Quick question: How much would you pay to be The Joker in Matt Reeves’ The Batman? An arm? A leg? Your life savings? If you’re Barry Keoghan–who actually got the job for two minutes of post-credit screen time–it’s $10.
That’s it, $10 because, um…inflation?
In an exclusive and compelling interview with Esquire, Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk, Eternals, The Banshees of Inisherin) revealed two startling facts about how he got Reeves’ attention:
- He was inspired to audition because he wanted to be The Riddler, which later became Paul Dano in a riveting portrayal of the DC supervillain
- And he spent a grand total of $10 on props to stand out for the role
When a guy is determined to get the role of a lifetime, he goes all out — at the dollar store.
“I just made it up. I wanted to make it Kubrick-y: symmetrical, the X on the back, the square doorframe, everything square. I just wanted swag to come across. Swag and endearing. It was just me giving my idea. And then I’s like, I’ma send this in!”
Watch Barry Keoghan’s Riddler Audition
(That’s right. Keoghan is the most recent actor to be in both Marvel and DC. What else did you think we were talking about, you CoveredGeekly pervs?)
Yes, that is his real audition tape unearthed for all of us to enjoy. What do you think? Anyone else getting those Kubrick vibes via Alex DeLarge (Malcolm McDowell) in A Clockwork Orange? Maybe he thought he was aiming for some henchman on Peaky Blinders? Whatever the case, he got Warner Bros. breaking out in a cold sweat to hire him.
As he strolls down what appears to be a vacated office building hallway circa 1979, the Irish talent is brandishing a cane and capped with a bowler hat, which he shared cost him a 10 spot. And that tape is brilliant! Namely the unintentional connection scene from an opening elevator, which closes on Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker.
All black, save the green suspenders. No words, only the haunting strings of “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns following him. Those two minutes plus were methodical and marvelous. He’s a different actor, and prefers it that way as he continues to share in the article.
I said, I don’t want to go to college for acting. You can’t! I don’t wanna have the same projected voice like everybody else walking in, or to sit up straight and deliver my line a certain way, with a certain articulation and whatever. I like that I’m sorta different. I like that I mumble.
If you pay attention, you get lost in the score of that audition tape. Additionally, you forget the guy wants Paul Dano’s role in the first place. That kind of creep factor doesn’t come around often, so when it shows up in your mailbox, you press play and give the dude a job.
And trust, we are all grateful for that. There’s still no confirmation that Barry Keoghan will be in the much-anticipated sequel, featuring Robert Pattinson as our caped crusader, but it shouldn’t take a riddle to give us the answer we want.
