Rumor: Andy Serkis Will Play Infamous Villain in Matt Reeves’ The Batman

Andy Serkis

Matt Reeves has quite a few eyes on him. Any move he makes, any quote he gives gets construed as information on The Batman movieFans know the film is coming and can’t wait for any bit of information. Well, that time is coming soon as the eventual production date looms ahead, the film is being put together. Make no mistake: people have been approached. As San Diego Comic Con draws closer, rumors will start to turn to reality. The most exciting prospect of the Cloverfield director’s next film could be the villain. According to a tweet from Variety’s Justin Kroll, Batman might be antagonized by one of his most famous villains: the Penguin.

The Penguin is a “mob boss” kind of villain. One who can be the antagonist for the film without having to get physical. It also makes sense that DC and Warner Bros. would want to put the character somewhere in the DC Universe. He’s a famous villain who could be a big draw, if played by the right actor.

The Penguin - Art by Lee Bermejo - DC Comics

The Penguin – Art by Lee Bermejo – DC Comics

Speaking of which… A lot of buzz is surrounding actor Josh Gad. He’s expressed interest in the part and the fans seem excited by the casting. However, true villainy is difficult. Only something the most experienced of actors can truly master, especially in the comic book realm. An actor who’s just as familiar with the green screen as he is with the silver screen. The only man who was truly capable of bringing “Caesar” to life. None other than Andy Serkis.

Andy Serkis as Klaue - Black Panther - Marvel Studios

Andy Serkis as Klaue – Black Panther – Marvel Studios

A Touch of Evil

Serkis has been a go-to character actor for villains. He recently played Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Ulysses Klaue in Black Panther. He knows how to antagonize. So what connects him to The Batman? 

Well, having worked with Matt Reeves on his two previous films helps. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War of the Planet of the Apes are fantastic films with real character work and emotional stakes. So the two have worked together, that doesn’t guarantee another collaboration. But what if Matt Reeves said Serkis would be in the film?

On May 16th, someone tweeted Matt Reeves a simple question.

https://twitter.com/federicomurias/status/864294536847257604

He is amazing, after all. Well, Matt Reeves answered his question with an encouraging reply, “Andy Serkis in ANYthing! He is the BEST! Regards back!”

Now, here’s where things get interesting. You won’t find Matt Reeves’ reply on Twitter. It has since been deleted. But it did exist, confirmed in reports like this one from ScreenRant. Why would he delete the Tweet? It’s not like it actually confirms Andy Serkis is in The Batman. Or does it…?

Andy Serkis is one of those actors who could find himself in any franchise be it motion capture or live-action, the man is a chameleon. If he and Reeves were friends he could play some small part in the film without consequence, like Mark Hamill will likely do in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Instead, Reeves might have deleted the Tweet because he realized the breadcrumbs he was laying.

If Andy Serkis has a significant part to play in the film, the studio would want to hold back the announcement thus leading to the deletion of the Tweet. The studio could be waiting to create a large display for Comic Con to give the film, and its cast, the fanfare they deserve.

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