Gotham, a Batman prequel, waits in the shadows to debut on Fox in 2014-2015. After years of denying Bruce Wayne his own tv show, despite Superman's Smallville success, the CW must be kicking itself in the Kevlar bat butt.
No doubt fan boys will engulf the internet with critiques and theories of the four newly-announced actors and their characters. Some, like the Penguin and Alfred Pennyworth, are recognizable from Tim Burton's and Christopher Nolan's films, respectively. Others need a formal introduction, but not in a gravely Christian Bale voice.
Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's dutiful man servant and father figure will ditch the cummerbund for a dog collar as he's portrayed by Sean Pertwee. The actor aims to take the character in a new direction for most viewers as an ex-marine. His appearance alone, which fans of Event Horizon may be familiar with, shows this Alfred isn't about to dust, but rather stir up some.
Alfred's original background as a jack-of-all household chores will evolve into a macho soldier with a soft spot for the orphaned Bruce. For nerds like me, the character's direction comes straight out of Geoff John's alternative tale, Earth One Batman, which depicted Alfred as a one-legged martial artist who would sooner smack a lesson into Bruce with his fist than draw a warm bath.
Robin Lord Taylor, a pasty but handsome switch from the grotesque Danny Devito, will play the Penguin. But don't let the actor's fancy-sounding name fool you. He won't play the same aristocrat seen in Batman Returns.
Since Gotham is a prequel, the Penguin, aka Oswald Cobblepot, will start at the bottom of the food chain. Still a conniving agent of the underworld, he will strive to run his own goon squad but take orders in the meantime. The Penguin will work for Fish Mooney, a crime boss who, guessing by his name, will eventually will be gobbled up and usurped by Cobblepot .
Barbara Kean, played by Erin Richards, is a character unrecognized by most. To divulge her character's history is to reveal spoilers, so for now consider her (future Commissioner) James Gordon's fiancé who will inspire the name of the future Batgirl.
For the first time the character of Captain Essen will make her live action appearance. Played by Zabryna Guevara, Essen is set to be James Gordon's boss. Gordon, as a GCPD Lieutenant fresh from Chicago, must get along Essen or succumb to the city's corruption. As Gotham's guide, Essen must show him the ropes without crossing into role play with handcuffs.
The actor playing Batman remains a mystery, like Batman.
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