The Batman has just lined up a couple of major stars to fill in key roles. Andy Serkis is poised to join the high-profile DC Comics adaptation as Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne's trusted ally and Butler. At the same time, Colin Farrell looks to become our new Penguin, just one of several villains from the character's massive rogues gallery that will appear alongside Robert Pattinson's version of the Caped Crusader.

According to multiple reports, both actors are in talks for the respective roles, but no deals have closed as of yet. That said, things appear to be trending in the right direction, so unless something dramatic happens, these look to be the guys. Andy Serkis had previously been rumored for a role in the project, but who exactly the actor would be playing remained a mystery, but now it's locked in on Alfred Pennyworth. The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars star has a great working relationship with writer/director Matt Reeves, as the two previously collaborated on both Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes.

As for Colin Farrell, he would be stepping into a role that was possibly going to go to Jonah Hill. The Superbad star had been in negotiations to star as either Penguin or Riddler, but the talks fell through and Hill walked away. There Will Be Blood star Paul Dano was then brought in to play Riddler. Now, Farrell is on deck to take on Penguin, who was previously played by Danny DeVito in Tim Burton's Batman Returns. Farrell has had a long, prosperous career in varied projects. Some of his recent credits include Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Dumbo and Widows. Some of his other notable credits include The Lobster, In Bruges and True Detective season 2.

The Batman has been in the works, in some form or another, for more than three years, dating back to when Ben Affleck was not only set to star in, but also direct the movie. In February 2017, the reigns were handed over to Matt Reeves after Affleck stepped down from the director's chair, with the actor later departing the role as well. That paved the way for former Twilight star and current indie favorite Robert Pattinson, whose recent credits include Good Time and The Lighthouse, to take on the role of the Dark Knight.

Other confirmed cast members include Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman and Jeffrey Wright (Westworld) as Commissioner Gordon. It's also worth noting Andy Serkis is set to direct Venom 2, which will begin filming soon. It's unclear if that would present any possible conflict in terms of Serkis being able to manage both projects at the same time, as they're both major commitments. Warner Bros. and Matt Reeves are looking to begin filming early next year. The Batman is set to hit theaters on June 25, 2021. This news was previously reported by The Wrap.