Ben McKenzie Claims Batman Character in Gotham Was Tailor-Made for Him
Ben McKenzie is well-known for his role as James ‘Jim’ Gordon in the Batman prequel series Gotham from 2014 to 2019. He also lent his voice to various DC universe projects, solidifying his name in the franchise. Creator Bruno Heller actually had McKenzie in mind when writing part of Gordon’s character!
During a conversation with Collider at Fan Expo Canada, McKenzie and his wife Morena Baccarin, who played Dr. Lee Thompkins in the same series, shared about their time on the show. McKenzie recalled receiving a call from Heller who informed him, “I’ve written the part of Gordon with you in mind, which was very flattering.”
Feeling the pressure, McKenzie mentioned feeling excited yet nervous about the role. He acknowledged the importance of the character of Gordon in the Batman universe, a role previously played by actors like Gary Oldman, JK Simmons, and Jeffrey Wright.
After McKenzie shared his experiences on the Gotham set, Baccarin discussed her character’s development throughout the series. She portrayed Dr. Lee Thompkins, a character who worked at Arkham Asylum and will feature in the upcoming Joker sequel.
Baccarin highlighted the evolution of her character, who went through significant changes during the show. Initially unsure of the duration of her character’s presence, she was pleasantly surprised to see Lee become a central part of the story.
As Lee’s storyline progressed, she became more independent of Jim Gordon, exploring darker aspects of the city. Baccarin mentioned the excitement of playing a character who was “bad” and involved in running the city. She also expressed satisfaction in how Lee’s arc concluded.