There are many notable things about Matt Reeves' dark new take on The Batman – from the chilling, Se7en-inspired atmosphere to the terrific production design and excellent score.

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But perhaps the most impressive thing about it is the star-studded list of actors who are bringing some of Gotham's most famous residents to life, with Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, John Turturro, and Andy Serkis all in starring roles.

Speaking about putting that impressive cast together during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, producer Dylan Clark explained, "One of the best things about being Matt Reeves' partner is that he's a brilliant writer. And as he's writing, his director brain is seeing certain images, and he's feeling certain actors along the way.

"And he'll call going, 'You know, who's really interesting... I'm feeling like this person...' and then all of a sudden you're starting to put together this beautiful pastiche of different actors.

"And because Matt is so good, when you go and start to have those conversations, they're really interested in working with him because they know the level of care and specificity and detail is going to be there.

"So Robert was the first big get and interestingly enough, unbeknownst to us he was interested in Batman. Then Zoë was always somebody that we felt had a Selina Kyle vibe – she's so tough yet vulnerable, she's a New York City girl, and she's just undeniably cool. And then, you know, we just went down the list, Jeffrey, Colin, Dano, Turturro, Peter Sarsgaard, and of course, Andy Serkis."

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the cast – including who they're playing and where you might have seen them before.

The Batman 2022 cast: Full list of DC Comics characters

Robert Pattinson plays Batman/Bruce Wayne

Robert Pattinson plays Bruce Wayne in The Batman (2022)
Warner Bros

Who is Bruce Wayne/Batman? One of the world's most iconic superheroes, Batman is the vigilante alter-ego of reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne, with which he seeks to protect Gotham City from deep-rooted crime and corruption. In this iteration, Bruce is only two years into his stint as The Caped Crusader and is still building up his crime-fighting skills and detective abilities. But he pours all of his time into being Batman – with director Matt Reeves describing his obsession as being almost like an addiction.

What else has Robert Pattinson been in? Pattinson shot to international stardom playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, having earlier played Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Since then he has appeared in independent and arthouse productions, working with some of the world's most acclaimed directors. His impressive credits include Cosmopolis, The Lost City of Z, Good Time, High Life and The Lighthouse, while recently he's been gravitating back towards blockbuster fare, including a key role in Christopher Nolan's Tenet.

Zoë Kravitz plays Catwoman/Selina Kyle

Zoe Kravitz plays Selina Kyle_Catwoman
WB

Who is Selina Kyle/Catwoman? This film takes place before Selina has fully become the Catwoman fans might know from the comics. She's a nightclub waitress, drug dealer, and cat burglar who is conducting a desperate search for her missing roommate, meeting Batman in the process and challenging him on his rather black-and-white view of good and evil.

What else has Zoë Kravitz been in? Kravitz has previously appeared in a number of franchise films – starring as Angel Salvadore in X-Men: First Class, Christina in The Divergent Series, Toast the Knowing in Mad Max: Fury Road, and Leta Lestrange in the Fantastic Beasts films. On the small screen, she's had leading roles in Big Little Lies and High Fidelity, while other film credits include Gemini, Rough Night and Steven Soderbergh's new film KIMI.

Paul Dano plays The Riddler/Edward Nashton

The Batman Riddler

Who is Edward Nashton/The Riddler? An iconic Batman villain, in this version Riddler is a serial killer who targets elite Gotham citizens and live-streams his crimes to the world, claiming that his aim is to "unmask the truth" about Gotham. He regularly taunts Batman by leaving riddles behind him at crime scenes.

What else has Paul Dano been in? Dano gained significant recognition for some hugely acclaimed turns in the mid 'oos, with credits including Little Miss Sunshine and There Will Be Blood, the latter of which earned him a BAFTA nomination. He has also appeared in films such as Looper, 12 Years a Slave, Prisoners, Love & Mercy and Okja, while he made his directorial debut in 2018 with Wildfire.

Jeffrey Wright plays Lieutenant James "Jim" Gordon

Jeffrey Wright plays James Gordon
WB

Who is James Gordon? A GCPD lieutenant – who we know from the comics later goes on to become commissioner – James is Batman's main ally in the Gotham City Police Department, who is also invested in rooting out corruption from the city.

What else has Jeffrey Wright been in? Wright has had a number of prominent roles on films and TV over the years, with highlights including playing Felix Leiter in the Daniel Craig-era James Bond films, Beetee Latier in The Hunger Games, Valentin Narcisse in Boardwalk Empire, and Bernard Lowe in Westworld. Other recent film credits include The Laundromat, The Goldfinch and The French Dispatch.

Colin Farrell plays The Penguin/Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot

Colin Farrell as The Penguin in The Batman
Warner Bros.

