Elijah Wood as Scarecrow: A Dream Casting That Shouldn't Be Limited to Video Games!
DC's Brilliant Casting Choice: Elijah Wood as Scarecrow in Arkham Shadow
DC just made a seriously amazing casting decision– but it's not for a movie or show! It's for the new video game, Batman: Arkham Shadow VR! This involves the ever-talented Elijah Wood as Scarecrow (Jonathan Crane)! While this is undeniably exciting; and it truly highlights how talented and versatile this particular actor truly is; it makes for this incredibly frustrating situation, one that's causing many people like me–including me – to really question some major decisions! Why? Because Wood would be the absolute PERFECT Scarecrow in a live-action Batman movie.
DC's upcoming projects include a fresh slate for new castings– including the very successful casting of David Corenswet as Superman. The current DC Universe is undergoing quite the restructuring after prior releases, this includes those well-known Green Lantern castings. The selection of Wood is brilliant. Yet despite this quality choice – this great success, the actor was only selected to appear in a video game! This very obvious, significant oversight really should be rectified as soon as possible, as even minor re-consideration is required.
Why Elijah Wood is the PERFECT Scarecrow
This casting is totally inspired. Elijah Wood, primarily known for Frodo in Lord of the Rings, is far more versatile than many seem to believe, as it demonstrates a great range across numerous and distinct genres. He’s acted in a lot of horror films too, starting ridiculously early. Even as a kid! This immediately shows a strong ability to act as a troubled, unhinged villain who isn't simply an obvious choice and the impact he would have. It's incredibly noticeable even upon this initial inspection! The recent Color Out of Space further reinforces that scary range, the acting capabilities, which only showcases that Wood could easily be chosen. He could even potentially be chosen over other candidates.
Beyond horror, he’s appeared in numerous other superhero adaptations (Archenemy, The Toxic Avenger) and comic book films (like Sin City), really solidifying and strengthening his overall credibility. And those films showcase that terrifying vibe – his role in Sin City shows just how chillingly unsettling Wood can be with almost no dialogue needed–perfect Scarecrow material! His past is exactly the kind of diverse history needed!
Arkham Shadow: A Glimpse of Wood's Terrifying Potential
That motion-capture work as Crane in Arkham Shadow is fantastic. His ability to deliver unease is clearly evident in those brief glimpses we have in the trailer alone; it already establishes what the director would like for that villain's own portrayal: That uncanny quiet intensity! Those moments even provide chills in this Motion Capture video, proving once again how effective and excellent that choice truly was and just why there was serious missed opportunity here!
The choice really proves how incredibly perfect he is. And yet! The gaming environment makes the overall presentation lesser. His presentation gets diminished and those important details are hidden; compared to live-action! Movies could have shown his range fully– focusing on the villain's unique narrative elements and psychological trauma and those specific plots related to Scarecrow which are often used across multiple narratives. It would've completely created an unforgettable live action version which audiences can enjoy for a longer period.
The Missed Opportunity: Wood in the DC Universe
That Arkham Shadow game performance? Seriously showcases Wood's talent! James Gunn's plan for DC to maintain consistent actors across its media helps this choice stand out significantly and it emphasizes just why these consistency and quality factors really matter! It demonstrates this amazing range from Wood's voice work (heard in things like Psychonauts 2 and Over the Garden Wall) which greatly enhances this casting choice.
However there is that huge elephant in the room: those actors usually already had established roles in DC; making the transition a simpler step. Getting an actor after that prior videogame performance remains uncharted waters. It might hinder the use of Wood. This should not however stop them from hiring Wood. Even reconsidering would do well; as Arkham Shadow's success showcases exactly why using this incredibly perfect match for live action might possibly increase that entire franchise’s production values significantly.
Conclusion: A Powerful Scarecrow Performance Deserves a Wider Audience
Elijah Wood as Scarecrow? Amazing choice. Arkham Shadow proves this choice was brilliant. It's just incredibly frustrating to realize its limits! This phenomenal actor should not be contained to a video game. DC seriously missed out by not selecting him for a movie or show! A brilliant performance– one we already witnessed briefly in this game alone; this casting showcases those untapped possibilities of using a familiar yet also unexpectedly brilliant face that creates new possibilities which audiences have responded to strongly.
