With The Batman nearing its highly anticipated theatrical release, Andy Serkis, who will be stepping in the role of Alfred, is keeping the excitement level high. In a recent interview, the actor noted that he believes Matt Reeves' take on the iconic character will be a masterpiece.
Promoting his recently released Venom: Let There Be Carnage (which he directed), Serkis spoke with The Hollywood Reporter. During the conversation, he delved deeper into what moviegoers can expect from The Batman and what collaborating with Reeves once again meant to him.
Of course, Serkis is far from the first actor to portray Alfred Pennyworth. The loyal butler has always been a beloved character by many fans, as the last portrayal played by the great Michael Caine in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy was met with critical acclaim. Caine's Alfred was treated almost as a central character in the trilogy, having far more character depth than any past Alfred depictions that contributed to some of the most emotional scenes in the trilogy. When asked if he was intimidated to take on the iconic role after so many other revered actors, Serkis laughed and said he was not. "I'll tell you that it was fantastic being reunited with Matt Reeves, [producer] Dylan Clark and [VFX supervisor] Dan Lemmon from the Apes films," Serkis said. "We had such a great time making it, and when it eventually comes to the screen, Matt Reeves will have made another masterpiece film because he's so super invested in it. But yeah, I've been forbidden, expressly forbidden, to talk about Alfred."
This will not be Serkis' first comic book depiction, either. The actor has made his presence felt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portraying Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Panther, and he recently voiced the character in Marvel Studios' animated series What If...? Taking Serkis' previous comic books roles and combining them with Reeves' darker, noir-driven vision for this film will surely add up to a memorable experience.
The Batman, which will feature Robert Pattinson donning the cape and cowl this time around, will take place in the Dark Knight's early years of fighting crime, as he is forced to face Gotham City's most ruthless criminals. Reeves has already confirmed two planned sequels and two spin-off television series in early development for HBO Max, with one focusing on the Penguin in a "Scarface-like" story about the rise of his character in Gotham's criminal underworld, so fans can expect there to be plenty of villainous additions for Pattinson's Batman to encounter.
The Batman's cast also includes Paul Dano as Edward Nashton / Riddler, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, Jeffrey Wright as police commissioner James Gordon, John Turturro as crime lord Carmine Falcone, Colin Farrell as Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot / Penguin, Peter Sarsgaard as district attorney Gil Colson, and Barry Keoghan as young officer Stanley Merkel.
The Batman is set to release in theatres on March 4th, 2022.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter