The only part of Batman Begins that I didn’t like was Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes. Sure, she was pretty, but the character (as she did her) I could have done without. Now that she is a concubine baby maker for the king of Scientology, she has even less appeal to me.
The most persistent rumor in Hollywood — that Maggie Gyllenhaal has sewn up a substantial role in The Dark Knight, either as Rachel Dawes, Selena Kyle, or Harley Quinn, has gotten some new heat thrown on it, courtesy of the tipsters at Latino Review. There’s no question that Warner Bros. is their sweetspot, and they are now re-upping their original Gyllenhaal tip with the following assertion: “Now it looks like Maggie Gyllenhaal will be the new Rachel Dawes! Confirmed by two of my strongest on the money sources.” That’s a little short of saying ‘we have the news in advance — an official announcement is coming soon,’ but it does appear, based on everything we know, that Gyllenhaal is close to putting pen to paper, if she hasn’t done it already.
The one thing Katie failed to do was make the character interesting. The movie needed some vehicle to talk some reason into Bruce Wayne when he was teetering on uncontrolled. Alfred was inspiring, but too much the father figure. People don’t listen to their fathers until its too late I think the character had its purpose.
Rachel Dawes grounded him. Love interest, voice of reason, and a lot like Wayne even if their methods of fighting crime were vastly different. They both had passion. Katie didn’t have passion.
So if the rumours are true, I could see Maggie Gyllenhaal as Dawes. Shes plenty cute enough and in some pictures she almost looks like Katie. That and shes a much better actor that Katie. But that’s not a grand feat.
This is so wierd! After I saw the first installment, my very first (and pretty much only) complaint was the presence of Katie Holmes. I’ve never been a fan, but surrounded by all these fantastic thespians, it was really quite distracting to me to watch her performance. When I said this to my dad, who is my usual bouncing board for film-related rants, he asked who I would have cast in the roll. After a pause for thought, I proposed Maggie Gyllenhaal – a woman of a similar age, height, and general physical appearance, but who I could actually believe could influence a man like Bruce Wayne in such a profound way, both emotionally and intellectually. She not only is a very talented actress and has a unique beauty about her, but her personal presence could actually convince me that she would be the type to become an ADA by her mid-20’s and also be willing to risk it all for REAL justice. I really hope the rumors are true, both for the sake of a near-great hero movie AND so I can say “told-u-sp” to all the friends who disagreed with my imaginary casting choice. If the Rachel Dawes character doesn’t work out for her, I agree that she might also make a great Harly!!
P.S. What do we think? Is Katie Holmes being replaced because of her sub-par acting skills or because her dear hubby wants her at home with their little Elrond re-incarnate? Just a thought…
While I strongly disagree about Holmes being horrible in Batman Begins, when she’s stepped off, she’s stepped off. They have to recast the role. I’m okay with that.
Now, that said….
Maggie Gyllenhaal…
Hey wouldn’t it have been a freakin’ riot if her brother Jake was cast as…
….well, anyway, I can see her resemblance to Katie Holmes, if only a neck taller (?) But here’s the thing. All this dislike for Holmes-is it *just* Holmes or the character she played had anything to do with this? Will Maggie Gyllenhaal play it a differnt way or will the character be written a different way? All I know is folks, after all this L-O-V-E for Maggie Gyllenhaal you all better not B-I-T-C-H after the fact.
Would Maggie Gyllenhaal be more believable as an ADA? I could buy her more than Katie, I suppose, but that’s not saying much. Better an ADA than a secretar…eh, anyway…
It’d be a waste of Maggie Gyllenhaal if she’s killed in the story – especially if it happens early. But maybe this means she’ll have a bigger role?
Anyway, the Rachel Dawes character would’ve felt much more significant in ‘Batman Begins’ had Gyllenhaal played her in the first place. The scene where she chastises Bruce in the car would’ve had some more weight to it. And frankly, she would’ve been far more believable as an assistant district attorney. Alas…
I fucking love Maggie Gyllenhaal!
@Kristina
lmao
Batman doesn’t need a bitch to ground him. Isn’t that ALFRED’s job?
I can really see Maggie playing Harley Quinn.
Batman doesnt kill the Joker.
Batman would never kill the Joker.
It’s completely against his character.
That was the biggest mistake the Burton movie made. You dont kill off the Joker. Plus, Goyer has said that the treatment that he and Nolan wrote includes the Trial of the Joker as part of the third movie.
Batman will want to capture the Joker and bring him to justice.
Did you even watch Batman Begins? That was the whole point of the Racheal Dawes character. To teach Bruce the difference between justice and revenge. If Batman kills the Joker for killing her then that would be a spit in the face of everything she tried to teach him and everything she stood for. Bruce wouldnt dishonor her memory like that. If anything, it would serve to reinforce that ideal within him.
I like Maggie as Dawes, but its weird mentioning Harley Quinn in that post..I can really see her as Quinn..Its weird, Ive never thought of that before.
I do hate to see the continuity break, but at least its supporting character..
I watched Batman Begins again last night, and the character isnt completely pointless, but I still think the character would serve a better purpose if she is killed in the next film. It would give Batman a more driving motive to kill the Joker.
I hope this pans out.
Gyllenhaal is a great actress and she would bring a lot more vulnerability and passion to the role. I didnt mind Katie as much as some people did, but Maggie will bring a little more heart to the role.
That being said, I would still have preferred Katie return and finish what she started, because if it’s true that her role is very small in length then Katie would have been fine. – POSSIBLE SPOILER – Plus, if what most of the sources are saying is true and the reason her role is small is due to the fact that she “get’s it” early in the film and is the catalyst for the intense personal fued between the Joker and Bat’s then I think having continuity of character would have made her aforementioned possible death resonate a little more for me. I’m sure Maggie will do fine but having the shift in actress will take a little away from the gravity of the scene. If these events do indeed take place.
All in all, though, since Katie has indeed left the production, I would be fine with M.G. as her replacement. She’s a talented actress and a very likable girl.
I still weep for the loss of continuity that this causes, my one hope for the new Batman was that we would not have to deal with the replaceing of actors for the same characters.
But I suppose it’s acceptable considering how gawd-awful-bad Katie was.
Ah well, 20 years from now it will make a good Trivial Pursuit question:
“What famous Scientologist originally played the character of Rachel Dawes in the first of six Christopher Nolan Batman films?”
hehhe first of six, I’m so clever…actually I watched Oprah the other day talking about the Laws of Attraction, so if I visualize it, it will come true!
Nord
Completely agreed. Gyllenhaal would certainly add some more dynamics to the story, not to mention she’s a talented actress. I’d love to see her in Batman.