Hello all. This is my first attempt at a project this big. I am working on my own Batman reboot series. This reboot will have 4 films. This is the first. One. Gotham Knight
PLOT:
The story starts off and we see a TV, on it is reporter Vicki Vale giving her report on Gotham City’s crime rate. Despite the best efforts of police, the crime rate only seems to go up. Her report ends with her talking about rumors of a vigilante bat fighting Gotham’s crime. Various people both praise and condemn this masked Vigilante.
The TV fades into a back alley, to a mugging. It’s night and the lighting is dim. What lighting there is soon vanishes behind a silhouette of what appears to be a giant bat. The thugs are attacked by a shadow. After a beating, they flee. The woman tries to thank her savior, only to find he’s already gone.
The scene shifts to the next day, outside the Gotham City Police Department. A black car pulls up to the front of the building and out steps Gotham’s district attorney Harvey Dent. He is swarmed by the press; paper and news. Despite their continued pestering, Dent gives a solid “no comment.” Vicki Vale is stubborn and presses Dent for anything until finally…the topic of Batman. Dent stops and gives a speech and then gives a cold look to Vicki before greeting police commissioner James Gordon, and the two walk into the building. Vicki sighs and leaves, commenting that “If I didn’t have to do that piece on Bruce Wayne, I wouldn’t give up so easily.” And she leaves.
Gordon and Dent talk about the recent mafia based crimes. Detective Harvey Bullock is on the phone. His voice is urgent and distressed. He hangs up saying. “It’s Gordon. We’ll talk later.” Gordon asks to speak to Dent and Bullock. Gordon tells him that it’s undeniable mafia Boss Maroni is behind the recent string of crimes but there’s no evidence
Gordon and Dent chastise Bullock who’s been on the Maroni case. Bullock defends himself. Gordon tells the DA and Bullock that he’s called in someone. A man dressed in a dark green suit walks in, and Gordon introduces him as detective Edward Nigma, who will replace Bullock investigating Maroni. Bullock storms out, and the men believe it’s because he’s angry his case is being handed over to someone else.
Vicki and her crew in her van drive to Wayne Manor. Then van pulls up to the front of the mansion and Vicki steps out, greeted by Alfred. Vicki introduces herself and explains why she’s there. Alfred lets her and her crew in and shows them to the dojo where Bruce is training. Vicki is introduced to a shirtless, sweaty Bruce Wayne in the middle of kickboxing a punching bag and she tries really hard not to swoon or faint.
Alfred clears his throat; Bruce stops, and sees Vicki and Alfred. He gives a sort of nervous grin. “That was today?” Vicki nods, still very pink. Bruce puts on a shirt and escorts Vicki and her crew to the study. There’s a chemistry between Bruce and Vicki, shown by flirty banter between the two. When the interview is finished, Bruce asks Vicki to a gala Wayne Enterprises is hosting. Vicki accepts and leaves.
Bruce watches Vicki leave. Once her car vanishes, Bruce turns to Alfred and nods. Alfred grabs a book on the bookcase and pulls it. A suit of armor in the study opens, revealing a staircase. Bruce and Alfred walk down into the bat cave. Bruce asks Alfred about his plans for the rest of the day. Alfred explains he has an appointment with Lucius Fox and then he has to interview a new secretary after that. Bruce nods as he grabs a black book. “It’s the anniversary.” He says. Alfred nods. “The flowers are in the kitchen. “
The next cut is to a rundown apartment building. Here, we meet Arnold Wesker, a nervous fidgety man nervously pacing his apartment. He sits down and looks at a violin case on his coffee table and then to a closet door. A knocking startles him. He looks to the front door and gets up, slowly walking to it. Mid step he stops, and looks back to the closet door as we hear “It’s me dummy! We got work to do!”
Bruce’s car pulls slowly stops. He gets out, dressed in black, carrying a bouquet of roses. He walks to his parents’ graves and places the roses.
