DC fans have gotten to see a lot of people playBatmanlately and there is still one more to come. The versions portrayed by Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton, and Robert Pattinson are still fresh in the minds of franchise fans, yet a new one will be added as the main protagonist for the upcomingThe Brave & The Boldmovie. This means there’ll also be a new Alfred Pennyworth.
Ever since the Caped Crusader was introduced in Bob Kane and Bill Finger’sDetective Comics #27, Alfred has remained his trusted consigliere. The character is often depicted as an elderly man with a strong set of principles and when the vast pool of talent in the movie and TV landscapes is analyzed, there are certain actors that seem better suited to play the iconic character.
10Bryan Cranston
There have been calls forBryan Cranstonto play Lex Luthorbut he’s better suited as Alfred. Batman needs to be kept in check just as much he needs a reliable partner-in-crime, and Bryan Cranston happens to be familiar with both the hero-sidekick and elder-youngster dynamics. He had great chemistry with Aaron Paul inBreaking Bad, with their two characters going on to build one of the greatest drug empires together. Cranston also played a fun dad inMalcolm in the Middle. Most importantly, as an actor in his late ‘60s, he is the right age for the role.
Audiences would definitely love to see Alfred and Batman have the kind of relationship that Walter White had with Jesse PInkman. For that to work, Alfred would need to be depicted as a lot wiser, making him impart wisdom to the younger superhero on the regular. This would be good for a change because Batman’s portrayal as a know-it-all has led to some form of monotony. Additionally, Cranston is no stranger to Batman media. He voiced Jim Gordon in the animated movie,Batman: Year One.
9Ralph Fiennes
Alfred is always presented as a butler, but he is the arguably unofficial CEO of the entire Wayne empire. When DC Studios executives are figuring out which actor has a strong sense of authority,Ralph Fiennes’ name ought to pop up. The actor had an easy time managing James Bond and many other spies in his role as M. Furthermore, did well as the boss of the Kingsman Secret Service.
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Ralph Fiennes also deserves greater consideration because he has voiced the character before inThe Lego Batman Movie. On top of that, he expressed interest in playing Alfred in live-action, according toCinemaBlend. So, this is an actor that wants the job, knows what it required, and has the right amount of experience when it comes to playing managers.
8Ian McShane
As a butler, Alfred Pennyworth is normally portrayed as neat, timely, and disciplined. Everything in Wayne Manor has to be orderly, and one person who is very much like him is Winston Scott — the owner of the New York Continental Hotel in theJohn Wickfranchise. Played byIan McShane, the character runs his establishment properly and never hesitates to bark out orders and lay down the law. He also happens to be a very reliable ally to John the same way Alfred is to Batman.
WithJohn Wick presumably deadafter the events ofJohn Wick 4, McShane has the chance to explore other options. Having him guide and protect a new Batman would indeed be fascinating, and there’s no doubt he would fit well, given his previous assignment. Additionally, Alfred Pennyworth is British and McShane is an English actor, so the butler’s tuxedo really fits better than it does other actors.
7Christoph Waltz
Christoph Waltzmight have given an underwhelming performance as the James Bond overarching villain, Blofeld, but he remains one of the most talented actors working today. Because of his mindblowing portrayal of the Nazi official, Hans Landa, inInglorious Basterds, he went on to be typecast as a villain in the 2010s, to no good effect, so it would be wise to give him a role similar to Dr. King Schultz inDjango Unchained(which won him an Oscar).
In the Tarantino flick, Schultz is both a helper and a father figure to the protagonist, Django, and the enthusiasm he shows while portraying the bounty hunter would greatly benefit the DCU. Besides that, all of Waltz’s characters are known to have great quotes, no matter how poorly they are written. Alfred, too, is known for endless quips.
6Brian Cox
IfSuccessionis anything to judge him by,Brian Coxis very good at instilling discipline and motivating his juniors. As the media tycoon Logan Roy inSuccession,he had his children working day and night to impress him in order for them to be considered as the next CEO. And whenever one of them showed any signs of weakness, the chastisement was quick.
