‘Southland’s’ Ben McKenzie to Play Young Commissioner Gordon on Fox’s Batman Prequel ‘Gotham’

The DC Comics-based series will explore the origin story of the “Batman” character

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“Gotham” has a new top cop.

The upcoming Fox drama series has cast Ben McKenzie in the lead role of Detective James Gordon, a representative from producer Warner Bros. Television told TheWrap.

McKenzie is best known for his roles as officer Ben Sherman on TNT’s “Southland” and Ryan Atwood on Fox’s “The O.C.” His other TV credits include TBS’s “Men at Work” and NBC’s “JAG.”

Also read: Pilot Season 2014: TheWrap’s Complete Network Guide

He’ll soon be seen on the big screen in films “Goodbye World” with Adrian Grenier and “How to Love Like an Englishman” starring Jessica Alba, Salma Hayek and Pierce Brosnan.

“Gotham” tells the origin stories of DC Comics’ Commissioner Gordon and the villains that made Gotham famous.

On the series, Gordon is a young detective who has yet to meet the Caped Crusader. While Batman won’t be a part of the series, it will include a 12-year-old Bruce Wayne.

Also read: DC Comics-Based ‘Gotham’ Lands at Fox – With Commissioner Gordon

Executive-produced and written by Bruno Heller (“The Mentalist,” “Rome”) under his overall deal with Warner Bros. TV, “Gotham” will be directed by Danny Cannon (“CSI,” “Nikita”), who will also serve as an executive producer.

Created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character of James Gordon first appeared in Detective Comics No. 27 (May 1939). He’s the first Batman supporting character to be introduced.

CAA, Management 360 and PJ Shapiro, Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman & Cook represent McKenzie.

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