Wayne Enterprises. The company built by his father and now run by Bruce. Bruce is talking to Lucius Fox, in charge of military equipment at Wayne enterprises. Lucius and Bruce exchange pleasantries before Lucius says that he has something that will interest Bruce. Bruce grins and says later. “I have to interview the new secretary.”
Bruce walks into the receptionist’s office. He calls out for a “Selina Kyle.” A woman answers him and stands up. She is extremely sexy. Bruce interviews Selina, ultimately giving her the job.
That night on the streets of Gotham, Bullock meets Maroni. It is revealed Bullock works for Maroni. Maroni pulled strings to put Bullock on the case so that he’d let Maroni got away. Maroni is furious Bullock got kicked off the assignment. He tells Bullock to wait for him to call for a new job.
The next morning, Bruce shows up for work. Selina tells him there’s a Roman Sionis waiting to see him. Bruce goes in to see his old friend. Roman and Bruce talk about merging Wayne Enterprises with Sionis Industries. Bruce asks him why, after originally denying that very offer so many times in the past, would Roman chose now to merge. Roman tells him that “it just felt right.” Bruce says that now he’s the one who has to think. Once Roman leaves, Bruce calls up Alfred and asks him to look into Roman Sionis.
In GCPD, Nigma has already gotten to work on the Maroni case. He receives an anonymous tip tells him Maroni will be at the docks. He hangs up and continues working. On his desk is a blurry dark photo of a silhouette of Batman. On Batman is a green question mark with the words “who is the batman” written under it.
The night, at the docks Maroni and his men are unloading equipment. Several boxes have the logo of Wayne Enterprises; Maroni has been stealing Wayne equipment. Nigma sneaks onto the scene and investigates. He is grabbed and taken to Maroni. Maroni is about to shoot him when one of his guards is jumped. This is the first time we see Batman clearly. He easily dispatches the thugs and turns to Maroni who flees. Nigma confronts Batman. He scolds him, saying that “this is police work. We don’t need vigilantes like you.” He tries to place him under arrest. Batman merely leaves.
Vicki gives another report. Batman has rounded up more criminals. She gets the word on the street which is both positive and negative.
Bullock, unable to keep working both sides, confesses to Gordon about Maroni, telling Gordon and Dent everything he knows, including his warehouse hideaway.
Maroni is talking to his gang. He says that Gordon was tipped off. The gang prepares to leave before the cops show up when the door opens. It’s Arnold Wesker. He sets down a walky-talky. The voice on it introduces himself as Mr. Scarface and says that he’ll be taking over Maroni’s gang. Maroni, skeptic says that he doesn’t believe someone who wouldn’t even show up.
Scarface chuckles and replies that he’s already there and says, “Dummy, let me in.” Wesker leaves and comes back carrying the violin case and a ventriloquist’s dummy; Scarface. Maroni laughs, insulting Wesker who flinches and cowers, but Scarface doesn’t move with him. He tells Wesker “let him have a taste of the tommy!” Wesker suddenly stops. His face drops and his eyes become blank. He becomes emotionless as he opens the violin case, pulls out a Thompson machine gun and fires at Maroni, killing him. Scarface then asks “Any questions?” As an initiation, Scarface orders his new men to kill those who refused to join him at all.
Outside, Gordon, Bullock, and Nigma all move onto the warehouse when a series of cars to burst out and speed off. The cops get in their own vehicles to follow them. It looks as though they’re about to get away, when the batmobile behind them. Batman takes out several cars, but the car a few of them, including the one carrying Wesker and Scarface escape.
The police arrive and arrest the thugs in the cars Batman stopped. Gordon looks at the batmobile, and begins to wonder is having Batman around isn’t so bad after all. Nigma coldly rejects the concept as the batmobile drives off.
The batmobile drives to the batcave. Batman exits the car to find Alfred and Lucius waiting for him. He takes off his mask, revealing himself to be Bruce Wayne. Lucius asks how the batmobile’s new modifications worked out, to which Bruce replies they proved to be efficient and that the field test was successful. Alfred hands Bruce a file, which in close up we see is labeled “Roman Sionis.”
