Gary Oldman Offers Advice To GOTHAM’s Ben McKenzie For Playing Jim Gordon

Gary Oldman’s take on Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight Trilogy is inarguably the best incarnation of the character to date. While it’s unknown who will fill the role in the DC Cinematic Universe, Ben McKenzie will play a younger version of the future police commissioner on Fox’s Gotham. Speaking with Access Hollywood, Oldman shares his thoughts on the casting choice. “I’m sure he’s going to be fabulous.” He then offers his advice to the Southland actor. “Go back to the comic books. That’s what I did. There’s great stuff about Gordon. He had a whole other life.” 

However, Oldman is uncertain about a Batman-themed television series that doesn’t, well, involve Batman. “A show without Batman?” he asked, with a “perplexed” look on his face. Despite featuring a young Bruce Wayne, Gotham will explore the origin stories of many iconic Batman villains, such as Joker and Riddler. Today, the series added Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin, Sean Pertwee as Alfred Pennyworth, Zabryna Guevara as Captain Essen, and Erin Richards as Barbara Kean to its cast. Gotham is expected to premiere on Fox next fall.