- "What do you think this is? Think you're gonna scare me with that mask and that cape? I'm gonna start crying and all of a sudden some big secrets come out? Let me tell you something... whatever I know, whatever I've done, it's all going with me, to my grave."
- ―Carmine Falcone to Batman[src]
Carmine Falcone was an infamous crime lord and serial killer in Gotham City, the Don of the Falcone Crime Family, the patriarch of the Falcone Family, and the father of Alberto Falcone, Sofia Falcone, and Selina Kyle. In order to gain more power, Falcone arranged the arrest of his rival, Salvatore Maroni, while blackmailing high level politicians and businessmen across Gotham. Eventually, Falcone's crimes made him an enemy of Batman and Catwoman, who managed to expose his corruption and involvement in the murder of Annika Kosolov. However, before Falcone could be arrested by Jim Gordon, he was shot by Riddler, resulting in Falcone dying in the streets, and leaving a power struggle to be fought for Gotham's underworld.
Biography
Early Life
Building his Criminal Family
Carmine Falcone was born in September of 1956 to a family of Sicilian descent in Gotham City, New Jersey. Reaching adulthood, Falcone soon rose up to become one of Gotham’s most famous mafia crime figures through forming his own crime family. He later formed a rivalry with fellow Italian crime lord Salvatore Maroni, head of the Maroni crime family, as well as the main culprit of Gotham's Drops trade.[3]
At some point, Falcone married a woman named Isabella Gigante, and together they had two children, a son named Alberto, and a daughter named Sofia. They raised the children together in their family home outside of Gotham. Falcone used to take Sofia and Alberto to an Italian restaurant in the city, and he always paid them just to keep their elbows off the table. Falcone and Isabella had a strained relationship, and she previously left him, but she returned to him as she feared for her children’s lives.
During the 90s, Falcone had a soldier in his family, Pinchy Rovegno, killed for being an F.B.I. Informant, though he decided to keep Pinchy's driver, Oz Cobb, also known as the Penguin, as he saw potential in him, despite his low opinion of him that he shared with the rest of his family.
Murder of Isabella Falcone
In 1994, Isabella had grown tired of her life with Carmine, not able to bear being his wife anymore, she made plans of taking both Sofia and Alberto and leaving Carmine. On the day she planned on them leaving, Falcone and Isabella had got into a physical altercation in their bedroom over her plans of leaving, which soon led to Carmine strangling her. Though she attempted to fight back, leaving scratch marks on his hands and breaking her own nails, Isabella was ultimately killed by Carmine. Carmine then staged the scene in order to make it appear that Isabella had hanged herself, in order to avoid facing justice for her murder.
Isabella's body was later discovered by Sofia while she was playing Hide and Seek with Alberto. Upon discovering Sofia touching her dead mother's hand, Falcone rushed in, feigning concern, and held Sofia back, telling her not to look. As they sat together, Sofia tried to take off Falcone's sunglasses to look in his eyes, but Falcone stopped her. Sofia would also notice the scratch marks on his hands.[1]
Affair with Maria Kyle
Sometime after Isabella's death, Falcone began a relationship with Maria Kyle, a waitress at the 44 Below. Three years later, she gave birth to their daughter, Selina Kyle. Falcone never took part in raising Selina, but he did see her at the club often, with his presence scaring the young girl, though she was curious about the way he'd look at her, until her mother told her the truth that he was her father. However, when Selina turned seven, Falcone murdered Maria by strangling her, and successfully covered up his crime. Selina was then taken away by social services, with Falcone not saying anything or even looking at her.
Saved by Thomas Wayne
- "His father saved my life. I got shot in the chest. Right here. I couldn't go to no hospital, so we showed up on his doorstep. Operated right on the dining room table. Kid here, saw the whole thing up on the stairs looking down. I remember your face. You don't think that meant something, he did that?"