There is another interlude, in which Vicki gives her report. She reports on Maroni’s death, which appears to be by his own men. She then reveals footage of the batmobile from the night before.
Bruce meets Roman at his mansion. He looks at Sionis’ mask collection as Roman walks in. Roman tells Bruce about his fondness for masks, a wooden one fashioned into a skull and painted black being his favorite.
Bruce tells Roman that he is not accepting Roman’s offer of the merger, revealing he knows about Sionis squandering his fortune, and how Sionis Industries had shut down. The merger would merely have allowed Sionis Industries to be saved. As he leaves, Bruce says “you made your own mistake, now live with it.”
Bruce flashes back to his childhood. He sees a boy his age, who looks rather resentful and alone. His father explains he’s the son of the Sionis family. His mother tells him that Bruce should try to befriend him. He runs off to do just that.
Roman looks at the car in fury, before having a meltdown. He rages through his mansion, destroying everything. He reaches his mask room and demolishes his collection. He stops at the wooden skull mask. He lowers his fist and picks up the mask.
Bruce is at Wayne Enterprises. He engages in conversation with Selina. This conversation establishes a bond between them; Selina becoming a confidant (not on the same level as Alfred or Lucius though). Selina attempts to kiss Bruce, but he remembers Vicki and stops her.
Gordon is in his office when his daughter Barbara runs in. He smiles and greets her before he gets a call. It’s Dent. He tells him there’s a bank robbery. Gordon says bye to Barbara and rushes out.
Wesker and Scarface are robbing Gotham Bank, Scarface saying bats are nocturnal. The thugs hijack an armored car, and escape. The camera zooms out to a man in his car. It never shows us his face, but he s follows the armored vehicle.
Vicki gives a report, dubbing Wesker as “The Ventriolquist.” Bruce watches and asks Alfred to research Arnold Wesker. Vicki comments on how Batman wasn’t present to stop the robbery. The phone rings, and Alfred answers. He says it’s Vicki asking Bruce about the date of the gala.
Scarface is congratulating his boys on a job well done before turning to Wesker and scolding him on his poor gun use. Wesker turns back from the unemotional drone to a sniveling coward.
The door opens, and a man in a suit walks in. The camera never shows his face. When Scarface asks who he is, the camera shows his face; a wooden mask fashioned into a skull and painted black. He answers. “Just a man. A man with the power to get things done.”
The night of the gala arrives. Bruce puts on his suit. As he looks at himself in the mirror, he has a flash back to when he was a kid. His father is getting ready to go to a party hosted by a man he doesn’t like. Bruce asks why, and Thomas says “sometimes you have to wear a mask.”
Bruce and Vicki show up at the gala. Bruce greets the guests, one of which is actor turned entrepreneur Basil Karlo. Bruce tells him he and his dad were huge fans of Karlo’s movies before greeting the other guests.
As he and Vicki dance, Vicki tells Bruce she would like to pursue a relationship with him, but can’t; she’s moving to California. “A girl can only take so much excitement. And Gotham is too much…even for a girl like me.” This is a turning point as Bruce starts drifting away from Vicki.
An armored car crashes into the building. Out step several thugs and Wesker. In the chaos, Bruce steps away. Wesker robs the rich guests as his men watch the cops. Batman crashes through the ceiling and takes down Scarface’s bodyguards.
Scarface orders his men to attack Batman, only for them to be all taken out. Once the chaos settles, Wesker is in his van, holding Vicki at gunpoint. He says he doesn’t want to be followed. As the doors to the van close, Batman hears “the Black Mask don’t like to wait.” As the car drives off, Batman throws a tracker on it.
Wesker’s car pulls up to a factory labeled “Sionis Industries,” and brings in Vicki. Black Mask looks at her asking what she’s doing here, and Scarface explains how the bat showed up and he had to take a hostage. Black Mask looks at her. “Chain her up.” He says, then explains his plan. Black Mask wants to bring down Wayne Enterprises. He promises Scarface “I’ll make you rich by destroying Bruce Wayne.”
