Dream Casting DCEU's Batman Villains

Now that I've ruffled feathers by calling Ben Affleck the fourth best Batman, it's time to cast the villains he will be going up against.

To be clear, I'm not up for re casting anyone who has already been cast like on Spoiled Rotten.  This is a chance to spitball some ideas for who Batman will go up against if there is more than one solo Batman movie in the DCEU.

Actor/Villain:
Kyle Gallner as Anarky

Reasoning:
 I genuinely like when Batman takes on people who are also trying to better the world but through more violent means.  It forces Batman to take a look at himself and re-calibrate his faith in his mission.  This is exactly what makes Anarky a great antagonist.  Kyle, who built on already impressing me in Red State with his turn in Dear White People, seems like a troubled soul who knows more than he should and applies that knowledge inappropriately.   Which is to say that  I think he'd be a great choice for Anarky.

Actor/Villain:
Pedro Pascal as Bane

Reasoning:
Because I like seeing Batman throw hands sometimes!  Who better to go up against than Bane?  I know I have my issues with The Dark Knight Rises, but I still liked that they portrayed Bane as the physical and mental threat he truly is.  The fact that he was working for Talia doesn't take away from the fact that he still concocted his own plan.  It was hard casting Bane.  I wanted to make sure we got that the right accent on this one but I don't know enough actors with the right build and acting chops so I'm hoping Pedro can use some camera angles, working out, and CGI like Tom Hardy.

Actor/Villain:
Bobby Cannavale as Black Mask

Reasoning:
Sometimes you just need that mobster element in Gotham.  Plus he has a cool mask made out of his parents' coffin.  If I'm being honest, I don't think Black Mask is interesting enough to be the only villain in a movie, but if anyone could make that work, it's one of the most interesting actors I know, Bobby Cannavale!  He brings the right amount of intensity to all of his best roles and I think that would be the X factor that could make Black Mask a more dynamic foe for Batman if he's the main bad guy.

Actor/Villain:
Sung Kang as Calendar Man

Reasoning:
Everyone is always talking about how they want to see Batman be more of a detective in films.  Why anyone wants to see a guy dressed as a bat with amazing gadgets sit around pouring over files and clues is lost on me.  But, I would definitely love a Se7en style movie with Calendar Man at the center of all the holiday themed murders.  That way Batman can use his intellect to figure things out in between brawling scenes.  I don't have a great reason for wanting Sung to be Calendar Man other than I think he's dope and he'd probably play a great super smart villain if he's not too busy playing Brainiac.

Actor/Villain:
Nicole Beharie as Catwoman

Reasoning:
I think the best stories involving Catwoman acknowledge that Bruce and therefore Batman is twisted around her finger and thus she can get away with more than she should.  Introducing Catwoman into the DCEU would introduce another element that tempts Batman and makes him question his mission.  I'm all for it!  Nicole definitely embodies the strong confident personality who doesn't need saving who you can't help wanting to try and save.  In a perfect world she'd have the nine lives of Michelle Pfeiffer but the thieving background of Anne Hatahway.  None of the camp of Ertha and them.

Actor/Villain:
Pablo Schreiber as Firefly

Reasoning:
I'd want to go Garfield Lynns style with this iteration of Firefly.  A working class man who is desperate going up against the wealthy Bruce Wayne.  A culture clash ensues.  Honestly, I don't see Firefly as a main villain but he definitely could be great if portrayed by the "FIRERY" Pablo Schreiber.  Remember Pablo on the second season of The Wire?  He was great at portraying a working class man tired of the status quo.  See what I'm saying.  Plus I just like watching this guy operate on screen.  Get him more high profile gigs please!

Actor/Villain:
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Hush

Reasoning:
I dug the Hush graphic novel something fierce.  It opens a film up to incorporating a lot of great Batman villains and allies.  I know that it'd be hard to do a direct adaptation but even keeping the element of someone, other than Alfred, who knew Bruce as a kid and is actively working against him is a nice hook.  You could flash back to pre Batman Bruce without leaning on imagery from his parents' death.  Nikolaj is steady killing it on Game of Thrones and I think he could play the layers required for a childhood friend turned enemy.  Plus he looks just as rich and successful as Ben's Bruce so the film could lean into the fun house mirror image theme. 