- ―Carmine Falcone to Penguin and Bruce Wayne.[src]
One night, Falcone got shot in the chest and could not go to the hospital, so he showed up at the Wayne Manor doorstep and asked Thomas Wayne to save his life. Thomas decided to operate on Falcone on his dining room table and saved his life. Unknown to Thomas, his son Bruce Wayne watched the whole thing from his stairwell, but Falcone noticed him.[4] After the shooting, Falcone secluded himself from the public eye, to the point that the news could only use photos of him when he was younger. [5]
Murders of Multiple Women
Beginning in 1997, Falcone began murdering women that he had relations with at the 44 Below. Each one being strangled to death, he would stage the scenes to make it appear the women had hanged themselves.[1]
Assisting Thomas Wayne
- "Thomas Wayne tried to force this crusading reporter into a hush-money agreement to save his mayoral campaign. But when the reporter refused, Wayne turned to longtime secret associate Carmine Falcone and had him murdered!"
- ―Riddler[src]
In 2002, Falcone would be approached by Thomas Wayne again, when Edward Elliot had dug up terrible things about the Arkham Family, particularly on his wife Martha Wayne's history with mental illness. Thomas asked Falcone to put "the fear of god" into the reporter, and Falcone agreed to do so. When Falcone tried to use intimidation to stop the reporter from publishing the story, the reporter refused, and Falcone ended up killing him.[4]
Thomas was distraught when he learned about the reporters death, and he told Falcone he was going to tell the Gotham City Police Department about it. However, that night, both Thomas and Martha were killed by an unknown man while out with Bruce Wayne. It is unknown if it was a hit ordered by Falcone or Salvatore Maroni, or if it was just a random mugger.
Expanding his Criminal Empire
Following the death of Thomas Wayne, the Gotham Renewal Corporation was left to Gotham City for carrying out the Wayne's legacy of rebuilding the city and helping those in need. However, corrupt politicians and the criminal underworld saw the program to be the perfect opportunity to exploit the unlimited money with no oversight by the governmental body.
Falcone, along with Salvatore Maroni, and many other corrupt politicians, all got in on the renewal fund and began using it for laundering money and making bribes. Through this venture, Falcone met and gained control over politicians such as Don Mitchell, Jr. and Gil Colson, as well as police officers such as Pete Savage and William Kenzie. His new connections made him the top mob boss in Gotham City.
Disappointment in Alberto Falcone
After reaching adulthood, Alberto would join the Falcone Crime Family and became a capo. However, he grew to have a philandering nature, often going to parties and nightclubs with his friends, and later developing a drinking problem.
Falcone was heavily disappointed in his son, especially amplified by Sofia being much more dependable in helping out her father in running the Isabella Falcone Foundation, a foundation both of them made to support charities for women with mental illnesses. It got to the point that he began thinking of breaking mafia traditions, and decided that he wanted Sofia to eventually take his place as head of the family.
Betrayal of Sofia Falcone
In 2012, Falcone was having the whole family come to Gotham City for his birthday party. During this, the Gotham City Police Department began investigating the murders at the 44 Below. With them sending a reporter named Summer Gleeson to interview Sofia Falcone, who was beginning to grow suspicious over her mother's death. Falcone would later be informed by Penguin that Sofia had spoke with Gleeson about the murders.
Falcone confronted Sofia at his birthday party, and expressed his disappointment in her. Sofia then brought up that she remembered the scratch marks on his hands the day her mother died. Falcone then told Sofia that she was clearly not well and needed to leave before she caused a scene. He then sent her home.
However, by that time, Falcone had Gleeson killed and framed it on Sofia, with him also planting evidence framing her for the other murders at the 44 Below. Falcone had cops on his payroll, led by William Kenzie, arrest Sofia while she was driving home. Falcone then had family members write false statements that Sofia showed signs of a mental illness after her mother died. She was then sent to undergo six months of observation at Arkham State Hospital until her trial. Falcone had the top doctor at Arkham, Dr. Ventris, state to the court that Sofia was unfit to stand trial, and had her sentence extended. Alberto Falcone would go on to develop a drug addiction after this ordeal, further disappointing his father.
Controlling Gotham
Promoting the Penguin
As a result of his betrayal of Sofia and his showing of loyalty, Penguin was rewarded by Falcone with control over the Iceberg Lounge, the club that served as a front for the 44 Below, as well as promoting him to a lieutenant, despite not being an official capo, or even a made man. Penguin would later be labeled by others as Falcone's right-hand man.