In the Batcave, Bruce reads all the information on Wesker, which are mostly psychological reports from Blackgate Penitentiary. He was born into a crime family, and showed no interest in being a part of his family’s crime legacy. As a child, Wesker watched as his mother was assassinated. His only vent was ventriloquism. The Doctors’ reports even say that through ventriloquism, Wesker developed dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality) through a combination of his repressed memories and ventriloquism.
Years later, Arnold killed a man in a violent release of his repressed emotions. He was sent to Blackgate. He underwent extensive therapy. Doctor’s monitored as his cellmate introduced Wesker to a dummy he carved named “Woody.” Doctor’s reported Wesker “talked to himself,” but realized he was talking to Woody.
Batman plays recordings from Wesker’s therapy sessions. He listens as Wesker told his doctor how Woody told him to him to kill his cellmate. Bruce remarks on how he needs to appeal to Wesker to beat Scarface. Bruce then looks up what he heard Scarface say, “Black Mask,” finding no results. He activates the tracker he threw on Wesker’s car and drives off.
Scarface and Black Mask are discussing their plan to destroy Bruce Wayne. After Mask leaves, Scarface tells Wesker that he’s planning to betray this guy. Wesker asks if that would actually work against him. Scarface slaps him and insults him. “Don’t ever think again Dummy!” He rants. “It’s because of me you aren’t in Blackgate anymore. Remember?”
And Wesker flashes back. He looks at his dead cellmate before picking up Woody. He and Woody are convinced Woody killed his cellmate. Woody tells Wesker to “fix me up,” which he does. He sands and re-carves Woody’s face, but accidentally slips and gives him a scar over his left eye (Woody says to leave it). He then changes Woody’s clothes. This makeover forever changed both Wesker, and Woody who became Scarface.
Batman follows the tracker’s signal to the Sionis Industries factory. Scarface’s men ambush him trying to shoot the car, but to no avail. He drives the car into the building and jumps out. Scarface tells him one more move “and dummy shoots the dame,” Wesker holds a gun to Vicki.
Black Masks greets Batman, Bruce realizes it’s Roman, but has no way of exposing him without giving himself away. Black Mask gloats and Batman throws a batarang at him, hitting him in the face, and causing his wooden mask to shatter, exposing him. Batman snaps a picture as Sionis retreats. Wesker retreats too as Batman fights off the thugs and rescues Vicki.
Vicki does a story on the Black Mask the next day. Gordon receives evidence from an “anonymous tip” that Roman Sionis is the Black Mask. Gordon releases this information. Meanwhile, Bruce shows up at Wayne Industries. He talks with Selina. From here, Bruce drifts from Vicki to Selina.
In their new hideout, Sionis is fuming that Batman almost stopped him. He holds up a new mask. This one is a rubber latex mask he stole from a costume shop. It’s still is a black skull. He changes his priorities; killing Batman first then destroy Bruce Wayne. He gets an idea to lure Batman to their new hideout, which will be rigged with explosives. Scarface says he knows how, and shows Mask the tracker he found.
Bruce is talking with Lucius and Alfred in the batcave when the tracker signal goes off again. Lucius tells Bruce “try the new car.” And he heads out in a second identical batmobile.
The car zips to the new hideout. Armed thugs open fire on the car, but it doesn’t do anything. Black Mask walks onto the roof as the car approaches. He pulls out a rocket launcher and shoots at the car, which explodes. Out of the inferno, Batman zips out on a motorcycle, which was hidden in the batmobile. The batcycle bursts through the door. Wesker and Scarface are there waiting for him, soon joined by Black Mask.
Batman tries to appeal to Wesker, telling him he doesn’t need Scarface, but Scarface rebukes him. His armored truck drives through a wall and he gets in. He holds up the detonator and presses it, and flees, leaving Black Mask behind. Batman gets Sionis and himself out of the hideout on the batcycle as it blows up.
