While the Caped Crusader, Catwoman, Riddler, and Oswald Cobblepot were chewing up the scenery in Matt Reeves’The Batman, Jeffrey Wright’s low-key but focused performance as Jim Gordon also had pivotal moments in the film. This iteration of Gordon is similar to previous versions due to the character’s successful working relationship with Batman and their ability to encounter clues and evidence for solving crimes.
Over the years, several actors have taken on the role of Gordon, from Pat Hingle’s comical version in Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher’sBatmanfilms to Gary Oldman’s powerfully sentimental turn in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy. InThe Batman, Wright did an effective job of introducing Gordon’s disciplined work ethic as a Lieutenant in the GCPD, but the sequel can go even further.
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Jim Gordon should have a bigger story
Reminiscent ofThe Dark Knight Trilogy, Wright’s portrayal of Gordon is a veteran of the GCPD, who Batman trusts the most because of his disciplined demeanor and persistence to bring Gotham City’s criminals to justice. Gordon is also a central figure because there are times when he comes between Batman and Gotham’s police force since many are dirty cops and/or are against Batman’s acts of vigilantism. However, Gordon also trusts the Caped Crusader because he has detective and crime-solving skills that no one else obtains.
Gordon has some great scenes inThe Batman, which mostly involve him and the title character assisting each other in figuring outthe mysterious clues left by The Riddlerand how he’s choosing his victims. Gordon also has a few brief moments of humor, including when he persuades Batman to punch him in the face so the Bat can escape from the other cops seeking to arrest and hold him in the precinct.
Unlike previous versions,The Batmandepicts the protagonist as an up-and-coming hero in his second year of work, establishing that he and Gordon already have a bonding and resourceful partnership. The sequel could provide some flashbacks or hints about how Gordon and Batman met and began working together. Gordon can also be given a bigger story by looking back at his past, including how he began his career in the military, his beginnings as a cop in the GCPD, and the criminals he’s arrested and/or is still in pursuit of.
The Batmansequelcan slightly borrow elements from the TV seriesGotham, which centered around a young Jim Gordon making his mark in the GCPD while going through ongoing dilemmas with villains like Riddler and Penguin. Reeves can set up Wright’s Gordon as a morally good cop with a history of conflicting with some infamous foes (especially villains he’s put away in Arkham Asylum). Some storylines for Gordon may also include his personal relationships (like Barbara Kean or medical practitioner Lee Thompkins fromGotham), his daughter Barbara Gordon, and his son, James Gordon Jr. (who becomes a sociopathic serial killer based on theBatman: Year Onecomic book). They can all shake up and/or complicate Jim’s position in the GCPD in Reeves' film series.
Give Jeffrey Wright more to do
Jeffrey Wright has always been an accomplished dramatic actor, starring in dramatic films likeThe Manchurian Candidatewith Denzel Washington,Syrianawith Oscar winner George Clooney, and the biopicBasquiat. However, he is best known for his role inthe HBO sci-fi western seriesWestworldand as Felix Leiter in three of Daniel Craig’s James Bond films, notablyCasino Royale. One of Wright’s best qualities (exhibited in his role as Gordon) is his calm demeanor in most of his characters, along with his distinct voice and controlled balance of humor, intelligence, and seriousness.
While Wright was adequate as Gordon inThe Batman, he should be given more to do in the sequel, including more action sequences to display the character’s strength and toughness as a cop and his combat and marksmanship skills from his military experience. His confrontations with criminals and key villains at Arkham Asylum are also crucial in showing Gordon’s interrogation tactics. Wright’s role as Leiter in the 007 movies was admirable, but he could’ve had more screen time to further develop his companionship withJames Bond. ThisBatmanseries has an opportunity to make Wright’s Gordon a pivotal franchise character who is impactful towards Batman’s journey but also a key player with an essential backstory.
Further develop Gordon and Batman’s friendship
The friendship between Wright’s Gordon andRobert Pattinson’s Batmanwas one of the greatest aspects of the first film, reminiscent of Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman’s partnership in the serial killer crime thrillerSe7enin terms of pairing two different but complimentary detectives searching for a killer on the loose. Batman and Gordon have always been intriguing companions because they learn from each other and trust their abilities to fight crime.
This friendship also compares to the bond betweenChristian Bale’s Batman(who was also a rookie starting out and grew over time) and Gary Oldman’s Jim Gordon (from Lieutenant to Commissioner of the GCPD). However, to distinguish itself from Nolan’s films,The Batmansequel can distribute more arguments and dilemmas for the young superhero and the veteran cop by questioning how their crime-solving methods can coexist in a corrupt city while maintaining each other’s trust. With all the threatening enemies Batman will face in Gotham in this series, James Gordon is an ally he can rely on.
