Ben Affleck’s excellent portrayal of the Dark Knight in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice was one of the film’s major redeeming factors. As a result, fans of the DC Extended Universe are stoked for his return in The Batman – which he’s currently hard at work on, tweaking the script to "get it right.” Slated to begin shooting in spring of 2017, at least according to Deathstroke actor Joe Manganiello, there are still plenty of roles to fill before production begins. Although it’s unknown exactly which characters will come into play, there have been some rumors that Talia Al Ghul will show up in The Batman.
A potentially juicy part in the long run, thanks to her involvement with Bruce Wayne and family, many actresses would clamor for a shot at to play Talia. Today, one actress tossed her hat into the ring.
In an exclusive interview, Screen Rant spoke with Teresa Palmer about her interest in the Affleck-helmed Batman. The actress, who recently played alongside Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther) in the forthcoming thriller Message from the King, was enthusiastic about the possibility of portraying the daughter of crime boss Ra’s Al Ghul, saying she’s “100 percent” behind the idea. Palmer told Screen Rant:
“I was going to be her. I think Marion Cotillard played, I don't know how to pronounce her last name by the way, um she played Talia Al Ghul in one of the Batman's, I remember thinking, okay well, obviously she's going to play Talia Al Ghul, but if there's ever an opportunity I would absolutely love it. Put it out there. Can you put it out there for me?”
In fact, this isn’t the first time Palmer has been associated with the DC franchise or the Talia Al Ghul role, for that matter. At one point, she was up for the role in George Miller’s sadly unrealized Justice League project. She’s definitely interested in having another shot at the potentially meaty role. When asked about whether she'd officially campaign for the role, Palmer said:
“Can you make it a thing? I'm doing it.”
Palmer isn’t the only actress who’s expressed interest in joining the cast of The Batman. Earlier this month, Anna Kendrick prodded her Accountant costar Affleck about playing a female Robin in the upcoming Batman epic (something Joe Manganiello was all about). Other actors, like Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) also expressed interest in signing up for parts in the DCEU, a show of good faith for the fledgling franchise.
Adding an actress of Palmer’s caliber would be a great move for Affleck as he builds his better Batman. Unlike Justice League and Batman V Superman, the solo Bat-flick will be more centrally focused on Batman and whichever cast of characters join him, including Deathstroke and Commissioner Gordon thus far. Bringing in top flight talent, much like Marvel does for their films, is one way to stack the deck in The Batman's favor. In the long run, the script is the final determiner; even a great thespian can't do much with a mediocre screenplay.
Whether or not Talia Al Ghul even has role in the film will also depend upon the source material Affleck draws on. Recent rumors pointed to a possible inclusion of Talia and her father, although how much of a role wasn't touched upon. If she winds up in the film, it could mean Batman’s male heir, Damien Wayne, will play a role in the DCEU. But with any unfinished screenplay, major casting news is a long way off. If Ms. Al Ghul does show up, though, we’re pulling for Teresa Palmer to finally get her shot at the anti-heroine.
