FOX’s ‘Gotham’ TV Series Casts The Penguin, Alfred, Sarah Essen and More!
This past weekend, we were blindsided to learn that FOX's forthcoming Batman prequel TV series, 'Gotham,' cast 'Southland' and 'The O.C.' star Ben McKenzie in the central role of Detective Jim Gordon, but now the new DC drama unveiled an even plumper portion of casting. Meet your new Oswald "The Penguin" Cobblepot, as well as young Bruce Wayne's loyal Alfred, Captain Essen, and Gordon's fiancée Barbara!
First and foremost, scrawny 'Walking Dead' guest Robin Taylor will take the role of a young Oswald Cobblepot (The Penguin), described as a low-level psychopath working for a gangster named Fish Mooney, who hides his sadistic lust for power behind an exquisitely polite demeanor. And while the role of a young Bruce Wayne has yet to be cast, 'Camelot' star Sean Pertwee will play loyal Wayne butler Alfred Pennyworth, here depicted as a tough-as-nails ex-Marine who served the wealthy Wayne family and, in the wake of Thomas and Martha’s tragic deaths, now protects their young son, Bruce.
'Burn Notice' star Zabryna Guevara will portray Gordon's GCPD boss Captain Essen, more commonly known from 'Batman: Year One' comic as Sarah Essen. 'Gotham''s incarnation balances the worlds of police and politics with a Machiavellian skill that’s as much corporate litigator as cop. Finally, Erin Richards will take the role of James Gordon's fiancée Barbara Kean, a sophisticated ER doctor who stands by her future husband in the difficult world of Gotham City.
‘Gotham’ will explore “the origin stories of Commissioner James Gordon and the villains that made Gotham famous,” with its pilot supposedly featuring Gordon’s investigation of the murders of Thomas and Martha Wayne. The pilot will also be written and executive produced by ‘The Mentalist”s Bruno Heller, along with Warner Bros. Television, and directed by ‘Judge Dredd’ helmer Danny Cannon. It has been confirmed that ‘Gotham’ will not have any direct ties to Ben Affleck‘s take on the Dark Knight for 'Man of Steel' follow-up film ‘Batman vs. Superman‘ or The CW’s ‘Arrow' series.
No word yet on any truth to the rumor that 'Sons of Anarchy' vet Donal Logue could sign on as Gordon's mentor Harvey Bullock, but in the meantime, what do you think? Does the latest 'Gotham' take on the Bat-mythos sound like something that could work on TV? What other DC greats would you want to see populate FOX's 'Gotham?'