In rage, Sionis runs back toward the burning hideout, cursing Scarface. Another explosion occurs, pushing Sionis back as well as setting his latex mask on fire. Batman puts it out, and gets Roman to a hospital.
Gordon and Dent are having a conversation at Dent’s home. They talk about accepting Batman, and using him a “Silent Hero” for Gotham. Dent remarks “The Gotham Knight”
Vicki is doing a report from Gotham streets when she and her crew are abducted by Scarface and his goons. That night, Scarface airs on the news, showing the world Vicki is held hostage with her crew. He goes onto say that if the cops try to get in, he’ll kill them. He invites Batman to stop him. Watching from the Batcave, Bruce suits up and heads out on the batcycle.
The cops have gathered around the hideout, none daring to go in. The crowd clears at the batcycle drives up. Gordon nods, saying that Batman has to stop him. Nigma glares coldly. Batman walks up the steps, and shoots a grappling hook, zipping up to the roof.
Vicki tries to escape as Scarface talks about becoming the “Head Honcho” by killing Batman. Scarface comments saying how “If I kill the bat, I become the scariest name in Gotham.” Someone pokes his shoulder and he turns around to see Batman. He punches Scarface whose head spins around, and then he punches Wesker. Scarface orders all of his goons in the room to attack Batman.
Batman applies stealth to take down the armed thugs. Meanwhile, Vicki manages to free herself. She tries to get out only to get a gun pointed at her back. Batman finishes dispatching the thugs to see Wesker with a gun on Vicki.
Bruce once again tries to appeal to Wesker saying that he’s letting his own creation is controlling him. Scarface slaps him and barks orders. But this time, Wesker hesitates. He doesn’t do as he’s told. Scarface gets madder. “If it wasn’t for me
WE’D still be in Blackgate.”
When he realizes the word “we’d” is emphasized, Wesker looks at him. “It’s not me who needs you,” he realizes, “It’s YOU who needs me!” He spins around, pushing Vicki out of the way and shoots Scarface in the stomach.
Batman runs to Vicki as she gets up. He looks at Wesker who is holding Scarface’s “corpse.” Wesker looks at Batman. “I may have stopped him, but Scarface is going to haunt me forever.” When Batman asks Wesker what he’s going to do, Wesker responds “I’m going to free myself from Scarface.”
Wesker exits the building, the dead Scarface in one hand, his tommy gun in the other. Cops move in to arrest him. He fires several shots, making sure to miss anyone. The cops open fire on Wesker, killing him. He dies on the steps, a smile on his face. He is free.
The next morning, Bruce is at the airport saying goodbye to Vicki. They agree to be friends and keep in touch before Vicki boards her plane.
At city hall, Dent makes an announcement, thanking Batman for his service to Gotham. He steps down and Gordon speaks. He says that should he ever need Batman’s help, he will call him and unveils the bat signal. He lights it into the night sky, and a montage of people look at it:
*The crowd “oohs” and “aahs”
*Alfred is dusting when he looks out a window and smiles at it.
*Lucius looks up from his desk.
*Bullock drives down the road when he sees it.
*Nigma exits the GCPD building and sees it, before glaring.
*Selina is in her apartment. She feeds and pets her cat, before standing back up to see the signal out her window.
The scene changes back to Town hall as the camera pans up to Batman looking up at the signal. He then looks down at the crowd and jumps off the building. His cape extends outward as he glides over the crowd and into the night and the credits roll.
During the credits, Bruce is in the hospital going to see Roman. A doctor (whose face isn’t seen) tells Bruce that the force of the explosion and the fire had caused the mask to melt and permanently grafted it onto his face. “There is no way to remove it without damaging his face.”
When Bruce leaves, the doctor walks into Roman’s room. “Good evening Mr. Sionis. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Doctor Hugo Strange.”
The camera zooms in on Roman’s face. “Tell me about Batman.” Roman’s eyes open and the screen cuts to black.