Solidifying his Power
In 2020, in an effort to gain complete control over the city, Falcone and the cops and politicians on his payroll orchestrated the arrest of Sal Maroni, which sent him to prison for life. Falcone, now with his rival out of the way, took the opportunity to solidify his power. Taking complete control of the Renewal Fund and used it to turn Gotham City into his own personal empire, as well as taking over Maroni's Drops operation and putting Penguin in charge of running it, resulting in Gotham's crime rates and drugs trade rising over the next two years. Falcone also installed his politicians in as his puppets in the city, with Mitchell as Mayor, Colson as the DA, and Savage as the Police Commissioner. With Maroni now in Blackgate Penitentiary, Falcone would take Maroni's ring and wear it as his own, as an insult to the Maroni Don.
Learning of Insubordination
In 2021, Falcone found out that one of Penguin's men, Piggy Porcello, was running an illegal operation smuggling military grade explosives behind his back that was shut down thanks to the efforts of Batman. During a meeting between Falcone, Penguin, and Porcello at the Shoreline Lofts, Falcone threatened Porcello, and made it clear without saying a word to Porcello that he should never do it again.
After Porcello left, Penguin attempted to make light of the situation, but Falcone just stared him down, intimidating his lieutenant into submission. Unbeknownst to Falcone, Porcello was running the smuggling ring for Penguin in his effort to gain more power in the underworld.
Selina's Return
At some point prior to 2022, Selina returned to Gotham, and became a waitress at the Iceberg Lounge, dealing drops with Penguin. Falcone became acquainted with her, unaware that she was his daughter, and it’s implied he grew to have romantic feelings for her.
Riddler Investigation
Assassination of Don Mitchell, Jr.
- "Hey, don't be scared. C'mere. Now let me ask you again: What did Mitchell tell you?"
"N-Nothing! He--"
"Don likes to talk, I know that. Especially to pretty girls like you." - ―Carmine Falcone and Annika Kosolov[src]
On Halloween night of 2022, Mayor Mitchell was brutally murdered in his home by the Riddler, a mysterious serial killer that knew the truth about Falcone's exploits, and planned on exposing him through killing his political puppets.
Before Mitchell died, he told Annika Kosolov, a female employee from the Iceberg Lounge and Selina's roommate, that Falcone was the informant in the case against Maroni. When Falcone learned of this, he had Kenzie kidnap her and bring her to him, and he interrogated her to see what Mitchell told her. Afterwards, she was brutally strangled to death by Falcone.
Encountering Selina Kyle
- "Been a long time since I've seen you down here. How you been?"
"Yeah, I've been okay. I was just heading back upstairs"
"Well, don't be a stranger." - ―Carmine Falcone and Selina Kyle[src]
While overseeing things in 44 Below with Penguin, Falcone encountered an argument that was beginning between Selina Kyle and Carla Diaz, which they promptly broke up, with Penguin noting that they should keep things festive. While Diaz and Penguin stepped away, Falcone went to speak to Kyle, noting that it had been a long time since he had seen her in 44 Below, and questioned how Kyle had been.
As Falcone spoke to her, he then gently touched Kyle's cheek. Seeming nervous as she began to stutter while speaking, Kyle told Falcone that she had been okay, but that she was just about to head back upstairs to the Iceberg Lounge. While he maintained intense eye contact with Kyle, Falcone told her not to be a stranger, before Falcone had walked away to rejoin Penguin and ensure that their Drops were still being sold.
Mayor Mitchell's Funeral
- "Brought out the one guy in the city more reclusive than me."
"Thought you'd never leave the shoreline. Aren't you afraid someone'll take a shot at you?" - ―Carmine Falcone and Bruce Wayne[src]
Falcone would finally make a public appearance, when he attended the funeral of Mayor Don Mitchell, Jr., bringing Carla Diaz as his date, while surrounded by his bodyguards. Outside Gotham City Hall, Falcone would be approached by Bruce Wayne, who was blocked by Falcone's bodyguards from getting too close. While Falcone introduced Wayne to Penguin, Wayne would comment on his surprise to see that Falcone had finally left the safety of the Shoreline Lofts and was out in public. In response, Falcone went on to tell Wayne the story of how his father saved his life when he had been shot, as Falcone had gone to Wayne Tower for medical aid. When Falcone noted that it must have meant something for Thomas to have saved him, Wayne simply claimed that he had done so due to taking the hippocratic oath, which Falcone laughed at, while Wayne stepped inside City Hall.