The next Batman movie might feature several Bat family members, just as is the case inThe Brave & The Boldcomics that it’ll be based on. An Alfred that can manage large groups of people is, therefore, ideal for such a movie. As the boss of the conglomerate, Waystar Royco, Cox’s character dealt with all kinds of stubborn personalities, so he knows the ideal moments to yell and to listen. He definitely should be a top contender.
5Forest Whitaker
There is a long list of performances that prove whyForest Whitakerwould make a great Alfred, starting with the recently released,Big George Foremanwhere he plays the legendary boxer’s trainer. He also has a near-identical role inSouthpaw, but what ultimately makes him a strong contender is that he has played a butler before. InThe Butler, Whitaker portrays Cecil Gaines, who worked in the White House for 34 years. So, when it comes to matching experience, no one beats the Oscar winner.
Some might argue that Alfred Pennyworth isn’t Black, but Hollywood has gotten into a pattern of swapping the races of fictional characters, so it shouldn’t be a big deal. In fact, it’s a right step towards inclusivity. After all, Jim Gordon was played by Jeffrey Wright inThe Batman, yet the character is traditionally White. Not to forget that Forest Whitaker has appeared in a live-action superhero movie before, having starred as the Wakandan Shaman, Zuri, inBlack Panther.
4Jack Bannon
There are still lots of “unkowns” when it comes to the direction that Andy Muschietti will go with his Batman, but linking the project to one of the DC shows is a possibility. If such will be the case, thenJack Bannon— who starred as a younger version of the character in the series,Pennyworth— would be best suited to continue the job. For three seasons, Bannon gave outstanding performances, so it wouldn’t be bad to have him return.
However, for him to fit in, Gunn and Muschietti will have to be really creative. Bannon is only 32, so Thomas Wayne would have to be Batman instead of Bruce (which was already hinted at in the series and has happened in the comics before), or the two would have to be agemates. The latter scenario would be the ultimate form of creative liberty, but it would be a nice move to try, especially for a franchise that has struggled so much.
3Anthony Hopkins
WheneverAnthony Hopkinsis present, audiences can be guaranteed a good performance and if Gunn and company really want a sure hit, they ought to consider him as Alfred. The actor not only collects accolades in every project he is a part of, but he is also familiar with the superhero genre, having starred as Odin in the MCU.
Odin’s relationship with Thor isn’t too different from the kind that Alfred has with Batman, so the veteran actor would hardly struggle. Unfortunately, there is a major obstacle to overcome sinceHopkins hated working in the MCU, terming it, “pointless acting.” For him to be convinced, the new Batman movie will need to be as drama-fueled asThe Dark Knighttrilogy, rather than a green-screen fiesta.
2Tom Selleck
If any actor has the exact calmness that Alfred is known for, it’sTom Selleck. The formerMagnum P.I. andJesse Stonestar has been even more outstanding as the New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in the CBS procedural,Blue Bloods. No matter how big the morass is, Reagan can be expected to take a step back, think clearly, and then come up with a concrete solution.
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The character is respected by both his family and his fellow officers, and if such a template can be transported to the DCU, the results would be good. Selleck also has a slightly similar background to Batman’s butler since he served in the US Army before taking up acting. Alfred too served in the military and intelligence and then became a stage actor before dedicating his life to the service of the Waynes.
1Tom Hollander
The carefree, vulgar characters that are present in theHarley Quinnanimated series are the kind that James Gunn adores, andTom Hollanderhappens to voice Alfred in that specific project. He knows all there is to know about the character and at 55, he will be able to play the character for years if he is required to.
At this point, Hollander isn’t a bonified A-list star, but this could be the role that makes him one. He won’t have the burden of having his performance here compared to his other works. Besides, Hollander is the kind of actor that’s guaranteed to do a job and proof of that lies in the numerous BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild awards he collected throughout his underrated career. Most importantly, he has been in a decent number of comedy productions, so Alfred won’t lack a sense of humor.
