouldn’t he want to be a villain on the best premium network there is? I thought Rossi would have been a good choice for Diablo in Suicide Squad, but Firefly could work as a pure arsonist that sometimes works with the Black Mask’s gang.

 

 

Thomas Elliot (Hush): Michael Pitt

 

 

A friend of Bruce Wayne when they were kids, Tommy Elliott was a sociopath that tried to kill his parents to inherit the family fortune—but his plan was thwarted when Thomas Wayne saved his mother after a car crash (due to Tommy cutting the breaks) that claimed his father’s life. Because of that, he ended up blaming and hating Bruce, but he bides time before eventually becoming Hush. Michael Pitt can portray a dark, determined elitist as Richard Madden’s adversary both in and out of the cowl.

 

 

Victor Zsasz: Ben Foster

 

 

Zsasz was one of the first casting choices I made, as Ben Foster is perfect for the role in my opinion. Perhaps it’s because his bloodlust as Charlie in 3:10 to Yuma, but Foster is a great actor that has the ability to make a lasting impression with barely any screen time (think Donnie Wahlberg in The Sixth Sense) as the serial killer that tallies his body count by carving into his own body.

 

 

Talia al Ghul: Alicia Vikander

 

 

A theme throughout this article has been connections to HBO, and it’s definitely worth noting that DC Comics is a subsidiary of Warner Bros., which is owned by Time Warner—which also owns HBO. So, that 1) makes a live-action Batman series entirely in the realm of possibility and 2) could lead to Alicia Vikander having a role after staring in Warner Bros.’ The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and now in their Tomb Raider reboot. She would bring some buzz as a 29-year-old with an Oscar win already under her belt, and Talia al Ghul should be easy in terms of the athleticism and physicality needed coming off playing Lara Croft.