CAST
Bruce Wayne/ Batman: Samuel Witwer (
Being Human, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Force Unleashed Series, Smallville)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Bradley Cooper (
The A-Team)
On Cooper, let me just say Hollywood would go for a big name who is eye candy. And Cooper fits both of those...while also being a good actor. NONE OF US LIKE THE IDEA, but it seems possible it would happen.
Witwer isn't an uncommon choice for the caped crusader. My test audience said that while he'd be a great Batman and look awesome in the suit, they were unsure of him as Bruce Wayne. Witwer has the look, the acting ability, and he is eye candy (gotta attract a female crowd).
Thomas Wayne: Michael Keaton (
Beetlejuice, Batman, White Noice)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
I know that Thomas didn't really pop up, but in the plot, the flashbacks to Bruce's childhood are pivotal points, and Thomas and Martha are important characters...it was just hard to some up the flashbacks in the plot.
Keaton is cast as Bruce's father as a nod to the Burton Batman film. Keaton is still going strong as an actor, and (at least I think) has the sophistication for Thomas.
Martha Wayne: Madeleine Stowe (
12 Monkeys, China Moon, Revenge)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Katey Sagal (
Son's of Anarchy)
Julianna Margulies (
The Good Wife)
Julianne Moore (
Crazy Stupid Love)
This was originally going to be Julianne Moore, but after watching
Revenge I really started liking the idea of Stowe as Bruce's mother. While Stowe is one the show's main antagonists, her character is upper-class and will stop at nothing to ensure what's best for her family, and that is the same as Martha.
Alfred Pennyworth: Sam Neill (
Dead Calm, Jurassic Park, Merlin)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Malcolm McDowell (
Star Trek: Generations)
This choice got me EXTREMELY nervous. Alfred is British and as such, is played by a British actor (in some fancasts, Australian actors were considered). Sam Neill is a native to New Zealand (so he isn't American). I've seen a lot of choices for Alfred, and I wanted mine to stand out. I think Neill would be amazing as Bruce's butler and adoptive parent.
Police Commissioner James "Jim" Gordon: Mandy Patinkin (
Criminal Minds, Yentl, Dick Tracy, Homeland)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
I know, I know, a lot of you think Bryan Cranston. Two things. 1, that choice is INCREDIBLY overused. 2, After
Malcolm in the Middle I can't see him in anything else.
This is an original choice. He played a cop on
Criminal Minds before he left the show and was replaced by Joe Mantegna. He now plays a retired CIA agent in the Shotime series
Homeland. While being a FLAWLESS actor, he also has some credits as police characters.
Lucius Fox: Giancarlo Esposito (
The Usual Suspects, Breaking Bad, Revolution, Once Upon a Time)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Billy Dee Williams (
The Empire Strikes Back)
Ernie Hudson (
Ghostbusters)
Michael Jai white (
Black Dynamite)
I was going to have Bill Dee Williams as another nod to the Burton Batman film, but decided against it.
I am surprised no one thought of this for Lucius. Esposito is a talented actor. Lately, he has been playing more sinister roles, but he has displayed the talent and capability to play a role like this.
Detective Harvey Bullock: Michael Madsen (
Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs, Free Willy)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
This is one of those overused choices that i actually like. Michael is an underrated actor. I had to make sure he was still active before I cast this part.
Detective Edward Nigma: Dominic West (
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Punisher: War Zone, The Wire)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Jude Law (
Cold Mountain)
The Riddler gets a different origin in every incarnation. For me film series, he's a vigilante hating cop. I thought, "who could play the tough investigator?" And Dominic West came to mind. My test audience had mixed feelings, but the choice was ultimately positively reviewed.
Vicki Vale: Sienna Miller (
Stardust, G.I Joe: Rise of Cobra)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Malin Akerman (
Watchmen)
January Jones (
Mad Men)
If
X-Men: First Class taught me anything, it's that Jones can't do anything outside of Mad Men.
