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

5. Physical Prowess

He doesn't look like much, but Mr. Pennyworth has been known to pack a punch. Various incarnations of the butler in the comics, TV shows, and films allude to a capable fighter beneath the stuffy exterior, and on a rare occasion we get a display from the man himself. These instances are largely relegated to the comics and to Batman: The Animated Series, but it would be great to see Jeremy Irons bring a bit of this to the live-action Alfred. The source material in the comics is plentiful: more than once he is kidnapped and held hostage, only to surprise his captors and keep clean the cut of his suit. In Grant Morrison's "The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul", Alfred is held briefly by Ra's al Ghul's henchman Ubu, whom he swiftly incapacitates with a well-timed sucker punch. The 1960s Batman TV series saw an Alfred skilled in swordsmanship and archery, and in Michael Caine's portrayal from the Nolan films we heard an allusion to a time when Alfred was a member of the British Army's elite Special Air Service. Irons should pay attention to the possibility that his character could be kicking some tail down the line, assuming he'll keep the role of Alfred for more than a single film. Even if we don't see his prowess displayed in Batman vs. Superman, it's a door that Irons shouldn't close by acting too infirm.