In a recent interview with GQ Magazine UK, Eternals star Barry Keoghan has finally opened up about his secret casting in the Matt Reeves-directed DC film The Batman. Keoghan confirmed that he initially audition for the role of The Riddler. Though the role had already been filled in by another actor, Keoghan still met with producer Dylan Clark to convince him to watch his unsolicited The Batman audition tape.
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However, after four months of not hearing any update from the project, the Irish actor got a call from his agent, who told him that Matt Reeves and the studio want him to play another DC villain instead. “The Batman wants you to play the Joker — but you cannot tell anyone,” Keoghan recalls his agent’s words to him regarding his surprise Joker casting.
As part of his interview for the outlet, Keoghan decided to share his two-minute The Batman audition video, which unexpectedly won him the role of the Joker, a villain famously played before by Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Joaquin Phoenix. In the video, Keoghan can be seen wearing a black shirt paired with green suspenders, a bowler hat, and a cane as a nod to The Riddler’s signature style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRF4L6pJrYg
The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as the titular Dark Knight, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Paul Dano as the Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as GCPD’s James Gordon, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin, and more.
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The Batman was directed by Matt Reeves from a screenplay he co-wrote with Peter Craig. Reeves is also currently developing two HBO Max series that will be set within the film’s universe. This includes a Gotham City Police project and Penguin-centered series starring Colin Farrell.
