DC stunned audiences when it announced the cast list for Matt Reeves' latest portrayal of the Caped Crusader, The Batman. The cast included favorites from big-budget sci-fi flicks and indie dramas alike, and not a single actor gave a disappointing performance.
Whether long-time fans of Robert Pattinson thanks to his Twilight days or introduced to these stars for the very first time, the buzz of The Batman has left viewers wondering where they can see these incredible performers next. The answer is, everywhere from Netflix to Cannes.
Paul Dano (Edward Nashton / The Riddler)
Following the buzz surrounding his reprisal of the classic Batman villain "The Riddler," Dano spoke to IndieWire about his upcoming role in Steven Speilberg's The Fabelmans, in which he plays a character based on the director's father.
He has been somewhat of an indie darling ever since his breakout role in Little Miss Sunshine. His turn in There Will Be Blood cemented the actor as a name to watch and is ranked as Dano's best movie role of all time. However, it is interesting to see his take on roles in major big-budget films like The Batman and this anticipated Spielberg release.
Robert Pattinson (Bruce Wayne / Batman)
After becoming the newest successor of Batman's legacy, The Guardian reports that Pattinson is slated to star in a new thriller directed by acclaimed Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, whose film Parasite swept the 2019 Oscars with awards for best feature, screenplay, and director. The film will be based on Edward Ashton’s sci-fi novel "Mickey7."
Some of Bong and Pattinson's most highly acclaimed films include indies like the Safdie brothers' Good Time and Bong's Memories of Murder. In their most recent successes, they have both been credited with bringing their artistic sensibilities into their big-budget Hollywood films.
Zoë Kravitz (Selina Kyle / Catwoman)
Following two major roles as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in The Batman and Angela Childs in Kimi, Kravitz is making her screenwriting and directorial debut in Pussy Island. According to Deadline, Channing Tatum is set to star as the male lead.
Kravitz and Tatum have been romantically linked for several years now and are finally taking their relationship to the next level— creative collaboration. It will be exciting to see Kravitz flex a new artistic muscle and to see their dynamic in action on the big screen.
Colin Farrell (Oswald Cobblepot / The Penguin)
It may be hard to tell through his stunning makeup transformation, but Farrell stars in The Batman as "The Penguin." Known for his role in In Bruges, he is set to star in MGM's Thirteen Lives, according to Deadline. He is also slated as playing the leading role in Martin McDonaugh's The Banshees Of Inisherin, which according to Screen Daily will open in the U.S. in October.
Farrell is known for having a wide acting range from the Harry Potter franchise to Yorgos Lanthimos' psycho-thrillers. After seeing what he's brought to fantasy and comic films these past few years, it is a treat for cinephiles to see him return to more dramatic roles after big-budget blockbusters like The Batman.
Jeffrey Wright (James Gordon)
Wright, who plays Detective James Gordon in The Batman, is breaking into voice acting in HBO's animated series Ark, which is set to be released sometime this year. He will also reprise his role as Bernard Lowe in season four of Westworld.
Wright has definitely flexed his dramatic chops as James Gordon and Bernard Lowe, two very serious characters. Ark could bring out a more playful side in Wright, something that might surprise his fans. While Ark's nostalgic drawn animation style and prehistoric premise suggest a more light-hearted tone, little is known about the show so far.
Andy Serkis (Alfred Pennyworth)
Following his work as the director of Venom: There Will Be Carnage in September, Serkis told Screen Rant that his next directorial effort would be an adaptation of George Orwell's seminal novel, Animal Farm.
According to Deadline, he is signed on to star alongside Idris Elba in Netflix's anticipated film Luther. Sadly, the details of his character have not yet been disclosed. However, considering the way that Serkis has continually exceeded expectations in every role from his motion-image-capture work as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings films to his work as a director of films like Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.
Barry Keoghan (The Joker)
Keoghan is known for his breakout roles in indie thrillers like Yorgos Lanthimos' The Killing of the Sacred Deer as well as the recent Marvel release, Eternals. He will join Colin Farrell onscreen again in The Banshees of Inisherin.
Keoghan's role in The Batman is a small one - he is the Joker-like shadowy prisoner that speaks to The Riddler at the end of the film. It is unclear whether Keoghan will play a larger role as a villain in upcoming Batman movies opposite Pattinson and, if so, if he will replace Joaquim Phoenix as The Joker in the speculative sequel to The Batman.