Let’s get real—half the fun of a new Batman flick is speculating on which actors will emerge into Gotham’s dark underbelly. With Robert Pattinson moody under the cowl and Barry Keoghan’s Joker already wreaking havoc, fans are already fantasy-casting the next generation of villains. Here are 10 dream casting choices for Batman’s rogues gallery—pairings so perfect, it’s almost a crime they don’t exist.
10. Bane – Dave Bautista
Occasionally, the fan-favorite option is the correct one. Dave Bautista has the girth, the on-screen presence, and the range to turn Bane into more than simply a brutish thug. The fellow appears to be able to snap Batman’s spine in two—no CGI necessary. Imagine him standing in the rain, equal parts brains and bruiser.
9. Hugo Strange – Ben Kingsley
This casting seems like it must have happened already. Ben Kingsley would make Hugo Strange a genuinely unsettling puppet master, manipulating Arkham Asylum’s patients and pulling Gotham’s strings behind the scenes. His measured, chilling presence could be on par with even Batman’s most erratic foes.
8. Scarecrow – Matt Smith
With his pointed features and volatile energy, Matt Smith would be born to play Jonathan Crane’s fear-driven alter ego. His intensity would make Scarecrow feel unsettlingly real, and the prospect of him sharing screen time with David Tennant (more on him below) is a science fiction fan’s fantasy.
7. Clayface – David Tennant
David Tennant excels in performances in which he can switch between charm and terror in the blink of an eye—ideal for a shapeshifting menace like Clayface. He might add both the tragic richness and the ham-fisted showmanship that would make this frequently forgotten adversary one of Batman’s most iconic big-screen threats.
6. Harley Quinn – Anya Taylor-Joy
Margot Robbie’s interpretation of Harley is iconic, but Anya Taylor-Joy might provide a new angle—young, intelligent, and somewhat more volatile. Given her history in Split and The Queen’s Gambit, she can provide electrifying chaos. Cross her with Keoghan’s Joke, and Gotham may never be the same.
5. Calendar Man – John Malkovich
Yes, Calendar Man can be unsettling. In the hands of John Malkovich, he could be truly terrifying—a cold-blooded, calculating murderer who employs dates as his signature.
4. Hush – Taron Egerton
Egerton is the ideal combination of charm and grit to portray Tommy Elliot, Bruce Wayne’s childhood buddy who becomes a masked villain. He could very convincingly sell both the upscale surgeon persona and the vengeful, stalking Hush. And being around Pattinson’s age just makes the origin story all the more credible.
3. Poison Ivy – Anya Chalotra
Anya Chalotra dominates The Witcher, and she might also bring that same allure to Poison Ivy. She’d make Ivy a character you get and perhaps even sympathize with—without making her any less of a lethal, alluring threat to Gotham.
2. Harvey Dent / Two-Face – Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm essentially embodies Harvey Dent—charming, respected, and beset as nobody else is to the DA’s noble persona. But when the coin turns? Hamm might drive the character to monstrous depths, making his meltdown one of the trilogy’s dramatic highlights.
1. Mr. Freeze – Giancarlo Esposito
Esposito is number one for a reason. Familiar with complex, calculating villains, he might be able to give us a devastating but intimidating Mr. Freeze. If drawing from the Heart of Ice episode of Batman: The Animated Series, this might be one of the finest performances in any superhero movie—period.
With a roster like this, Gotham’s future could be filled with dynamite performances and not-to-be-forgotten villains. Here’s hoping the Bat-signal shines bright over Hollywood casting directors.