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Johnny Depp, Phillip Seymour Hoffman Rumoured as Next Serious Actors to Stretch as Bat-Villains
Posted by STV at 6:40 AM on August 1, 2008
The Golden Age of Villainy may be upon us. Between the accolades and eventual Oscar for Javier Bardem's singular evildoer in No Country For Old Men and the virtual repeat of the same cycle this year for Heath Ledger's Joker, no prospect stokes A-list egos these days quite like a chance to OD on wretchedness. Sony has enough confidence in the era to have undertaken development on the Spider-Man spinoff Venom, a full-length riff on Topher Grace's enemy from Spider-Man 3 that, naturally, will be recast with someone likelier to open a blockbuster.
And now, after a few days of Angelina Jolie/Catwoman rumors tailing the Dark Knight follow-up, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Johnny Depp reportedly want a piece of the Bat-action:
Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker has set the bar high for Gotham City villains, but reports in the US say studio bosses have set their sights on Depp as The Riddler and Philip Seymour Hoffman as The Penguin.
"Producers are convinced that the role of The Riddler is perfect for Depp. Johnny's a pro. He'll be able to take direction and still make the character his own. And what better Penguin is there than Philip Seymour Hoffman?" a source said.
Oh, come on. Like we really even have to ask.
- JOhnny Depp to play The Riddler? [The Telegraph]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
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UncannyXMan
Posted 7:31 AM 1/8/08
I've made this comment in the past, but it's obvious that the masterstroke of casting would be Daniel Day-Lewis as Mr. Freeze...
UncannyXMan
Mel Gibstein
Posted 7:28 AM 1/8/08
Am I the only one getting weary of Depp? A few weeks ago I saw Captain Jack/Johnny Depp as a mannequin appear several times in the newly-enhanced Pirates of the Caribbean ride that seems to have taken a cue from George Lucas.
Mel Gibstein
Huge Tracts of Land
Posted 7:23 AM 1/8/08
I'm going to crap my pants if Christian Bale and Johnny Depp start grappling with each other and grunting and murmuring things to each other.
Huge Tracts of Land
Juancho
Posted 7:17 AM 1/8/08
@NoWireHangers: In other words, he'll fit right in. Oh wait, Schumacher isn't directing these things anymore... it's kind of too bad, we could have had Verne Troyer as the Mad Hatter, people!
Juancho
NoWireHangers
Posted 7:07 AM 1/8/08
But doesn't PSH only play creepy villains? He's also a bit of a ham--he steals the show.
Regardless, all 3 are very talented and would certainly be a step up from past Batman's which featured studied thespians like our dear Governator.
NoWireHangers
Juancho
Posted 7:41 AM 1/8/08
Keven Federline as Killer Croc. The possibilities are endless!
Juancho
gwendolyn
Posted 8:25 AM 1/8/08
@TurdBlossom: The inclusion in 'Cat Woman' of Sharon Stone, who is Camp Incarnate for the very late (Post-Bush 41) 20th Century, certified that...
gwendolyn
TenTimesFiltered
Posted 8:19 AM 1/8/08
Casting against type is the key. The backlash when Ledger was announced reversed tenfold when the first hints of his Joker appeared in the trailers. Then obviously, we all saw his transformation in the film itself. It worked because he put the work into it.
Going for name actors who happen to look like the villain they may be portraying is a wrong move fo reals.
TenTimesFiltered
TurdBlossom
Posted 8:13 AM 1/8/08
Sorry but isn't Cat Woman trailing into camp territory?
What about Poisn Ivy as an Eco-Terrorist?
And if they ever revisit Mr Freeze - get Patrick Stewart - he'd rock in the role.
TurdBlossom
TillieHarper
Posted 8:52 AM 1/8/08
Eartha Kitt could STILL roll any twit that's in the running for Catwoman.
TillieHarper
MissFiFi
Posted 9:38 AM 1/8/08
@Huge Tracts of Land: ABSOLUTELY! That is the pairing that could possibly bring on the Apocalypse and most people would die happy. Actually, throw in Daniel Day Lewis and it is bedlam for sure.
MissFiFi
kookla
Posted 9:34 AM 1/8/08
@UncannyXMan: If Daniel Day Lewis were cast in the next Batman, I would wait in line at the movie theater today.
kookla
enriquez the water bottle
Posted 9:28 AM 1/8/08
"And what better Penguin is there than Philip Seymour Hoffman?"
Translation:
"Hey, PSH! You're a weird fat guy!"
Now, that's just mean.
enriquez the water bottle
DickWhitman
Posted 5:04 PM 1/8/08
As long as they don't try to recast Joker or undermine the reality established in the last two pics by choosing one of the less plausible villains, they'll be fine. Casting makes all the difference...as Bale, Eckhart, and Ledger proved. Nolan and Goyer will come up with something great. No matter what, Catwoman is essential; a different kind of temptation for Bale's Batman. But she's really more of a burglar than a villain. And please no Johnny Depp--I'm with Mel Gibstein--those Disney Theme Ride movies sucked, and his collaborations with Burton are tiresome. PSH is good, but Paul Giamatti would be interesting too. Angelina Jolie seems like a perfect fit, but maybe she's too on-the-nose. They should cast that part based on the actress's chemistry with Bale. Anyway, kudos to anyone that made it through the pontifications of another amateur casting director. I couldn't stop myself; I prefer Batman to Jesus.
DickWhitman
Omelas
Posted 10:32 AM 2/8/08
@Mel Gibstein: Nope, not at all. The Burton/Bruckheimer years = increasingly hammy and one-note performances.
Omelas
MissFiFi
Posted 10:31 AM 2/8/08
I like the Giamatti idea. What Hollywood Siren could anyone see as Catwoman? I am sure there is some sultry babe that has not gotten enough play out there.
We all know Batman is cooler than Jesus ;-)
MissFiFi
Artpunk
Posted 7:44 AM 1/8/08
I remember reading somewhere that there was no way Nolan and Goyer would use the Penguin. He's just too fantastic a character for their realistic take. If they did use him PSH would be great. Although, I think Hugo Weaving would make a great Riddler.
Artpunk
DarkKnightShyamalan
Posted 7:25 AM 1/8/08
Dudes. The British tabloids make Harvey Levin look like Edward R. Murrow. These aren't even rumors. They're made-up blurbs to sell newsprint. Their "source," if they have one, is probably the vagrant hippie taking a whiz behind the editorial offices.
DarkKnightShyamalan