Would Benedict Cumberbatch be a good cast for the Joker?

[bastardofmelbourne]

Something that literally just occurred to me on the toilet. I'd been reading some Batman comics, and they had another one of those issues where they play up the Joker as Batman's ultimate arch-nemesis who Must Not Be Named. You know, the villain who is the Villain. The guy who can just be obliquely referenced without ever appearing and still generate the kind of primal lizard-brain terror reserved for bears and spiders.

And I thought, "all respect to Jared Leto, but I did not get that impression from his role in Suicide Squad." And I started thinking who else could play the Joker. Part of the problem is that the Joker of the comics has a very oddly [http://cdn2-www.comingsoon.net/assets/uploads/2016/07/joker.jpg] shaped [http://media.dcentertainment.com/sites/default/files/GalleryChar_1900x900_Joker_52ab8edcabce71.28062812.jpg] head, with a huge mouth.

And I thought, "who is there in Hollywood who has a weird head, a huge mouth, and the acting chops to actually look creepy standing across the room from Batfleck?"

Benedict Cumberbatch.

Thoughts?

 

[Thaluikhain]

If the Joker's head is important, do we need exaggerated and almost identical proportions on all female characters? Not usually cited as a problem.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Jim Carrey should be the Joker.

 

[happyninja42]

Jim Carrey should be the Joker.

Post mortem thought, but Robin Williams as the Joker. Sprinkle in his acting from Insomnia (creepy as fuck character) and 1 Hour Photo, coupled with his gift for comedy. I think that would be a terrifyingly good Joker.

OT: Eh, don't really care who plays them. I have no real vested interest in DC, and I personally don't consider the Joker some holy relic of a villain like most fans do. I'd honestly be happy if they never do the Joker again. It brings too much hype with it, and too much fan hate when they deviate from that fans "vision" for what the Joker should be.

 

[Saelune]

No. He doesnt look like the Joker at all, and I dont think he could play him well either.

 

[Sonmi]

Cumberbatch is too stoic/not expressive enough.

If someone should be the Joker, it's obviously Willem Dafoe.

 

[happyninja42]

Cumberbatch is too stoic/not expressive enough.

If someone should be the Joker, it's obviously Willem Dafoe.

Actually, I think Eddie Redmayne might be a good one. He can switch between quiet and serious and ballshit crazy pretty quick. He's pretty good at making insane faces, etc. And I think he's funny enough (from interviews I've seen of him) to be able to pull off the comedy part of it too.

Though I am always in favor of Willem Dafoe in anything.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

He is kinda too tall for it. The head shape, I think you're right. But he would always tower over everyone else, and that would look weird.

 

[Sonmi]

Cumberbatch is too stoic/not expressive enough.

If someone should be the Joker, it's obviously Willem Dafoe.

Actually, I think Eddie Redmayne might be a good one. He can switch between quiet and serious and ballshit crazy pretty quick. He's pretty good at making insane faces, etc. And I think he's funny enough (from interviews I've seen of him) to be able to pull off the comedy part of it too.

Though I am always in favor of Willem Dafoe in anything.

I don't know, the Joker is supposed to be stringy, tough, intimidating, and while Redmayne is a tremendous actor, those aren't qualities that I would say he possesses.

But then again, I said the same of Ledger, who ended up doing a tip top job, so who knows?

 

[Fox12]

Well, I was skeptical, but you've convinced me. He doesn't even need makeup, he's creepy enough already.

 

[happyninja42]

Cumberbatch is too stoic/not expressive enough.

If someone should be the Joker, it's obviously Willem Dafoe.

Actually, I think Eddie Redmayne might be a good one. He can switch between quiet and serious and ballshit crazy pretty quick. He's pretty good at making insane faces, etc. And I think he's funny enough (from interviews I've seen of him) to be able to pull off the comedy part of it too.

Though I am always in favor of Willem Dafoe in anything.

I don't know, the Joker is supposed to be stringy, tough, intimidating, and while Redmayne is a tremendous actor, those aren't qualities that I would say he possesses.

But then again, I said the same of Ledger, who ended up doing a tip top job, so who knows?

He seems stringy to me. As far as tough/intimidating, that's down to the acting ability. And I think he's good enough to act tough and intimidating when the role requires it.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Well, I was skeptical, but you've convinced me. He doesn't even need makeup, he's creepy enough already.

Nope I am not.

1. He is too British.

2. He is not one for being comedic.

Jim Carrey is a better choice.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

No, not really. He's too handsome, too likable and has an air of aloof disinterest, control and intelligence. The Joker needs to be wacky, unpredictable and cunning.

 

[Parasondox]

Nope.

 

[sanquin]

If we're pitching idea's why not Nicolas Cage? He's got the 'crazy' part down at least!

Seriously though, I don't think Cumberbatch would make a good Joker. His voice is...not suited, and his kind of acting is far too different from what the Joker is supposed to be.

 

[MrCalavera_v1legacy]

Lots of Joker typecast threads popping out in recent years...

Anyway, no, I can't see him as the clown king of crime. Can he pull out a creepy smile thing?

Spoiler: Lemme check

[/spoiler]
...Yes, why yes, he can, but it's still not the kind of creepy i'm expecting from Joker.

 

[Sonmi]

If we're pitching idea's why not Nicolas Cage? He's got the 'crazy' part down at least!

Seriously though, I don't think Cumberbatch would make a good Joker. His voice is...not suited, and his kind of acting is far too different from what the Joker is supposed to be.

Nicholas Cage as the Joker would probably make the movie a shoe-in for best super-hero movie ever.

Just let him go nuts as he does even in dead serious roles, it'd be wonderful.

 

[Sonmi]

"Suere. Suere, jest eh, wait, theare."

To be fair, he sounds like he could be from Canada or Minnesota.

Half of my family talks like that.