Questioned by Bruce Wayne
- "I thought I might hear from you. This Riddler sonuvabitch is really... Starting things up, huh?"
"Is it true?"
"What? That reporter business? What do you wanna know here, kid?"
"Did you kill him, for my father?" - ―Carmine Falcone and Bruce Wayne[src]
Once Riddler had exposed the dark secrets about the Wayne and Arkham Families, and how Thomas Wayne asked Falcone to threaten Edward Elliot who was digging up dirt about his wife who was ultimately killed. Having learnt about this, Bruce Wayne, paid a visit to the Iceberg Lounge to question Falcone, being brought upstairs to the Shoreline Lofts to meet with Falcone in person. Falcone revealed to the young, disturbed man that his father told him to instil fear into the reporter, but when fear did not work, he killed him instead. He also told Wayne that he suspected it was Salvatore Maroni who had his parents killed, since he held a grudge against the relationship Falcone had with Thomas, and was worried the Reporter incident would put Thomas in Falcone's pocket forever.
Attacked by Selina Kyle
- "You don't think this hurts me? My own flesh and blood, huh?! You made me do this, just like your mother!"
- ―Carmine Falcone to Selina Kyle[src]
While Falcone remained in his Shoreline Lofts, he was informed by The Twins that Selina Kyle had arrived at the Iceberg Lounge and wanted to speak to him about Annika Kosolov. Unsure if his murder of Kosolov had been uncovered, Falcone allowed Kyle upstairs, where she claimed to be desperately worried about her friend, as Falcone offered fake sympathies to her. However, they were interrupted by a report on GC1 Eyewitness News, which revealed a voice recording of Falcone murdering Kosolov, as well as evidence confirming that Falcone had been the rat for the Gotham City Police Department who had gotten Salvatore Maroni arrested. Before Falcone could even react to this, Kyle stepped forward with a gun and revealed that she was the daughter of Maria Kyle, and that Falcone was her biological father, whom she intended to kill. However, the power was unexpectedly shut off, allowing Falcone and Vinnie to dive for cover while Kyle shot at them. Eventually, Falcone was able to knock Kyle to the ground, and attempted to strangle her with a pool cue, telling her that this was the same way he had killed Kyle's mother and Kosolov. Despite Kyle scratching at Falcone's face to try and defend herself, Falcone still had her at his mercy, before Batman arrived and knocked Falcone unconscious, with Batman mananging to convince Kyle not to kill Falcone, and instead allow Jim Gordon and the GCPD to take him into custody.
Capture and Assassination
- "You with Zorro over here? Don't you know, you boys in blue work for me?"
"I guess we don't all work for you." - ―Carmine Falcone and Jim Gordon[src]
Falcone was then taken away by Batman, who handed him over to Gordon, with Falcone chuckling at the idea of Gordon and Batman working together. When Falcone noted that the Police worked for him, Gordon opened the doors and revealed the rest of the GCPD, who were waiting outside, although Falcone still remained confident he was going to be able to get out of it.
While Gordon read Falcone his rights, and Martinez put him in handcuffs, Penguin then came out of the club and called Falcone a rat, telling him he probably would not survive his first night in Blackgate, as Maroni practically owned the penitentiary. However, Falcone simply responded by mocking Penguin, calling him a gimp in an empty suit.
In response, Penguin pulled out a gun, as Batman knocked Falcone to the floor while Penguin was grappled by several police officers. However, in the confusion, Falcone had been shot, with Penguin insisting that he had not fire his weapon. Batman realized that he had brought the rat into the light and that Riddler had shot Falcone in the chest from across the street, as Selina walked over and looked at her father dying in the street, before walking away.
Legacy
Battle for Power
Falcone's death at the hands of the Riddler caused a power vacuum within the Falcone Crime Family and in Gotham's underworld. With his death, his son Alberto, was expected to become his successor, becoming the new Don of the family temporarily, however, he was shortly afterwards murdered by Penguin, who began plotting to become the new kingpin of Gotham City by pretending to be loyal to the Falcones while acting as a double agent feeding Sal Maroni and his family with information.
