The O.C. and Southland actor Ben McKenzie has won the lead role in Fox's Gotham series that will focus on the Batman character James Gordon in his early years.
Sons of Anarchy actor Donal Logue, who plays Lee Toric, has reportedly been offered the role of Detective Harvey Bullock, a mentor to the young Gordon.
The 35-year-old McKenzie is no stranger to the Batman universe as he provided the voice for Batman/Bruce Wayne in WB's 2011 animated movie adaptation of Frank Miller's Batman: Year One.
Director Danny Cannon (TV show Nikita) has signed on to direct and executive produce the pilot from a script by Bruno Heller.
A 12-year-old Bruce Wayne, who eventually becomes Gotham's Caped Crusader, will also be part of the show, which will follow the young millionaire for the years before he becomes Batman, back when the future Gotham City commissioner was still a detective. Many of the classic Batman villains including The Joker, The Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman will also figure into the script.
The Nolan-esque gritty origin show will set up its writer's room in mid-February and Warner Brothers is hoping for 22 episodes, but it has yet to be determined how many episodes there will be.
