Andy Serkis comes across as a put-together, smart, sophisticated fella. Maybe that’s because I am a dumb American and all British people seem so much more knowledgeable than me. But I think it’s because Serkis actually is all of those things. Interviews and his filmography prove that he’s no intellectual slouch.
He will be needing those brains soon, as THR is reporting that Serkis is in talks to play Batman’s butler, Alfred Pennyworth, in Matt Reeves’s The Batman. We all know Alfred: Batman’s most trusted ally and confidante, the man who helps Bruce Wayne when he’s at his lowest and never fails to tell The Dark Knight what he SHOULD be doing. He is a great partner and foil for the Caped Crusader. Batman wouldn’t be Batman if it wasn’t for Alfred. He also probably wouldn’t be alive.
Serkis as Alfred is another strong casting choice in a long list of great casting choices. He joins Robert Pattinson as Bats, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as The Riddler and Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon. We shouldn’t be surprised to see Serkis join the film because he has a strong working relationship with Reeves, who directed two of the Planet of the Apes films that Serkis led. So this just all makes sense.
Serkis will join a pantheon of talented performers who have taken on the part before, including Jeremy Irons, Michael Gough and of course Michael Caine. Fine company indeed.
We still have a few roles that need to be filled, including The Penguin and possibly Harvey Dent, according to various reports. So this won’t be the last casting news we get before production begins for the June 2021 release. Reeves hasn’t made a weak pick yet so we wait in anticipation on his next moves.