The casting of Jeremy Irons as butler extraordinaire Alfred Pennyworth was announced simultaneously with (and met with considerably less of a backlash than) the casting of Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor in Batman Vs Superman. Despite the difference in response, both are huge pieces of news, and they continue the trend of bold, divisive casting choices that are becoming the early trademark of Zack Snyder's much-anticipated Batman vs. Superman. The casting of Irons was certainly overshadowed by the Lexenberg Revelation (which is a good title for a Robert Ludlum novel) but nonetheless was still met with a few cries of dissent from the internet masses. While reaction has been generally positive, Irons certainly does have some big shoes to fill - both Michael Gough and Michael Caine were revered for their interpretations of Alfred in the previous Batman films, and both the comics and Batman: The Animated Series frequently feature Alfred in significant roles. In the grand scheme of the DC Universe, Alfred may be a supporting player - but that doesn't mean he can't be a memorable character. Just as Jesse Eisenberg should be paying attention to some essential Lex Luthor details, Jeremy Irons should go beyond the film script to really get a sense of what makes Alfred tick. As Batman vs. Superman will be the second installment - following Man of Steel - of the larger DC Cinematic Universe, there is a great possibility that Irons could be taking on the role of Alfred for more than just one film. It's an intriguing notion, having such a respected actor involved in such a famous role within the fledgeling film universe - but before we get ahead of ourselves, there are 7 essential Alfred details that Jeremy Irons must channel.
