Ariane Cruz
Many actors are contending to join The Batman franchise as it is not only a guaranteed money-maker at the box office but also a prestigious experience. In fact, the villain part is equally seen and recognized as highly coveted as the role of Bruce Wayne.
One of the actors vying for the adversarial part was Jonah Hill. He was in talks to portray one of Batman’s nemeses, either Edward Nygma aka Riddler, or Oswald Cobblepot aka Penguin. Unfortunately, he did not snag any of these characters.
Jonah Hill Refused To Become Batman’s Villain For One Major Reason
In 2019, The Hollywood Reporter shared that Jonah Hill was rumored to join The Batman. The negotiation was still in its early stages, and details had been scarce. The outlet’s sources said:
“The talks with Hill are at an early and sensitive stage, not because of deal making but because the two sides can’t decide which character the actor will play… It is unclear if the two sides will be able to find common ground.”
Hill negotiated with the studio for months but ultimately left the project because they could not come to a deal. According to industry reporter Justin Kroll, the actor wanted to get paid $10 million for the villain role in The Batman, which is more than double the amount Robert Pattinson was making as the lead star. Kroll said via Twitter:
“So on the Jonah front, he’s had the offer for over a month, and besides money being a bargaining point (at one point heard he wanted 10 which is wild since Rob isn’t making half that) but also which character he would play, whether it’s the Riddler or Penguin.”
Kroll also pointed out that Hill and Warner Bros allegedly could not decide on the role, but it seemed that money was the biggest factor for the 22 Jump Street star to cut ties with the studio.
This is not the first time, though, that a Batman villain took home a higher paycheck than the lead star. Arnold Schwarzenegger got paid $25 million to portray Mr. Freeze in Batman & Robin, while George Clooney only received a little over $1 million.
In the end, Riddler is played by Paul Dano in The Batman, while Penguin is brought to life by Colin Farrell.
Who Are The Villains In The Batman – Part II?
Batman never runs out of enemies in Gotham City, and for the upcoming sequel, fans can expect to meet new villains that will absolutely make the Caped Crusader’s life difficult as hell. In 2022, The Hollywood Reporter shared that Matt Reeves is working on expanding the Batman universe and is in the process of introducing both famous and obscure villains. The outlet stated:
“The filmmaker is meeting with writers and directors to build out movies focused on Batman rogue’s gallery, both established and more obscure, with characters ranging from the Scarecrow to Clayface to Professor Pyg. All those projects are in the very early stages of gestation.”
In a post from industry insider MyTimeToShineHello, the user reported that Clayface would have a major role in the upcoming sequel. They stated: “The Batman Part 2 to film in March 2024. Clayface to be involved.” If the rumors are true, then it’s going to be another epic saga that fans can look forward to.
The Batman is available to watch on HBO.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter 1,2; Twitter 1,2
