At a time when it seemed like Batman's legacy in movies was tarnished, Christopher Nolan rebooted the franchise with the grounded and spectacular Batman Begins. That movie launched a hugely acclaimed trilogy and redefined what comic book movies could be.
While Nolan's vision shaped the trilogy, credit must be given to the talented cast. These actors took on the iconic roles within the Batman universe and created the definitive versions of the characters in the eyes of many fans. But if Nolan were to make this trilogy now, what actors could fill those roles and still do them justice?
11 Ra's Al Ghul: Mahershala Ali
The first main villain of the trilogy was the mysterious Ra's al Ghul. He served as a mentor for Bruce Wayne, teaching him how to fight, how to remain stealthy, and the benefits of theatrics. Liam Neeson played the part, projecting a quiet calmness with an undercurrent of menace that was quite effective.
Oscar winner Mahershala Ali has a similar commanding presence on-screen to Neeson. He brings class and gravitas to his roles, and his performance in Moonlight shows he can play a caring mentor figure. Roles like the one he has in Luke Cage also prove how intimidating of a villain he can be.
10 Scarecrow: Steven Yeun
Though he was never the main antagonist, Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow, is the only villain of the trilogy to appear in all three movies. Cillian Murphy was great at turning this seemingly ordinary doctor into a creepy bad guy.
Steven Yeun's likable roles in The Walking Dead and Minari might make him seem an odd choice to play a villain. However, anyone who has seen his Korean thriller Burning knows what he's capable of. Like Jonathan Crane, his character is an unassuming man who becomes chilling with one intense look.
9 Bane: Idris Elba
As Batman's most physically formidable villain, Bane made for an interesting antagonist in the trilogy's finale. Tom Hardy gave a much-talked-about performance in the role that some call distracting and others call brilliant.
Like Tom Hardy, Idris Elba is an actor who is muscular and big but brings a commanding presence that makes him seem even more intimidating. He is also able to play intellectual villains like Bane while also being a worthy match for Batman in a fight.
8 Rachel Dawes: Dakota Johnson
Rachel Dawes was the childhood friend and tragic love interest of Bruce Wayne. She was meant to be the person who could ground him in reality while he was out fighting crime as Batman. Katie Holmes played the role in Batman Begins before Maggie Gyllenhaal took it over in The Dark Knight.
Dakota Johnson has emerged as one of the most interesting actors active today, and she brings a compelling presence to the screen. Fans could easily believe Bruce would fall for her, and her performances in movies like The Peanut Butter Falcon show her ability to play a caring and courageous character.
7 Lucius Fox: Delroy Lindo
Though he was not a well-known character before Nolan's Batman trilogy, Lucius Fox became one of Bruce Wayne's most valued allies in the movies. Morgan Freeman's performance brought authority to the part, making Fox more interesting than just Batman's gadget guy.
Thanks to his performance in Spike Lee's Da 5 Bloods, many people are beginning to recognize Delroy Lindo's amazing talents. He is another actor who brings gravitas to any role, no matter the size, and could really stand out in a supporting role like Lucius Fox.
6 Selina Kyle: Elizabeth Debicki
Anne Hathaway made for a great anti-hero when she took on the iconic role of Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, in The Dark Knight Rises. Nolan's trilogy presents her as a confident and skilled thief who looks out for herself but is also capable of being a hero when needed.
Elizabeth Debicki recently worked with Nolan on Tenet, and she balances grace with toughness quite nicely. She has played the villain in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but Tenet shows how sympathetic she can be as someone trying to escape a past life.
5 Two-Face: Jake Gyllenhaal
Though the dynamic between Batman and Joker is the most interesting part of The Dark Knight, Harvey Dent is a fascinating character in the sequel. In many ways, Dent is the main character of the story, which follows his transformation from a heroic hope for Gotham City to the villainous Two-Face.
Aaron Eckhart did a great job playing the duality of this character, and Jake Gyllenhaal would be equally effective in the role. Gyllenhaal has played the heroic leading man part many times before, but he is also great in darker roles as seen in his chilling performance in Nightcrawler. Watching him pull off Dent's tragic turn would be please many Batman fans.
4 Alfred: Helen Mirren
Alfred has always been the most loyal person in Bruce Wayne's life and Michael Caine's performance became a fan-favorite take on the classic character. He is as elegant and sophisticated as one would expect but also adds a lot of comedy to the movies.
It's easy to see Nolan breaking from tradition to cast the first female Alfred in a Batman movie, and Helen Mirren would be the obvious choice. She exudes elegance while also bringing charm and humor to many of her roles.
3 Jim Gordon: Mark Rylance
With his long career of playing villains, casting Gary Oldman to play the noble Jim Gordon seemed like an odd casting decision. He ended up being a great choice, playing the dedicated cop as an everyman who was unassuming and quiet, yet proved he was as heroic as Batman many times.
Mark Rylance is another English actor who has worked with Nolan before, namely in Dunkirk. That role shows why he would be the perfect Gordon as he plays a reserved yet courageous hero who does all he can in the face of terrifying danger.
2 Joker: Robert Pattinson
Though it was a very unpopular casting choice at the time, Heath Ledger proved all the doubters wrong with his iconic and Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight. Bringing terrifying yet captivating energy to the role, his performance as the anarchist villain will go down in history as one of the great cinematic villains.
Robert Pattinson knows a thing or two about being an unpopular casting choice, especially with his upcoming role in The Batman. But Pattinson seems like the rare actor who could play both the Caped Crusader and his most famous foe. Like Ledger, Pattinson makes bold choices with his performances and can pull off the unhinged quality needed for Joker.
1 Bruce Wayne / Batman: Daniel Kaluuya
For many fans, Christian Bale was the best cinematic Batman. Coming from the world of dark dramas, Bale brought a compelling intensity to the role. He was intimidating yet inspiring as a hero, and he made for a more tortured Bruce Wayne than previous movie versions.
Daniel Kaluuya has quickly become one of the best actors in Hollywood thanks to his work in intense movies like Get Out and Judas and the Black Messiah. Kaluuya also has the ability to exude power without saying a word, a quality that would make him a truly imposing Batman.
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