Batman Vs Superman: 7 Key Details To Make Jeremy Irons The Definitive Alfred

6. Resourcefulness

Alfred's resourcefulness is a major part of his character, if a bit understated during his day-to-day routines as butler and housekeeper. When your ward happens to be Batman, though, your responsibilities are a bit different. Alfred's ability to think on his feet and use his surroundings has been chronicled time and again in the comics, and it would be great to see Irons show his worth as an indispensable element of Bruce Wayne's vendetta against crime. His knowledge of medicine and field medical tactics is one of the most important resources he draws upon, as it keeps the battered Wayne (and other members of the Bat Family) out of the hospital and back in the saddle. Advanced medical procedures include the setting of bones and the removal of bullets, and only on occasion are Bruce's injuries too severe for Alfred to treat. Alfred also regularly provides solid alibis for the whereabouts of Bruce Wayne, allaying suspicion by confirming Bruce's womanizing or impersonating him on the telephone. Irons's age means he could portray a much younger Alfred, relative to the Alfreds of Gough and Caine, and so his resourcefulness could merit his active involvement in Batman's nightly crusades. While we may not see much of this in the already-crowded Batman vs. Superman, this could lead to a display of a side of the butler we rarely get to see outside of the comics...