Actor/Villain:
Celina Jade as Lady Shiva

Reasoning:
Most Batman villains are interesting because there is an argument that they only came to be as a response to Batman's vigilantism and escalated theatrics.  But what I like about doing a Lady Shiva story is that she could be a villain who exists independent of Batman.   Someone who doesn't have a personal vendetta.  Just a villain with her own agenda who clashes with Gotham's Dark Knight.  Celina Jade is on my radar because of her work on Arrow and I think she stuck out because she felt way more authentic than most of her peers on that show.  I always talked about having to look past the acting on that show but I never had to with Celina.  I'd love to see her be the main villain in a DCEU Batman movie.

Actor/Villain:
Michael Sheen as The Mad Hatter

Reasoning:
I hate to give Gotham credit because the main flaw of that show is that if any of Batman's villains can be defeated without Batman existing then why would Bruce ever feel the need to become Batman?  Well I'm sure I'll find out because I'm still watching.  Outside of just wanting to imbibe all Batman content, I still watch Gotham for characterizations like their version of The Mad Hatter.  The way they played out Jervis' relationship with his sister Alice made his pretty crazy concept seem a bit more grounded and I was willing to roll.  Michael Sheen CAN ACT!  But he also looks like he'd be Jervis Tetch right?  C'mon!  This is the most perfect casting on the list!  Plus, Michael is probably down since he's already played the White Rabbit in the new Alice in Wonderland movies.

Actor/Villain:
Arnold Vosloo as Mr. Freeze

Reasoning:
Batman the Animated Series changed the game on Mr. Freeze.  He used to be a joke especially after Arnie had his way with him in Batman & Robin.  But the only way I see Victor Fries is the way he was portrayed in "Heart of Ice."  Just a heartbreaking story of a man who lost the ability to feel once his wife was taken from him.  I know they tried to recreate that in Batman & Robin, but I think we all know they shyed away from the whole heart break aspect.  More so than Michael Sheen, I picked Arnold for his look.  I also feel like he's not too big of a personality that he'll outshine the actual character he's playing.  He's a solid actor who can disappear into the Victor Fries.

Actor/Villain:
Stephen Graham as The Penguin

Reasoning:
I'm thinking more Penguin from the Arkham games than the animated series or Batman Returns.  The cockney gun runner who tries to pass himself off as a legitimate business man.  Who better to bring that life than someone I started to dig before I even knew he was British!  Mr. Al Capone from Boardwalk Empire himself!  Stephen does gangster/business man with aplomb and I think he would be amazing as Oswald Cobblepott.  A villain who has just as many issues with other members of the rogues gallery as he does with Batman.

Chances of it Happening:

Actor/Villain:
Ruth Wilson as Poison Ivy

Reasoning:
I'll be honest, Poison Ivy has always come as indifferent to the typical villain fair.  She's all about mother nature and that usually means humans have to lose.  She's a popular if not recognizable character so it'd be crazy to leave her off this list but I don't know how to use her other than how she is used in the Arkham games.  Which is to say, Poison Ivy is always a side character or else she's working with another villain.  Never the main threat.  What would make all of this worth it?  Casting Ruth Wilson as the brilliant Pamela Isley who is out to take Wayne Enterprises down.  Kinda like Uma's Ivy but more focus on her hatred of Wayne Enterprises and less on working with Bane and Freeze.

Actor/Villain:
Seth MacFarlane as Professor Pyg

Reasoning:
I've only read one comic with Professor Pyg and seen one show with him.  It's not enough for me to feel like people have strong opinions on how he should be portrayed.  But I think Seth MacFarlane could do some great physical and voice work behind Pyg's mask since he's supposed to be an unhinged villain for Batman to tackle.

