Hot on the heels of the announcement that ‘Southland’ alum Ben McKenzie has been cast as James Gordon on the Batman-themed series ‘Gotham’, comes additional casting news, including a few very important characters.

Robin Lord Taylor (The Walking Dead‘, ‘Another Earth’) has been cast as The Penguin, Oswald Cobblepot… the, uh, skinniest, hottest Penguin ever.  Here is the description of this take on the character: “With the brains of a chess grandmaster and the morals of a jackal, Cobblepot is a low-level psychopath for gangster Fish Mooney who hides his sadistic lust for power behind an exquisitely polite demeanor.”

Sean Pertwee (‘Camelot’) has been cast as Bruce Wayne’s trustee Alfred Pennyworth.  He is described this way: “A tough-as-nails ex-marine from East London, Alfred has loyally served the Waynes and now, in the wake of their tragic deaths, he’s fiercely protective of the young Bruce.”  It seems most recent depictions of Alfred rely on his former military background, as opposed to the proper British butler that’s been the norm for years.

Zebryna Guevara (‘Burn Notice’) has been cast as “Captain Essen, Gordon’s boss at the GCPD Homicide Squad, who balances the worlds of police and politics with a Machiavellian skill that’s as much corporate litigator as cop.”  Of course, if you follow the comics, you know that Sarah Essen was romantically involved with James Gordon and eventually became his second wife, only to be killed by The Joker in ‘No Man’s Land’.  But that was pre-New 52, so who knows what the future will hold for the character.

However, before Gordon married Sarah Essen, he was wed to Barbara Keane and Erin Richards has been cast in that role.  In the pilot, Gordon and Keane are simply engaged, not yet married, which presumably means that their kids, James Jr. and Barbara aren’t a factor yet.  Barbara Keane will be an emergency room doctor on the show.

The pilot will be written and executive produced by Bruno Heller (‘The Mentalist’) and will be directed and executive produced by Danny Cannon (‘CSI’).

Are you looking forward to a show based on the pre-Batman Gotham City?

Sources: Deadline and THR