Ralph Fiennes may get to order James Bond around as M in Spectre, but in The LEGO Batman Movie it’ll be Fiennes who’ll be taking orders. This time from the Caped Crusader, as the actor has reportedly joined the cast of The LEGO Batman Movie as Alfred Pennyworth, the loyal Wayne family butler who has long been a part of the Batman mythos.
Outside of the James Bond films, Fiennes best known roles have included Voldemort in the Harry Potter films and his chilling portrayal of Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List. He has also starred in The English Patient, Strange Days, Red Dragon, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. The LEGO Batman Movie will be Fiennes’ first voiceover role since 2005’s Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Will Arnett is once again voicing LEGO Batman—a part he originated in The LEGO Movie. Michael Cera has also been cast as Robin, with Rosario Dawson signed to play Batgirl. Last summer, Zach Galifianakis was reportedly in talks to portray the LEGO Joker, but it’s unclear if he has closed his deal to accept the role.
For a bit of context, Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and artist Jerry Robinson created Alfred as a supporting character in 1943, and he has frequently been included in Batman’s adaptations into film, television, and animation. Alan Napier’s Alfred from the ‘60s Batman TV series was one of the most popular iterations of the character. Michael Caine portrayed Alfred in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, and Sean Pertwee currently plays a younger Alfred in Gotham on Fox.
The LEGO Batman Movie will be released on May 26, 2017.
Comic book fans, what do you think about Fiennes’ new role as LEGO Alfred? Let us know in the comments section below!
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Image Credit:Â Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
