Here's Where You Know The Cast Of The Batman From
In Matt Reeves' highly anticipated film, "The Batman," which premiered in theaters internationally on March 4, 2022, a new take on the classic superhero franchise takes center stage, offering DC fans a markedly different view into the world of Gotham. Yes, Robert Pattinson's version of the Caped Crusader is fighting the Riddler, a well-known villain, but this isn't a story or a character you've seen before.
"I've definitely found a little interesting thread," the actor explained to GQ. Unlike Michael Keaton, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck's versions of the character, Pattinson said his Bruce Wayne "doesn't have a playboy persona at all." In fact, "He's kind of a weirdo as Bruce and a weirdo as Batman," he revealed. Pattinson also told the outlet that he felt he had more of a "nihilistic" approach to the character than his predecessors. "Normally, in all the other films, Bruce goes away, trains, and returns to Gotham believing in himself, thinking, 'I'm gonna change things here'. But in this, it's sort of implied that he's had a bit of a breakdown," he explained.
While the former "Twilight" star takes the lead in this dark and emotional superhero film, he's also joined on screen by other big-name stars like Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, and Jeffrey Wright. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the cast of "The Batman" — and where you've seen these screen stars before.
Robert Pattinson has a list of credits a mile long
Robert Pattinson has been in the public eye ever since his breakout role in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" in 2005. He played the hunky Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory, Hogwarts' other candidate for the Triwizard Tournament, and he beat out the likes of Henry Cavill for the part. A few years later, Pattinson garnered international fame playing Edward Cullen in the teen vampire saga "Twilight," sharing the screen with his then-girlfriend, Kristen Stewart. At the same time, he starred in (and executive produced) the romantic drama "Remember Me," alongside Emilie de Ravin and Pierce Brosnan.
In the decade since, the British star has made a name for himself starring in independent dramas and thrillers like "The Lost City of Z," "Tenet," and "The Devil All the Time." However, he may not have intended to become typecast within these more serious genres. "I thought that one ['The Devil All the Time'] was supposed to be a comedy," Pattinson admitted to GQ. "I remember reading the script, and it was so extreme, with such monstrous characters, I was thinking it had to be."
Now he's tackling a new genre, playing Gotham's brooding superhero Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) in "The Batman." According to GQ, director Matt Reeves wrote the part with Pattinson in mind, but was concerned that his focus on independent cinema would deter him from taking on the gig. Of course, Pattinson couldn't pass up the opportunity to play such an iconic role, but having to film during the pandemic made this "by far the hardest thing" he's ever done.
Andy Serkis is a regular fixture on both sides of the camera
Wherever Bruce Wayne goes, Alfred Pennyworth is never far behind. "The Lord of the Rings" actor Andy Serkis plays the loyal butler in the Matt Reeves-directed film. The pair were working together on "War for the Planet of the Apes" when Reeves got the green light for "The Batman." Serkis came aboard straight away, admitting to Film & TV Now that he "would do anything to work with Matt, [because] he's such a genius director." Getting to play Alfred was just the cherry on top for Serkis, too. "I grew up watching the Batman TV series, so it was thrilling, thrilling to be honest," he said.
While Serkis may be making his DCEU debut in "The Batman," he isn't new to the superhero world. The British actor and filmmaker played Ulysses Klaue in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and "Black Panther." This was a completely different role than anything he'd done before, and Serkis relished the opportunity to put the directing and CGI to one side and just focus on acting. "It was great to actually step out of the motion capture suit for a bit, and put on a pair of pants and costume and makeup, and do all that," he said to CBR after the release of "Black Panther."
Serkis has since returned to filmmaking with a renewed passion. In 2021, he directed the "Venom" sequel "Let There Be Carnage," a film which starred Tom Hardy. He has since said that he's open to returning to the franchise for "Venom 3."
Paul Dano is no stranger to the silver screen
In October 2019, the "12 Years a Slave" actor Paul Dano joined the cast of "The Batman" after "21 Jump Street" star Jonah Hill said no to the project, Variety reported. Dano is playing Edward Nygma — now Edward Nashton — the film's biggest baddie. The infamous supervillain has previously been played by the likes of Cory Michael Smith in "Gotham" and voiced by John Glover in "Batman: The Animated Series," but in this iteration, Dano is the face behind the Riddler. According to a Unilad film review, "Dano's performance makes the best Bat villain since Heath Ledger's Clown Prince."
"Being in a movie like ['The Batman'] was a pretty big box to check," the "Little Miss Sunshine" actor and musician admitted to the Evening Standard. "It was emotional." When he first met with director Matt Reeves, the pair talked about having the character emulate the Zodiac Killer, but that didn't speak to him. Instead, Dano focused Nashton's motivations on modern issues like toxic masculinity and incel culture to create a unique version of the Riddler.
