Recently it has been reported that DC’s standalone Batman film, The Batman, will be going through a major shift in its casting. With Ben Affleck’s absence (which is crushing to some yet relieving for the majority) naturally raises the big question: Who should play Batman?
Now I’d like to emphasize the word should, because while there may be many suitable white men that can easily be casted, there’s only a few actors that really should play Batman. That’s where I’d like to introduce a really exciting candidate known as Christopher Abbott into the running.
As far as I’ve seen there’s been no legitimate consideration for the rather niche actor besides me and my film friends tweeting about him. The closest we’ve gotten to having him mentioned as a contender was when Game of Thrones star and Christopher Abbott look-alike, Kit Harrington’s name was randomly thrown into the mix.
Who the Hell is Christopher Abbott?
Christopher Abbott is quietly becoming one of the greatest actors of our generation, and with new names to play Batman being thrown around, I can’t help but advocate for him. His artistic excellence and brooding versatility would be a perfect fit for the large role.
DC, with very few exceptions, sadly hasn’t been known to have the best track record when it comes to transforming their comics into live action movies. With a failed run as Batman (Ben Affleck), I think it would do the franchise good with casting a relatively fresh face to act as Batman’s “rebirth”.
We have tried again and again with top tier actors to play the infamous Batman. And while some of them work better than others, casting a relatively unknown actor would only work to DC’s benefit. A lead role like that would not only solidify Christopher Abbott’s career, but it would also be refreshing to not continuously see a Tom Cruise-esque actor at the head of the franchise.
For the select few people who know that Christopher Abbott even exists, most of his viewers first came across him in the HBO series, Girls. The show followed along four women in their early twenties trying to navigate life in New York City. Abbott‘s role as one of the women’s boyfriends was a smaller part, but he managed to catch and hold the audience’s attention every time he appeared in the frame.
The Perfect Balance of Brooding and Confidence
In my mind the role that solidified him as a genuinely great performer was in James White. The 2015 drama follows a, at times self-destructive, man in New York who experiences a rather harsh wake-up call when he learns his mother (played by Cynthia Nixon) is diagnosed with cancer. His raw portrayal was heartfelt, and uncompromisingly honest. Looking back at his role in Girls to James White, his performances are just a modest indication of the range he is able to accomplish as not only an actor, but as Bruce Wayne.
His ability to nail a performance no matter how small is a common theme for him. He’s not an overhyped actor with multitudes of leading roles, and his relative anonymity only benefits his presence on screen. The audience is allowed to be submerged into his performance instead of being distracted by previous characters he has portrayed. Abbott exerts a calming yet explosive presence that makes any character that he’s playing memorable.
What Makes a Good Batman Performance
If we look back on previous Batman performances, some of the best ones are usually when they travel deep enough into his psyche while still leaving room to interpret his actions. Christian Bale in the Dark Knight trilogy is a good example of this.
What makes the character of Batman so gratifying to watch if done right, is that at the very base: he is just a man. A very rich and affluent man, yes, but still a man. He still experiences love and loss, and most of all his actions are usually justifiable. Without counting the Batfleck era, Batman doesn’t choose to kill criminals or have them killed. He chooses to deal with them in a way that is justified but holds up with his morals.
One thing that would be cool to see the next Batman movie tackle is to really develop and stick with one actor for a long period of time. This would mean multiple movies or sequels and maybe even spin-offs. Within the last few decades we’ve had four different versions of Batman brought to the big screen (if you count Will Arnett’s version in the Lego Batman Movie, which I do).
Christopher Abbott would work perfectly to develop Bruce Wayne in any direction they choose to take his character. His versatility and depth will add for a refreshing continuation of the beloved comic book hero. Christopher Abbott doesn’t need to be acclaimed in order to be outstanding in his work – a raw and memorable performance would be a given if he is casted.
After all it’s not who he is underneath, rather it’s what he does that defines him.
Who do you think should play Batman? Do you agree that it should be Christopher Abbott, or should it be someone else entirely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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