One of the most overlooked actors for the role of Batman is Jim Caviezel.
Yes, The Passion of the Christ‘s Jim Caviezel.
With Affleck probably stepping down soon, Matt Reeves is searching for a new actor to fill the cowl. Although Warner may consider Jim to be slightly on the older side, he is a great actor and is capable of being the type of Bruce Wayne that can guide Superman into becoming the hero he should be. Don’t believe me? Well, he has already played Bruce Wayne before… kind of.
For those who don’t know, Person of Interest was basically a Batman story (with a few minor differences).
Created by Jonathan Nolan, the brother of the man who revolutionised the Batman franchise, it follows two main characters, Finch (Michael Emerson) and Reese (Jim Caviezel), as they attempt to rid the city of future crimes, police corruption and the mob. Reese prefers not to kill people and is exceptionally skilled in close hand-to-hand combat. Michael Emerson (who voiced The Joker in DC’s Dark Knight Returns) plays the role of Finch – a tech-savvy, hacker and mission coordinator. Stop me if this story sounds familiar!
On many occasions, we have Reese assume other identities in order to solve a crime, something that Bruce Wayne did a lot in his early career as Batman. There is also a bit of detective work in each episode and Reese uses gadgets and weaponry to bring criminals to their knees. Truly, the main difference here is only that Reese doesn’t wear a mask and Finch is the billionaire instead.
It is Caviezel’s unarmed combat that shines through in this series. The fight scenes are often gritty, calculated and brutal – just the way Batman likes it.
Although he may not have a superhero physique (yet!), let us not forget that Christian Bale and Ben Affleck didn’t initially either. In fact, Bale was initially dubbed “The Fatman” when Batman Begins released. Secondly, those grey hairs could easily be covered up with some dye if fans considered him too old. Plus, Affleck was playing an older weary Batman, right?
After portraying The Messiah in The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson warned Jim Caviezel that his acting career may be severely affected by the role. Sadly it was true, and it is only through Person of Interest that he garnered attention again. It’s truly sad to see such talent go to waste. Jim is known for giving 100% to the characters he portrays, including learning Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew for the role of Jesus. Not even being struck by lightning during the shoot stopped him from completing his role.
So DC give the role to someone new. Someone unexpected. Someone who can concentrate on becoming Bruce Wayne and Batman. Jim Caviezel has had a great warm-up on the set of Person of Interest and, now that the show is over, he needs someone to transfer him from the reserves into the main team. Forget Jake Gyllenhaal and John Hamm. Jim Caviezel is the Batman we need.
Jim caviezel for batman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No one wants to see Magneto (Michael Fassbender) becoming Batman
THAT´S NOT TRUE!
Many many people(including me)WANTS to see Fassbender as Batman.
You really don´t know what you´re talking about.
Forget Fassbender, I’m getting sick and tired of Brit actors taking over our American superheroes. Nothing against the Brits, great actors but I’d like to see some more authenticity. Jason Bateman or Bradley Cooper would be good picks.
No one wants to see Magneto (Michael Fassbender) becoming Batman
THIS IS NOT TRUE!
Many people would love to see Fassbender as Batman.
You don´t know what you´re talking about.
And Jim is too old for Bruce/Batman. Not going to happen.
Great Article!
Wow what an awesome idea! Jim Caviezel would be perfect! Absolutely perfect! He’s got the look and face of someone as stirred up on the inside as Batman/Bruce Wayne and his voice is awesome! He could easily do the Christopher Reeve-Kevin Conroy voice trick by using his real voice for the hero character but speak in a nicer higher pitch for the character in disguise while handling business as Bruce Wayne.
“Batman guiding Superman” however is a horrible awful idea. DC has it right finally and if they miss the chance to truly establish Superman at the top of Super Hero mountain above all others on his own, then they can kiss their cinematic universe goodbye.
If Batman “humbles” or kicks Superman’s ass in his own movie and “sets him straight” then being the grand hero he is means nothing and the fans will just give up.
Spot on … Jim deserves the role he’s brilliant in Person of Interest
I totally agree, Jim Caviezel will rock as Batman, and he is doing a perfect job as Mr. Reese in POI, solid choice.
Thank you! I’ve been saying that Person of Interest is a clever reworking of Batman since it premiered. The Machine is just like the mass-cellphone-surveillance network from the Dark Knight taken to the Nth degree. Great show that more people need to pay attention to.
What you said.
One interesting side note Jim Caviezel and Henry Cavill (Superman) were in the Count of Monte Cristo together, Caviezel being the father and Cavill his son. That may be fitting if they choose to take the route that an experienced Batman imprints wisdom of being a super hero onto a younger Clark Kent.
Good good getre: Caviezel & Cavill – was flipping through channels a few months ago & that scene in Count of Monte Cristo was on. And based on reading the [above] feature piece & comments – I’d be glad to see Jim back on the big screen as Wayne/Batman. He’s got the gravitas & the skill set.
I agree. Pity he didn’t get a shot.
I do not want to see Michael as Bruce for the same reason I do not want to see Karl Urban as Bruce, they have characters that they already portray and do well. I prefer it when an actor becomes the character and sees it through.
