Colin Farrell in talks to play Penguin with Andy Serkis in talks for Alfred

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

The cast of Matt Reeves' THE BATMAN continues to grow, and two more major pieces may have just fallen into place. Deadline has reported that Colin Farrell (DUMBO) is currently in talks to play Penguin, while The Wrap has reported that Andy Serkis (BLACK PANTHER) is in talks to join the film as well as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's butler.

If these talks succeed, Colin Farrell and Andy Serkis would join a cast which includes Robert Pattinson (THE LIGHTHOUSE) as the Dark Knight, Zoë Kravitz (Big Little Lies) as Catwoman, Paul Dano (SWISS ARMY MAN) as The Riddler, and Jeffrey Wright (NO TIME TO DIE) as Commissioner Gordon. I never would have pegged Colin Farrell for The Penguin, but I'd certainly be excited to see what he can do with the role. Serkis' involvement is less of a surprise, as he has quite a history with director Matt Reeves thanks their collaboration on DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES and WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES. While Serkis has had experience in the realm of comic-book movies before thanks to his role of Ulysses Klaue in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, THE BATMAN would mark Farrell's first comic-book role since playing Bullseye in DAREDEVIL all the way back in 2003.

We still don't know all that much about THE BATMAN at this stage, but Matt Reeves has teased that it will finally do justice to Batman's reputation of the World's Greatest Detective.

It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale. It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films. The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation.

THE BATMAN is already slated for a June 25, 2021 release.