I don't know why I like the choice for Miller as Vale. I guess it's because Miller has shown us a diverse range of acting ability. From a snooty rich girl (
Stardust) to an ass-kicking badass (
G.I. Joe). Both of which make up Vicki's personality.
District Attorney Harvey Dent: Jason Isaacs (
Harry Potter, Peter Pan, The Patriot, Awake)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Stephen Moyer (
True Blood)
I found this was another original choice compared to other fan casts. Isaacs is a talented actor who has displayed his ability in both action and drama. My test audience thought that Isaacs would be chilling as Dent (especially when he becomes Two-Face, which isn't in this film).
Selina Kyle: Meghan Ory (
Merlin's Apprentice, Supernatural, Vampire High, Once Upon a Time)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Mary Elizabeth Winstead (
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World)
This choice gave me a lot of hell!!! Ory or Winstead? I couldn't decide. Someone told me Winstead was to play Wonder Woman in a canceled Justice League film. I ultimately chose Ory because I was more familiar with her work and what she was capable of as an actress...and the sexy, beautiful, independent Selina Kyle is perfect for her.
Arnold Wesker/ The Ventriloquist: Jason Alexander (
Seinfeld, Jacob's Ladder)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Stanley Tucci (
The Devil Wears Prada)
Paul Giamatti (
Shoot 'em Up)
I was at first uneasy about this choice. I had known Alexander for a comedic actor. But when I saw his dramatic work, I knew he had potential.
What ultimately sold me on Alexander as Wesker, was his guest spot on
Criminal Minds
Mr. Scarface: John DiMaggio (
Futurama, Adventure Time with Finn and Jake, The Spectacular Spider-Man)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Steve Buscemi (
Boardwalk Empire)
This was really close to being Steve Buscemi. My test audience said that I didn't need a big name actor to voice the crime boss dummy. I started looking at voice actors. DiMaggio is my favorite choice for the dummy having already played a 1920s gangster (Hammerhead in
The Spectacular Spider-Man and
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimesnions).
Boss Maroni: Paul Sorvino (
Mambo Italiano, Goodfellas, Repo! The Genetic Opera)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
Sorvino is a hidden gem in Holywood. A terrific actor of great capability.
Repo! The Genetic Opera sold me on the idea to cast Sorvino as the mob boss who is ultimately executed by Wesker.
Roman Sionis/ The Black Mask: Gabriel Mann (
Revenge)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
I haven't seen a lot of Mann's work, but of what I have seen he is terrific. Especially in
Revenge. His character (while one of the protagonists) is so dark, it's enjoyable to watch, and it shows Mann has potential to play more villainous roles.
Barbara Gordon: Chloe Grace Moretz (
Kick-Ass, Dark Shadows)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
I was really worried about this choice. Even now I feel like I just typcasted Moretz in this role. While not yet batgirl, she is introduced in this film.
Gilda Dent: Terri Hatcher (
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Coraline, Desperate Housewives)
ALSO CONSIDERED: Marcia Cross (
Desperate Housewives)
When I thought of who I wanted to play Harvey's wife, I knew I wanted it to be a Desperate Housewife. It was down to Bree or Susan. Ultimate Susan (Hatcher) won. I know that in my plot summary Gilda is absent but she plays a small role in this film. Her role grows later, and is most important in Harvey becoming Two-Face.
Basil Karlo: Mickey Rourke (
The Wrestler, The Expendables, Iron Man 2)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
It seems sort of typecasted: the actor who only recently restarted his career as the washed-up actor. But Rourke plays great antagonists. While a small cameo in this film, Karlo (Clayface) is the next film's villain.
Doctor Hugo Strange: Liev Schreiber (
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Scream, Salt)
ALSO CONSIDERED: None
I knew I wanted someone younger (40s) to be Strange. He's extremely physical...to the point where he thinks he could be Batman. Schreiber is another amazing talent who would pull of the obsessive doctor with ease.
Strange starts off as a small cameo, but his role grows with each film until