His death also forced the higher ups like Johnny Viti and Milos Grapa to shut down their Drops business and closing the Iceberg Lounge, given that his death as well as the flood caused by Riddler, seriously weakened their position in the criminal world. This also caused Sofia to reappear and start her own pursue of power aiming to become the head of the family. After learning about the roles the family played in framing her, she killed all of her family members, with the exception of Gia Viti, She then disbanded the Falcone Crime Family, and reformed it into the Gigante Crime Family, thus ending Carmine's legacy in the criminal underworld.[6]
Personality
Carmine Falcone has a personality of the typical classical crime lord. He is highly intelligent, cunning, devious, egomaniacal, manipulative, ruthless, and utterly disturbing to the core. During his reign as Gotham City's biggest crime lord, he was shown as posh, elegant, luxurious and old-fashioned, even stating that communism failed due to the idea of austerism.
At least during this time he was also very reclusive, because as biggest crime lord he also had a lot of enemies who wanted to kill him for revenge or to take his place. Most of time he couldn't risk being in public places so instead most of time he was in his "fortresses" such as Shoreline Lofts or Falcone Mansion along with numerous bodyguards. Falcone was also a very charismatic individual and can easily make people trust him. His closest associates seem to respect him very much.
Falcone is a power-hungry man. He was willing to steal everything that benefits himself, and exploited corrupt officials who can get him what he wants and everything he needs to ensure that he stays in power for a long time. Carmine also seems to have a particularly nasty preference for strangling women who have personally displeased him, as it is how he killed both Selina Kyle's mother and Annika Kosolov in the past, and is also how he attempted to kill Kyle herself when she tried to assassinate him. Aside from merely being ambitious, it is shown that at his core, Carmine simply enjoys making others suffer. It is revealed in flashbacks that he was a serial killer of women, strangling them to death, with one of his victims being his own wife. This was all done for no other reason then simply liking how it felt to make them suffer and die.
Its implied has was abusive towards his children, specifically Sofia, who violently scratches her neck in her sleep, implying he would strangle her. He also shows unfaithfulness towards his wife Isabella, beginning a relationship with Maria Kyle not too long after her death. His dismissive attitude towards Selena after he killed her mother and she was taken by social services also shows his selfishness and lack of value for his kin, choosing to leave his daughter to fend for herself.
Despite his evil, Falcone is capable of putting on an affable, friendly façade. Not hiding that he is a bad man, but being able to give the impression of being an "honorable" type of criminal. He was able to gain the respect and even trust of Thomas Wayne, despite Thomas being a noble man attempting to make a better Gotham, but once he found an opportunity to get dirt on Thomas he took it, having the reporter Thomas asked him to scare killed to blackmail him, and possibly had Thomas killed. In the present day, he acts friendly to Bruce Wayne, and tells him over how he had a mutual respect with Bruce's father, despite having blackmailed said father, and later convincing Bruce that Thomas deliberately asked him to kill the reporter. Falcone is also hedonist and womanizer, usually seen accompanied with beautiful young women.
Abilities
- "You think this goddamn election matters? Falcone's the mayor. He's been the mayor for the last 20 years."
- ―William Kenzie[src]
- Gifted Intelligence: Falcone was the criminal head of Gotham City's underworld and head of the Falcone Crime Family, as well as as the secret boss of politicians, District Attorneys, and even police officers who were all stealing money from the unsupervised Wayne Renewal Fund. He was smart enough to use the opportunity to rat out rival crime boss Salvatore Maroni and steal his drug operation in order to set himself up as the undisputed king of Gotham, simultaneously advancing the careers of those who brought him in and installing them as his inside men in the police department. He made Don Mitchell, Jr. take Annika Kosolov's passport so he could find out what the former told her. According to William Kenzie, the outcome of the 2022 mayoral election was irrelevant, as Falcone was practically the mayor for the last two decades.
- "Your father should have known that Falcone would do anything to finally have something on him that he could use. That's who Falcone is."
- ―Alfred Pennyworth to Bruce Wayne[src]
- Intimidation: Falcone practically owned Gotham City, controlling everyone through blackmail and fear.
- Respect: Falcone was respected by his underlings.
Equipment
- "Why shouldn't I take this cue stick and play a dozen games of Nine Ball on your thick head?"