Actor/Villain:
Shaun Toub as Ra's Al Ghul 

Reasoning:
Nolan already tackled Ra's but I think he's always an interesting element to add to any Batman universe.  Batman has collected some Father figures along the way and Ra's is definitely like the disappointed father figure... who wants Batman to marry his daughter... it's not a perfect analogy but you get what I mean.  There are few people I enjoy watching playing the calm of a scene more than Shaun Toub.  I would love to see him play the suspiciously calm Ra's Al Ghul who you know is dangerous but is offering such an appealing deal.  So I wouldn't lean full on into Ra's being the main villain but I'd love to see him pop up every now and then just to spook Batman.

Actor/Villain:
Topher Grace as The Riddler

Reasoning:
I don't think the DCEU needs Calendar Man and Riddler because the best stories for both of them overlap too much. I've tried to help WB in the past and I'm open to helping again.  If WB wants both Calendar Man and Riddler or want to pick the more popular choice with Riddler they should get Topher Grace in the role.  I legitimately like Topher Grace.  So this isn't an insult when I say he can pull off smarmy.  I know people don't want their villains as animated as Jim Carrey or Jesse Eisenberg, even though I'm fine with that, so going smarmy know it all is the best way to go with Riddler.

Actor/Villain:
Noah Taylor as Scarecrow

Reasoning:
Scarecrow is a villain who got way more screen time than I ever dreamed during the Nolan films and yet here I am thinking we could get a better, more in depth character.  A man who, just like Bruce, wants to use fear against his foes.  But, what's he got going on his life that forced him into this work?  Also we could get a more horror out of our Scarecrow Batman film.  Noah Taylor, no, not the LDF Podcast MVP, is a dope actor.  But I also just feel like he looks like a person who would actually become Scarecrow.  Back to his skills, I think he could pull off the desperation for control that would force someone to prey on their patients the way Jonathan Crane does.

Actor/Villain:
Hafthor Julius Bjornsson as Solomon Grundy

Reasoning:
As I stated earlier, it's cool to see Batman just go one on one with someone sometimes.  Solomon Grundy is a great opening fight scene or even final fight before we get to the real villain.  Like we keep seeing him lurking and we just know it's going to be great when he's unleashed on Batman.  I'd want the non speaking Solomon in the DCEU just an undead mountain... oh let's get one half of the Clegane Bowl, Hafthor, in there to play the imposing gangster back from the dead!

Actor/Villain:
Nazanin Boniadi as Talia Al Ghul

Reasoning:
Talia Al Ghul is definitely a character that should be explored better than she was in The Dark Knight Rises.  If the DCEU introduces her I'd love for her to have a presence over the course of multiple films.  A woman who cares about Batman but also is loyal to her father who is ultimately going to clash with Batman every time! .  I know I've said this a million times in this post, but, female Batman villains are obviously sexualized but what makes them stand out is the intellectual challenge they present to Batman.  Sure I love Catwoman and Batman fighting in Batman Returns but throwing Batman off his game with more than her looks is what makes a female Batman the best.  With that said, I believe Nazanin Boniadi is the actor who can pull that all off.

Actor/Villain:
Jamie Foxx as Two-Face

Reasoning:
I feel like previous interpretations of Two-Face dealt with Batman's guilt for getting his friend burnt.  I liked the Nolan iteration that dealt with Bruce hoping Harvey Dent could be the hero Gotham needed.  Someone who could actually work within the system to create change.  I'd like to see that version with Jamie Foxx as Two-Face.  A man who seems so smooth and says all the right things.  It's all good until you realize he's ruthless.  The burnt face just brings it to the surface.  As an example of what Jamie Foxx can do when he's being ruthless let's take a look at Jamie Foxx at the Emitt Smith Roast.  Not enough, take a look at Jamie Foxx's filmography and tell me that this colour blind casting doesn't make more sense than Electro.

Actor/Villain:
Fred Armisen as The Ventriloquist & Scarface

Reasoning:
I love watching Fred work but you have to admit.  He seems like something may be a bit off with him.  Just listen to his WTF episode if you think I'm being harsh.  Watching Fred play someone with DID would be great and he could voice Scarface.  I think Fred's commitment to his characters would truly highlight the menace of the character and stop him from being a laughable villain.

-YG