The Ten Most Difficult Comic Book Characters To Play

With Joaquin Phoenix being tabbed to star in an origin film of the DC supervillain, the Joker, the three-time Academy Award nominee gets to play one of the best parts in Hollywood. The Joker is obviously a great role, but the part is one of the most difficult characters to play. These are the hardest comic-book characters to represent on the big screen, headlined by Joaquin Phoenix’s new character.

 

10. Bane

Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises gave a very realistic take on Bane, which Tom Hardy played to perfection. The character could also be more comic-like, in which case it doesn’t take as much skill to play the character. But in the case of a realistic Bane like Hardy’s it takes superior face acting—particularly with the eyes. It could be a daunting task for many actors.

 

9. Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy hasn’t appeared on the big screen since the widely-criticized Batman & Robin in 1997 had Uma Thurman play the character. The Batman villain must be a balance between strength, charm, and seductiveness. Actresses could be lining up for the role in she appears in an upcoming DCEU film like the Birds of Prey movie.

 

8. Catwoman

Similarly, Catwoman must toe the line between strength and seductiveness, but she typically does it with closer relationship to Batman. Also, Catwoman must be extremely athletic, making the part a challenge not all actresses can handle.

 

7. Wolverine

Hugh Jackman mastered the part of Wolverine, which isn’t surprising because he’s a great actor and played the part for 17 years—an uncommon length for a character. As a mutant with animal-like qualities, Wolverine is a huge challenge for anyone. Whoever takes over for Jackman on the big screen has a tough task on their hands.

 

6. Iron Man

In the suit, Iron Man obviously doesn’t need to have facial expressions, which makes him easier than all the other characters on the list in that regard. However, with the way Robert Downey Jr. has played the character over the years, it takes a lot of believable sarcasm to pull off both Iron Man and Tony Stark. Some actors might come off the wrong way as Iron Man, so a lot of people might not fit the part.

 

5. Superman

A couple of prerequisites for playing Superman are being jacked so the superhuman strength makes sense, and having a likable and heroic face. To play Superman, the actor must be able to pull off the part of the reserved Clark Kent too. Henry Cavill does an excellent job in the role, but it’s a shame the DCEU is in disarray now.

 

4. Penguin

As you might have noticed, Batman villains take a lot of this list—which is a testament to the world of Gotham. Despite having no superhuman powers, the Penguin is still one of Batman’s greatest villains. Danny DeVito probably deserved Academy Award recognition for playing the part in 1992’s Batman Returns, and his performance could be a big reason the part hasn’t been brought back to film since then.

 

3. Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn is almost as insane as the Joker, which is says something. Aside from the craziness, Harley Quinn is strong and athletic, as she can really hold her own in a fight, so action sequences are a key to playing her. Also, the voice and demeanor add to the difficulty of the part. It should come as no surprise that Margot Robbie skillfully pulls everything off.

 

2. Batman

Like a few of these characters, the part of Batman requires playing two parts: Batman and Bruce Wayne. Batman is an immovable object with almost mystical qualities about him despite not having any superpowers. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne is a totally different person that perfectly shields his alter ego to avoid people learning of his secret identity. Ben Affleck has been great in the role, and Michael Keaton helped the character become the sensation it is today, but Christian Bale is unrivaled in both roles of the Caped Crusader and Gotham’s billionaire.

 

1. Joker

Part of the difficulty of playing the Joker is the previous actors in the role casting such a large shadow on the character. Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight will never be forgotten, and like Keaton as Batman, Jack Nicholson helped put the Joker on the map as an icon. Joaquin Phoenix is probably ready for the challenge—and he better be, because it’s a big one.