‘Lego Batman’ Adds Ralph Fiennes As Alfred Pennyworth
Hot off his turn as 007’s boss inSpectre,Ralph Fiennesis getting ready to team up with another iconic badass. Or the tiny, plastic version of him, anyway. Fiennes has signed on to voice Alfred Pennyworth in theLego Batmanmovie, joiningWill Arnettas the Lego Caped Crusader. More on the Lego Batman Ralph Fiennes casting after the jump.
THRbroke the news. TheLego Batmanmovie, a spinoff of 2014’sThe Lego Movie, also stars Arnett’sArrested Developmentco-starMichael Ceraas Batman’s sidekick Robin andDaredevilactress Rosario Dawson as Batgirl.Zach Galifianakisis in talks to play the Joker, which seems like a hilarious and inspired choice.Chris McKay, who served as animation supervisor onThe Lego Movie, is directing the Lego Batman movie from a script bySeth Grahame-Smith(Dark Shadows).Phil LordandChris Miller, who helmed the first movie, will produce along withDan LinandRoy Lee.
First introduced in 1943 – just a few years after Batman himself – Alfred Pennyworth is Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler and surrogate father figure. He’s been portrayed numerous time in film, TV, and animation over the years, including most recently by Michael Caine in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy and Sean Pertwee in theGothamTV series. Jeremy Irons steps into the role next year inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Plot details remain scarce, but Lord has said in general terms that theLego Batmanfilm will center on the question ofwhether Batman can truly be happy:
Batman is the ultimate in white people problems. He’s like, ‘oh, I’m so rich and handsome, women like me and I’ve got a Maclaren! Something about my parents!
It sounds like an intriguing spin on a character who has lately been defined by grimness and grittiness. The Lego version of Batman is, too — he spends his free time writing songs about “darkness” and having “no parents” — but the difference was thatThe Lego Moviepoked gentle fun at his angst, rather than buying into it.
Fiennes has done a handful of voice roles over the years, in films likeThe Curse of the Were-RabbitandThe Prince of Egypt. He has another coming up next year in Laika’sKubo and the Two Strings. His recent live-action roles include the aforementionedSpectre, as well asA Bigger SplashandThe Grand Budapest Hotel. He’ll next be seen in the Coen brothers’Hail, Caesar!.
