With such a long-running cinematic series like the Batman franchise, it might be daunting for actors to step into roles that have been adapted on the big screen in different ways for decades. Director Matt Reeves worked with an all-star cast to bring a new vision of the Dark Knight to theaters in 2022 with The Batman.
Given some of the stand-out portrayals of characters that have been seen in previous franchises, it can sometimes be difficult to measure up to or surpass what came before. Some actors easily rose to the challenge and nailed their roles, though there were a few who gave amazing performances but didn’t quite nail the character or stand out among the rest.
10 Nailed It: Gil Perez-Abraham As Officer Martinez
Every so often, a side character will stand out in a way that makes fans reexamine them on following rewatches, such as Gil Perez-Abraham’s Officer Martinez. The GCPD officer had an interesting arc that showcased some of the police force’s developing thoughts on Batman and his involvement in their cases.
Martinez is initially hesitant to let Batman into the crime scene despite his connection to Gordon. However, throughout The Batman, he begins to accept Batman’s help. Perez-Abraham worked so well as Officer Martinez because he reacted to situations much like the audience would, grounding the normally outlandish circumstances.
9 Fell Short: Peter Sarsgaard As D.A. Gil Colson
Peter Sarsgaard is no stranger to the DC universe, as he played Hector Hammond in 2011’s Green Lantern (which also fell short with viewers). While Sarsgaard played the role of a drug-addicted, corrupt district attorney who found himself targeted by the Riddler well, it was ultimately somewhat underwhelming.
Colson’s involvement in the overall mystery failed to stand out. His final death scene was overshadowed by the first interaction between Batman and the Riddler, which potentially didn’t give Sarsgaard enough room to shine.
8 Nailed It: Andy Serkis As Alfred Pennyworth
Another character who wasn’t given as much screen time as others was Alfred Pennyworth, though Andy Serkis impressed fans with his take on the character. Partially inspired by the modern Batman: Earth One, Serkis’ Alfred perfectly showcased his former SAS training as he helped Batman solve the various ciphers.
However, the tense relationship and deep love between Alfred and his young charge were felt by the audience, making them crave more after he was taken out of action. Alfred is a key element in any new take on Batman, and Serkis’ version of Alfred was already on his way to becoming a favorite among fans.
7 Nailed It: Paul Dano As Edward Nashton/Riddler
A surefire way to avoid comparisons with previous versions of the character is to go in a completely different direction, which Paul Dano did with his take on The Riddler. The character was loosely based on the Earth One continuity as well. Dano put a lot of work into the character, perfectly portraying a serial killer with a political objective and a personal grudge against Gotham City.
The Riddler’s brutal murders quickly transformed the detective story into a dark one. Dano is even returning to explore the character with a prequel limited series called Riddler: Year One to further highlight his commitment to the role.
6 Fell Short: John Turturro As Carmine Falcone
The gangster named Carmine Falcone has been seen in live-action before, though John Turturro managed to put his own spin on the character which fits well in Reeves’ world of The Batman. Falcone was a behind-the-scenes crime boss with an iron grip on Gotham City.
Unfortunately, given some of the other impressive performances from villains like Riddler and the Penguin, Falcone felt a bit overshadowed. Falcone’s connection with Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne helped integrate him into the plot and he was effectively menacing, but Falcone’s role in the background was hard to escape.
5 Nailed It: Jeffrey Wright As Lt. James Gordon
The Batman took place during Batman’s second year as a crime-fighting vigilante and explored his tenuous relationship with the GCPD that began with Lt. James Gordon, played by Jeffrey Wright. Fans have seen several different versions of the man who would be Commissioner Gordon, yet Wright still managed to carve out his own version of the character.
Wright’s Gordon is a tough-as-nails detective in a corrupt system who is willing to break some rules to uncover the truth and restore order. The scenes where Wright’s Gordon worked with Pattinson’s Batman also shined and gave their close relationship a new context on the big screen.
4 Fell Short: Zoë Kravitz As Selina Kyle/Catwoman
Selina Kyle’s beginnings as the vigilante named Catwoman were also explored in The Batman, with Zoë Kravitz taking on the oft-adapted role. Kravitz’s take on the character, much like her cinematic father Falcone, fit in the world of The Batman, though she wasn’t as dynamic as some of the other leads.
The romance that blossomed between Batman and Catwoman added to The Batman but didn’t captivate fans quite like the other storylines, which left the role feeling a little flat. Her connection to Carmine Falcone that first appeared in Batman: Dark Victory gave the character a bit more depth in The Batman, which is where Kravitz shined in the role.
3 Nailed It: Colin Farrell As Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot/The Penguin
One of the biggest surprise performances in The Batman came from Colin Farrell, who disappeared into the role of Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot. Oz was more commonly known as The Penguin, a higher-up in the Falcone crime family and the owner of the Iceberg Lounge.
While he was aided by prosthetics and a fantastic makeup team, Farrell’s performance as Penguin was so well-received that a spin-off series was announced on HBO Max to further explore his unique portrayal of the character.
2 Nailed It: Barry Keoghan As The Joker
Initially, Barry Keoghan’s appearance as the Joker was kept hidden and draped in shadows during his conversation with the Riddler. This brief tease was enough for fans to want more from this new take on the Clown Prince of Crime, which resulted in the release of a deleted scene between Batman and the Joker in Arkham Asylum.
Keoghan’s scarred face meshed perfectly with his insane but brilliant personality that toyed with Batman while exploring the case of the Riddler. The deleted scene gave fans a better taste of Keoghan’s performance and left many fans anticipating his larger role in a potential sequel.
1 Fell Short: Robert Pattinson As Bruce Wayne/Batman
While Robert Pattinson’s take on the Dark Knight in The Batman has many fans celebrating his role, there were a few who felt that his performance didn’t quite live up to some of the other members of the cast or previous actors who portrayed Batman.
Pattinson undoubtedly put his own spin on the character which has a lot of room to grow, and he nailed some of the characters’ pain and eccentricities perfectly. However, when everyone in the cast is putting up such a huge performance, it puts even more pressure on the leads. Unfortunately, Pattinson fell a little short.
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