- ―Carmine Falcone to Piggy Porcello[src]
- Pool Cue: Falcone played pool with his men in his loft. He threatened Piggy Porcello with a cue during a meeting, and he later attempted to strangle Selina Kyle with one.
- Maroni Ring: Falcone wore Salvatore Maroni's ring as a trophy after ratting him out. It was later passed over to Alberto after his death, until Penguin killed him and returned it to Maroni.
Facilities
- Falcone Mansion: the home of Carmine and his family.
- Shoreline Lofts: Carmine's headquarters.
- Iceberg Lounge: nightclub owned by Carmine, and managed by Oz Cobb.
- 44 Below: underground nightclub owned by both Carmine and Oz.
Relationships
Family
Allies
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Enemies
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Appearances
Appearances for Carmine Falcone |
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In chronological order:
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Trivia
- In DC Comics, Carmine "The Roman" Falcone was one of the great crime lords of Gotham City and was one of the earliest enemies of the Batman. His nickname comes from the ruthless way he established his criminal empire, which, coincidentally, is referred as the Roman Empire. In addition to his extended crime family, his successors include his children Alberto Falcone, Mario Falcone, and Sofia Gigante-Falcone. He was later killed by Two-Face in The Long Halloween story.
- It's heavily implied that Falcone was involved with the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne, but the exact circumstances remain unknown. Falcone taunts Batman that whatever dirty secrets he may have, it's all going with him to his grave. And then the Riddler kills Falcone, ensuring Batman will never find out the truth behind his parents' deaths.
- According to The Batman: The Official Script Book, Falcone was in his sixties before he was killed. This places his date of birth between 1952 and 1961. The Penguin confirms he was born in 1957, and died at age 65.
Behind the Scenes
- Carmine Falcone in The Batman is the third live-action incarnation of the character following incarnations portrayed by Tom Wilkinson and John Doman.
- Matt Reeves has named Roman Polanski's Chinatown as an influence on The Batman[7] and that movie's villian, Noah Cross, as an influence on Falcone.[8] Like Cross, Falcone secretly controls Gotham City through massive corruption (as Cross controls Los Angeles) and is implied to have an incestuous desire for his daughter.
- The slash scars which Selina gives Carmine are a reference to his appearance in the comics. In the comics, Selina gave him these scars during Batman: Year One (1987), and he bore them for the entirety of Batman: The Long Halloween (1996-1997). The scars are inspired by the scars of historic mobster Al "Scarface" Capone, who received them from a bottle-opener.
- The scene in-which Carmine describes a young Bruce Wayne watching his father give Carmine surgery in the family-home is an allusion to a back-flash scene of this occurring in Batman: The Long Halloween.
- Mark Strong replaced John Turturro as Carmine Falcone in The Penguin as Tuturro was unavailable due to scheduling conflicts.[9]
- This version of Falcone was inspired by the leader of the Boston Irish Mob Winter Hill Gang, James "Whitey" Bulger. Like the events surrounding Falcone in the film, Whitey Bulger and his gang had control over the South End area of Boston in the 1970s and 1980s while working as an informant for the FBI who would turn a blind eye to the criminal activities that Whitey Bulger and his gang were committing.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McCutcheon, John (writers); & Shaver, Helen (director) (October 13, 2024). The Penguin: 1.04: Cent’anni.
- ↑ Translates from Spanish to: The Winged Rat
- ↑ Lewman, David (February 1, 2022). Before The Batman: An Original Movie Novel. United States: Penguin Books.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Reeves, Matt & Craig, Peter (writers); Reeves, Matt & Clark, Dylan (producers); & Reeves, Matt (director) (March 4, 2022). The Batman.
- ↑ "Home of DCU - July 26, 2024" - X
- ↑ LeFranc, Lauren (writers); & Zobel, Craig (director) (September 19, 2024). The Penguin: 1.01: After Hours.
- ↑ The Batman: Matt Reeves Cites Chinatown and Other 1970s Noirs as Influences | Den of Geek
- ↑ 'The Batman' Director Matt Reeves Wants to Knock You Off-Kilter From Movie's Opening Shot - CNET
- ↑ Why The Penguin Recast One Of Matt Reeves’ The Batman Actors For A Pivotal Role | Cinemablend