Dano has an expansive filmography which includes feature films, television, and theater. However, viewers might know him best from some of his movie roles. He notably starred in action films like "Knight and Day" with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise, and "Cowboys and Aliens" alongside Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. You might also recognize him for his portrayal of Beach Boys musician Brian Wilson in the 2014 biographical drama "Love & Mercy," a story he was "excited" to explore on screen, per Screen Rant.
Zoë Kravitz starred in some pretty big film franchises
We're pretty sure you'll know the name Zoë Kravitz, even if you only recognize her famous surname. This American actor just happens to be the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actor Lisa Bonet, and the stepdaughter of fellow DC actor Jason Momoa. She followed in the mother's footsteps and started acting in 2007, bagging a supporting role in the romantic comedy "No Reservations" before scoring a bigger role as Angel Salvadore in the "X-Men" franchise.
Now, Kravitz is known around the world for her roles as Christina in "Divergent" and Leta Lestrange in "Fantastic Beasts." She also starred in the television series "Big Little Lies" alongside stars like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, and Shailene Woodley. In "The Batman," Kravitz plays Catwoman, another hero seeking justice alongside Robert Pattinson's Batman — although the actor admitted the characters might have different methods. "I think Batman really believes in working within the system to heal itself, and I think Selina really believes in burning it down and starting again. I don't think she thinks there's any reform that can [save it]," she told Teen Vogue.
This is not Kravitz's first experience with the "Batman" franchise. She previously voiced Selina Kyle and her superhero alter-ego Catwoman in "The Lego Batman Movie." However, she missed out on playing the same character in "The Dark Knight Rises" (the role went to Anne Hathaway) because she was allegedly considered "too urban" for the role, she told The Hollywood Reporter. Yikes.
John Turturro had to transform for his role in The Batman
American actor, writer, and director John Turturro has racked up an impressive filmography during his four-decade-long career, having starred in over 60 feature films in that time. Turturro has worked with critically acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, and Peter Segal, while starring opposite the likes of Adam Sandler, Christina Ricci, and Jenny Slate. However, he's perhaps best known for his roles as Jesus Quintana in the Coen brothers' crime film "The Big Lebowski" and its spinoff "The Jesus Rolls," the latter of which he also wrote and directed.
Science fiction fans should also remember Turturro for his role as the antagonist-turned-ally Seymour Simmons in the "Transformers" franchise, which also stars the likes of Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, Megan Fox, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Simmons is an important part of the film series, but the actor later told the Independent that while he would usually turn down big blockbuster movies, he did "Transformers" because his son really wanted him to. "I didn't do it for a paycheck. I had fun, tried to get into the spirit of it," he said.
When Turturro joined the cast of "The Batman" as crime boss Carmine Falcone, he officially returned to his early career roots of playing a "deadly baddie," as Stephen Colbert put it. "I played bad guys when I was younger, and then I tried to get away from that a little bit. But I've played a few bad guys in my day," Turturro said on "The Late Show."
Colin Farrell is unrecognizable as this DC villain
Irish actor Colin Farrell is playing Oswald Cobblepot — aka the Penguin — another big villain in "The Batman" world. The Penguin comes up under the crime boss Carmine Falcone, while also running illegal operations through his nightclub, the Iceberg. Farrell's character isn't necessarily a major player in "The Batman," but his role in the film opens up his character for a spinoff series, which is reportedly being developed for HBO Max. The series will depict his burgeoning crime empire as he takes over from Falcone.
However, the "Daredevil" star told IndieWire that he can't take all the credit for his performance (only "49%" to be exact), because the film's makeup artist Mike Marino was responsible for his intense physical transformation to become the Penguin. The makeup and fat suit Farrell wore for the role were freeing for the actor. "I have not had this much unbridled fun with something. ... I felt somewhat untouchable in it," he admitted to Total Film.
So, where do you recognize Farrell from? Well, his filmography spans from black comedies to psychological thrillers and everything in between, but he might be best known for his role in the Harry Potter spinoff film, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." He played the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald while he was disguised as the Auror Percival Graves. As a self-proclaimed "Harry Potter" fan, Farrell told Collider that starring in the film was a "very cool" experience.
