by Graham Osborne
The announcements for Gotham, the new TV series from DC are coming thick and fast now. Most recently, several of the main cast members were revealed. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Here’s a who’s who of the actors and what we might see of them when the series comes out.
The announcements for Gotham, the new TV series from DC are coming thick and fast now. Most recently, several of the main cast members were revealed. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Here’s a who’s who of the actors and what we might see of them when the series comes out.
Ben Mckenzie will be playing Detective James Gordon. The main character of the show, and our hero. Traditionally in the comics, Gordon started off as a rookie cop who gets drawn into the corruption of the police force, trying fix it from within, eventually rising to the rank of Commissioner and routing the worst of Gotham’s “finest” and working with the mysterious Batman. Mckenzie also voiced Batman in the animated adaptation of Year One which depicts the winged vigilante’s first year as Gotham’s Saviour.
Erin Richards will be playing Barbara Kean, Gordon’s fiancé and eventual mother of James Gordon Jr. and Barbara Gordon (AKA Batgirl). Don’t expect her to be staying forever though. Barbara eventually catches Gordon having an affair with his partner, Sarah Essen, eventually leading to a divorce. The potential love triangle between the three characters could lead to a lot of tense moments, especially when you consider that Essen would be spending lots of late nights with Gordon, trying to solve a case, whilst Barbara barely sees her husband.
The role of Detective Bullock is played by Donal Logue. Bullock is traditionally Gordon’s right hand man as commissioner, and is also one of the more outspoken dissenters against the Batman, though that’s unlikely to come up over the course of the show. When he first appeared in the comics, Bullock was a corrupt police officer who was working under the orders of the Mayor to sabotage Gordon’s career as Commissioner by being a generally clumsy character, before turning over a new leaf after Gordon has a heart attack. The crooked cop relationship between Bullock and Gordon is an interesting angle, with lots of potential for leaving the audience guessing whether or not Bullock’s actions are intentional.
Zabryna Guevara has been cast as Captain Sarah Essen. As previously mentioned, Essen and Gordon embark on an affair, whilst Barbara is pregnant with Gordon’s son. Depending on how the story is approached, Essen may not be a permanent character, not long after starting the affair, Essen breaks it off and transfers away. It is likely she will return later in the series or another season to rekindle her relationship with Gordon after Barbara has left the picture.
Sean Pertwee will be playing Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce Wayne’s butler and confidant. The inclusion of Alfred in the series does raise a concern that Bruce too will appear in the series. Whilst it makes sense to remind the audience that Gotham City is the Dark Knight’s domain, the apparent necessity to shoehorn him into Gordon’s origins feels a little forced. That being said, Alfred has many skills that he puts to use in the comics, such as his field surgery and his mysterious past as a former member of the British Secret Service. Provided we don’t see a young Bruce Wayne getting arrested and released into his custody, Alfred’s involvement in the story could be one of the more interesting arcs.
Following on from characters who are more associated with Batman than Gordon, Robin Taylor has been cast as Oswald Cobblepot, AKA The Penguin. Cobblepot’s casting has raised more ire than that of Alfred, as he is in Batman’s Rogues Gallery. A group of villains who rose up after Batman began his patrols. However Taylor has been cast as Cobblepot, not The Penguin, and is often shown to be involved in Gotham’s organised crime. It stands to reason that this version of Cobblepot will be a minor mover and shaker in Gotham’s underworld, slowly looking to raise himself through the ranks to eventually become The Penguin.
Finally, Jada Pinkett-Smith has been cast as Fish Mooney. An original character, and main villain of the show, who is a sadistic boss and nightclub owner, according to her casting description. It’s been rumoured that Cobblepot will be a member of her gang, raising the question of whether she actually is the main villain, or if she’ll be a stepping stone for The Penguin’s eventual rise… Another rumour suggests that she will be a female version of the Great White Shark, which seems unlikely, but could easily end up as one of the most shocking twists of the series. If they go with the second route, it stands to reason that Mooney will probably “die” part way through the season to be replaced by Cobblepot, only to return at the end of the second, as the new underworld boss…
And there you have it. What do you think of the casting of these actors and the parts they’ll play? Do you have any thoughts on what sort of story lines they’ll be involved in? Let us know in the comments.
And there you have it. What do you think of the casting of these actors and the parts they’ll play? Do you have any thoughts on what sort of story lines they’ll be involved in? Let us know in the comments.
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