The OC’s Ben McKenzie will play Jim Gordon in Fox’s Gotham television series

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

I didn’t realize Jim Gordon is a fan of indie bands. Deadline has learned The O.C. and Southland star Ben McKenzie has been cast as detective Jim Gordon in Fox’s upcoming television series Gotham. McKenzie’s Gordon will be, “an idealistic rookie detective for Gotham City Open Police Department’s Homicide Squad, a former college football star and a war hero.” The show will also feature a young Bruce Wayne, and villains such as the Riddler, the Penguin, and Catwoman. Danny Cannon (CSI, Nikita, I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) will be directing the series from a script by The Mentalist creator Bruno Heller.

This won’t be Ben McKenzie’s first time in Batman territory though. The actor previously voiced the Dark Knight in the fantastic animated movie BATMAN: YEAR ONE, with Bryan Cranston as the voice of Jim Gordon.

I’m sure Ben McKenzie probably wasn’t at the top of most of your list of actors you’d want to see play the future commissioner, but I actually think McKenzie will make a pretty decent Jim Gordon. He’s got the right look for the part, but he better be wearing Gordon’s trademark glasses in the new show, or I’m not going to be happy.

Speaking of happy, are you pleased with this casting decision, or do you think someone else should play Gordon in Fox’s Gotham?

No word on when Gotham might start airing on Fox, but it could premiere as early as this Fall.