The Batman: 10 Perfect Roles Mahershala Ali Could Play
9. Hugo Strange
Despite being an enigmatic and complex villain, Hugo Strange has largely gotten the shaft when it comes to Batman adaptations. The Batman: Arkham City game has probably given him the most spotlight, and even then he was overshadowed by the likes of Joker, Ra's al Ghul and Harley Quinn.
BD Wong does a phenomenal job as Strange in Gotham too, but the nature of the show as a Batman series without Batman means it’s always felt a little detached from everything else going on.
In The Batman though, Matt Reeves could pull Hugo Strange firmly into the spotlight. Mahershala Ali might not be the natural first choice, but then how many had Robert Pattinson at the front of the queue to be the caped crusader himself? Ali is an actor capable of great intensity, and could be a dark horse for the role.
As Spider-Verse’s Prowler and Luke Cage’s Cottonmouth, that intensity was more of a ‘foot on your throat’ kind. Hugo Strange will require a more mesmerising brand of terror, perhaps asking Ali to channel his True Detective days. Hugo Strange would certainly make for a layered villain, and is a more grounded choice than the wackier ones on offer.