Personally I am still unsure about the whole VS idea, I am not saying Batman must kick Superman’s butt then offer him life lessons. I just think the notion of Superman getting guidance from an experienced hero would be cool. I am still hoping there are other villains like maybe Lex trying to drag Clarke to the Dark side whilst the Dark Knight is guiding him to be the hero Jor-El wanted him to be.
I would love to see Jim Caviezel as Batman. He seems like the right guy for the job.
Here’s the thing…I think JC is already playing Batman, if you know what I mean. And Sara Shahi is Robin.
Jim as Batman is spot on
It’s absurd to say that Jim is old for being a hero, If we talk about being old then what you will say about Robert Downey?He is 48 and still a superhero…
Jim should be the perfect choice for Batman…
Funny story. The man who plays superman, played jim caviezel’s son in The count of monte cristo. Anyways i think caviezel would be perfect.
And that teaser perfectly displayed why he would work. When he said my family is dead, he sounded like kevin conroy almost.
Jim is TOO old for the role.
Won´t happen
Well they are looking for an older Batman for the upcoming film, right now they are considering my second choice; Josh Brolin: but I would still prefer that they cast Jim
IMO, Caviezel would have been PERFECT to play Captain Marvel/Shazam about 8 years ago when that movie was gaining some steam before falling into development hell. But I don’t know if I can picture him as Batman, though. If they are going to do DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, they should bring back Keaton. Otherwise, for a mid-30s Batman in his prime, I’m backing Wes Bentley.
Snyder is potentially looking at Frank Miller’s the dark knight returns, which has a bruce wayne past his 50’s returning to fight crime. I think Jim Caviezel will be perfect, he looks like someone with life experience. plus, in the right light he could pass as an older Bale.
He doesn’t even need to change his voice to talk like Batman!
Also for the nay-sayers, look at Hugh Jackman, he still looks the same as wolverine and still gets physical. Age is just a number, health is the biggest factor
Jim proves he can throw it down in each episode of Person of Interest, let’s see what Affleck does…he is going to be the World’s Greates Detective but he could not outsmart his wife in Gone Girl…
I don’t understand why there is so much talk of the next batman. Has Ben Affleck said he isn’t going to continue in the role?
I haven’t seen justice league yet, so avoid spoilers if need be, but loved him in BvS.
He’s made several mentions of leaving the DCEU. Many speculate it’s because of how WB is handling the films.
I could live with that
He said he will be Batman in the flash movie but said no other interests after that, they may have Barry fuck up the timeline and someone else is batman
I read somewhere (unsure of the realibilty) that it was going to be an even swap like nothing ever happened when he leaves, no timeline malfunction or anything which toootally bums me out. Just let him mess with the timeline 🙁
Affleck repeatedly said that he’s not leaving the Batman role as he said he loved playing the character. However, he did say he was unsure about The Batman film.
rockstar
I think he would make a great Batman
I can see
Can we get someone younger please
batmans in his late 30s early 40s lol wtf r u talking aboit stick to night wing. there is no young batman earliest you would see him is 35 with robbin
Batman trained till he was 19 then started as Batman then he felt he wasn’t good enough.
Then he trained again till he was 26 , at which point he thought “do I really need to be Batman ? I could have a life “but that I deal didn’t go so well as his love life broke into pieces and crime on Gotham only got worse. Be became proper Batman at 27 , He found Robin a year later and Batgirl 2 years later , Dick left when he was about 32, he found Jason the same year , he had Jason for 4 years until he died , then he got Tim when he was 38/39, and bunch of Batgirls in the middle along with a few other ones.
He found Damien at 44 ish.
Read stories.
Read stories careful and note time jumps
Can we get a Batman in his prime??
Muhammad Ali probably too tall but would be an interesting choice…
They can give it a try.😁
For the first time….I agree with you Fortress of Solitude
Should of nabbed him when he was younger.
I wouldn’t mind seeing him as the next Batman once Affleck is done playing the role. I think he’s an awesome actor (loved him in Person of Interest), and I think he could pull off the role.
JIM!!!!!!!!!!!! Hell YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! I want to see him as batman! The perfectest choice is him!
i liked him in person of interest, just probably have to go the way they did with ben afflack in batman get a body double for the guy in the suit scenes
i liked him in person of interest, just probably have to go the way they did with ben afflack in batman get a body double for the guy in the suit scenes
Have you seen his work? He’s a fuckin costner. He’s terrible
Have you seen his work? He’s a fuckin costner. He’s terrible
He’s overlooked for a reason: he’s a mediocre actor at best
He’s overlooked for a reason: he’s a mediocre actor at best
He was good in person of interest, good at brooding and being dangerous, just not sure if he could emote Wayne’s lighter cover image, but it’s not like Affleck was either.
He was good in person of interest, good at brooding and being dangerous, just not sure if he could emote Wayne’s lighter cover image, but it’s not like Affleck was either.
Vin Diesel??
🤣😂👏👏👏
Vin Diesel??
He would be a great Batman. I still think that if they are doing older Batman they need to get Micheal Keaton back and if they do yournger they should find and unknown and make him famous.
He would be a great Batman. I still think that if they are doing older Batman they need to get Micheal Keaton back and if they do yournger they should find and unknown and make him famous.
Dud
Dud
Bulk up more than Michael Keaton?
Bulk up more than Michael Keaton?
Kids are now doing the jenkem challenge