Charlie and Max Carver are TV's favorite twins
Colin Farrell's Penguin wouldn't be much of a mob boss without intimidating henchmen following him around — thankfully Charlie and Max Carver are on the job. The twin brothers play bouncers at the Penguin's club, the Iceberg, where they have a few run-ins with both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Although the brothers didn't initially know what they were auditioning for, they were thrilled to get the call to join the cast of "The Batman" and have since proclaimed how excited they are for people to get to see their characters and the "underworld of Gotham," per an interview with Comicbook.com.
These identical twin stars first got their start as the older version of Lynette and Tom's twins, Porter and Preston, in "Desperate Housewives." Since then, they've starred in popular series like "The Leftovers" and "Teen Wolf," where they played twin werewolves who could merge their strength together. While the pair have had success branching out on their own (Charlie in "Ratched" and Max in "Filthy Preppy Teens"), they keep coming back to each other. "We've been working together for so long that we've started to enjoy each other's company on set more than anything," Charlie, who fans might also recognize as Ben Platt's onscreen love interest in his "Ease My Mind" music video, told Crush Magazine.
Jeffrey Wright has some major blockbuster film clout
"Westworld" star Jeffrey Wright is playing "the world's greatest detective," James Gordon, in "The Batman." DC fans last saw the character played by Ben McKenzie in "Gotham," along with other familiar fictional personas like the Penguin and the Riddler. Given that the character James Gordon has been around for so long and portrayed by different actors so many times, Wright really felt like he had his work cut out for him — and not just because he was staying in a hotel that was like "The Shining" while filming.
"I looked for real-life references to justify my place in this role," Wright explained to The Hollywood Reporter, noting how he took inspiration from people he admires, namely former cop and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as well as NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell. That was one element, but as the actor added, "I largely relied on the comics for the underlying psychology and emotional journey that the character undergoes and for the relationship with the Batman."
Wright started out in theater, winning a Tony Award for his role in "Angels in America" in 1994. However, it's probably his previous film experience which prepared him for Gotham's superhero world. Prior to joining the cast of "The Batman," the actor starred in several big blockbuster film series. You probably recognize him as Felix Leiter in the "James Bond" films "Casino Royale," "Quantum of Solace," and "No Time to Die," or as Beetee from "The Hunger Games" franchise.
Alex Ferns gets emotionally invested in his work
Longtime fans of British TV will no doubt recognize Scottish actor Alex Ferns, who has a long list of credits in soaps like "Holby City," "Eastenders," and "River City." After leaving the Glasgow-based soap in 2018, Ferns bagged some bigger international television and feature film roles like "Barkskins" and "Wrath of Man" before he nabbed a part in "The Batman." The actor plays the Gotham City Police Department's commissioner, Pete Savage, who's rumored to be corrupt. Savage is Detective Gordon's direct superior for the time being, but, as any Batman fans will know, Gordon is destined to become commissioner himself. This promotion might not be addressed in this particular film, but it's almost certainly a plot point that will be played out as the franchise grows.
Ferns is probably best known for his role in HBO's television miniseries "Chernobyl," which aired in 2019 and chronicled the 1986 disaster and subsequent clean-up efforts. The show was a very "personal" project for the actor, who believes his uncle died as a result of the nuclear disaster and the poisoned rain which subsequently spread over the UK, per the Daily Record: "My uncle and his colleagues were out working in the rain in the Killearn area and asked to come in but were told by their gaffer [boss] to stay outside and to carry on working. They carried on." All the men "died of cancer" before they "reached the age of 50," he concluded.
Gil Perez-Abraham probably guest-starred in a show you love
"The Walking Dead: World Beyond" actor Gil Perez-Abraham plays beat cop Officer Martinez in "The Batman." Martinez is an idealistic officer in the early stages of his career, and he often acts as the representative voice of Gotham's citizens. While in the line of duty, he finds himself hunting down the Riddler and soon comes face to face with Batman. In an interview with Remezcla, Perez-Abraham revealed that he was actually "terrified" during a scene with Robert Pattinson when he had to block his path, because he was "big as heck." It was hard work, but the actor made sure his character stood his ground. "When you watch the movie, I'm sure you're thinking, 'This little cop is about to get beat down.' But in the moment, I'm thinking, 'I'm about to take this guy down, and I'm doing it for everyone in Gotham,'" he explained.
Though Perez-Abraham doesn't have as many credits to his name as some of his cast members, the Mexican-American actor has guest starred in popular television series like "Blue Bloods," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," and "Orange Is the New Black." He also starred in the mockumentary "Making It: The Series," which follows a group of five young actors trying to make it in New York City.