Who is Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot/Penguin? Another character who hasn't quite ascended to the status he later has in the comics – we meet Cobblepot as a disfigured, rising crime lord who detests being referred to as the Penguin.

What else has Colin Farrell been in? A hugely acclaimed actor with a wealth of credits to his name, Farrell's filmography includes major roles in films such as Minority Report, Miami Vice, In Bruges, The Lobster, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Widows, among many others. He recently starred as Henry Drax in the BBC miniseries The North Water.

John Turturro plays Carmine Falcone

John Turturro plays Carmine Falcone
WB

Who is Carmine Falcone? A notorious Gotham City crime lord, Falcone runs much of the city but is almost as reclusive as Bruce Wayne and rarely appears in public.

What else has John Turturro been in? Turturro is known for his many collaborations with the Coen Brothers, including Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink, The Big Lebowski, and O Brother, Where Art Thou, and with Spike Lee, including Do The Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues and Clockers. On the small screen, he's starred in miniseries The Night Of and The Plot Against America, while other notable film credits include Quiz Show and the Transformers series.

Andy Serkis plays Alfred Pennyworth

Andy Serkis plays Alfred Pennyworth
WB

Who is Alfred? Batman's butler and mentor, in this version of Batman, the pair aren't on particularly great terms and don't speak much – even though he remains a trusted confidant. He is rather worried about Bruce and his obsession with becoming Batman.

What else has Andy Serkis been in? Serkis is best known for his ground-breaking work in motion-capture performance, especially for his roles as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot series. Other film roles include Ulysses Klaue in the MCU, Long Shot, and SAS: Red Notice, while he has directed the films Breathe and Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Peter Sarsgaard plays Gil Colson

Who is Gil Colson? Gotham's district attorney, Colson seems to have lost his way and is not by any means on top of dealing with corruption in the city, looking the other way when it comes to the behaviour of crime bosses and making the most of the perks of his job.

What else has Peter Sarsgaard been in? Sarsgaard has appeared in a number of prominent films since making his screen debut in 1995, with highlights including The Man in the Iron Mask, Shattered Glass, Jarhead, An Education, and The Magnificent Seven. Recently, he's appeared in The Guilty, The Survivor, and The Lost Daughter, while he also had a recurring role in Hulu series Dopesick.

Jayme Lawson plays Bella Reál

Jayme Lawson as Bella Real in The Batman
YouTube/Warner Bros

Who is Bella Reál? Bella is running as a mayor candidate for Gotham City and is keen to get Bruce Wayne's support. The politician is keen to bring real change to Gotham which has been struggling with poverty and corruption.

What else has Jayme Lawson been in? A relative newcomer, Lawson appeared in the film Farewell Amor.

Alex Ferns plays Commissioner Pete Savage

Alex Ferns as Commissioner Pete Savage in The Batman
YouTube/Warner Bros

Who is Commissioner Pete Savage? The head of Gotham City Police Department, Savage is sceptical of The Batman and is the former partner of Lieutenant James Gordon.

What else has Alex Ferns been in? The Scottish actor is best known for his role as evil Trevor Morgan in EastEnders but has also appeared in Scottish soap River City, Chernobyl and The Irregulars.

Rupert Penry-Jones plays Mayor Don Mitchell Jr.

Who is Mayor Don Mitchell Jr.? The incumbent Mayor of Gotham City, the politician is fighting to keep his position when he is drawn into the actions of The Riddler.

What else has Rupert Penry-Jones been in? Penry-Jones is best known for his role as Adam Carter in BBC drama Spooks, plus turns in Silk, Whitechapel and The Strain. He has also appeared in films such as Match Point and Vita and Virginia.

Charlie and Max Carver play The Twins

Who are The Twins? They are henchmen of The Penguin and work in his nightclub.

What else has Charlie and Max Carver been in? The Carver twins have appeared in series together such as Desperate Housewives and The Leftovers, but have appeared independently in other series and films. Charlie appeared in the play and film The Boys in the Band and series Teen Wolf.

**Spoiler warning for The Batman**

You have been warned!!!

Barry Keoghan as Unnamed Arkham Inmate

Barry Keoghan attends "The Batman" World Premiere on March 01, 2022 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Who is Unnamed Arkham Inmate? Well, he's never revealed by name. But we think we know who this is. Barry Keoghan appears in a single scene towards the end of the film.

What else has Barry Keoghan been in? The Irish actor is best known for his roles in the films Dunkirk, The Killing of the Sacred Deer, Calm with Horses, The Green Knight, and Marvel's Eternals.

The Batman is in UK cinemas now. While you're waiting, check out more of our Film coverage, or visit our TV Guide to see what's on tonight.

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Authors

Patrick Cremona, RadioTimes.com's senior film writer looking at the camera and smiling
Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.

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