Rupert Penry-Jones is a regular in small screen dramas
British star Rupert Penry-Jones plays the current Gotham City Mayor Don Mitchell. However, it's not long before Mitchell's status in Gotham makes him a prime target for the Riddler, and his life is left hanging in the balance. Funnily enough, thanks to the aforementioned physical transformation of Colin Farrell on set, Penry-Jones revealed to "This Morning" that he didn't recognize the actor playing the Penguin. "It was so embarrassing," he admitted, saying that at first, "I thought he was maybe a supporting actor." Penry-Jones quickly realized his error and confessed as much to his co-star while praising the makeup department for their work.
Penry-Jones has had a busy television career prior to starring in "The Batman." A British audience will no doubt recognize him from dramas like "Spooks," "Whitechapel," and "Silk," while international viewers may know him better as Thomas Hamilton from "Black Sails" or Mark in "The Drowning." While Penry-Jones clearly has a penchant for dark crime dramas and thrillers, it's not the only type of acting he's done. In 2020, he got the opportunity to play a completely different part in the romantic comedy-drama "Love Sarah." "It's a genre I would love to do more of. I love watching it, I love being in it," he told Cultured Vultures. "There isn't a genre I don't like, really. I'll do anything if it's well-written," the actor added.
Jayme Lawson is a fresh-faced Juilliard grad
Not long after graduating from Juilliard, Jayme Lawson has nabbed a part in "The Batman." The actor, who was previously tipped to play Barbara Gordon, appears as Bella Reál, a Gotham City mayoral candidate. Scoring the role was "a total shock to the system," Lawson admitted to HeyUGuys. "I'm coming out of a training program, in which I've only ever done theater ... and then going from that and having to go to this big major film, in which the first day we've got three or four cameras rolling at the same time ... it was a lot, but I didn't let myself think about that," she said.
This up-and-coming actor plays a character who is completely new and original to the franchise. While there's no character history for her to dive into or draw from, this gave Lawson the opportunity to put her own stamp on Bella Reál and the world of Gotham. Lawson's only other film credit to date is the Sundance feature "Farewell Amour," which was a wildly different experience. In an interview with Collider, the film's director revealed that the "Farewell Amour" casting director predicted Lawson would become a star, and that prediction certainly seems to be coming true.
Peter Sarsgaard is no stranger to the world of superheroes
"The Magnificent Seven" actor Peter Sarsgaard is playing Gilbert "Gil" Colson in "The Batman," although he was originally tipped to take up the mantle of secondary antagonist Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face. Colson is the Gotham City District Attorney who has gone missing at the hands of the Riddler. Like Bella Reál, the character of Colson is completely original to Matt Reeves' franchise. This is not Sarsgaard's DC debut, however, as he starred in the critically hated "Green Lantern" movie in 2011 (while his wife, Maggie Gyllenhaal, played Rachel Dawes in the 2012 feature film "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises").
Sarsgaard explained to Collider that starring in "The Batman" is "very different" from his experience in "Green Lantern," though. "With 'Green Lantern,' the character was mythic. I'm playing a person in 'The Batman.' The guy that I was playing in 'Green Lantern' was as big as my imagination would let me make him. So yeah, it feels different."
Outside of the superhero universe, you might recognize this American actor from some of his notable television roles, like the 2013 crime drama "The Killing," which is "some of the best acting I have ever done in my life," Sarsgaard told Rolling Stone afterward. Most recently viewers may have seen Sarsgaard in the Hulu original series "Dopesick."
Barry Keoghan is a face you'll have definitely seen before
"Dunkirk" star Barry Keoghan has a small but significant role in "The Batman," which sees him appear as the Joker. Officially, he is an unnamed prisoner in the Arkham Asylum, but as noted by Polygon, "It's unmistakably Keoghan as the Joker." His role in the film is brief, but it's important because it sets him up to become a bigger villain (possibly the biggest villain) in Matt Reeves' superhero franchise, so viewers can most likely expect to see Keoghan in this role again.
As for where you know the Irish star from? Well, Keoghan's career has been on an upward trajectory since he starred in Christopher Nolan's 2017 war movie "Dunkirk." He played George Mills, one of the civilian heroes of the film who tragically loses his life. In the same year, Keoghan starred in the psychological thriller "The Killing of the Sacred Deer," before bagging a role in the MCU's Phase 4 movie "Eternals" in 2021. Keoghan has certainly had a varied career, but playing Druig in the Chloé Zhao-directed feature film was a "pinch me moment" for the actor, per GamesRadar. The role required quite a physical transformation to get him looking like a superhero, but that was no problem for the actor who goes deep into his characters.
"I look at myself as a method actor. I do stay in character and I immerse myself in that role," he explained to the Independent. The actor took inspiration from Christian Bale's infamous transformations, saying there are "no limits" to what he would do for a role.