With Zack Synder’s Batman vs. Superman movie scheduled for release next summer and due to begin filming shortly, new details about the film are being released in dribs and drabs.
So far we know that Henry Cavill will be reprising his role as the Man of Steel and that Daredevil star Ben Affleck will take over the role of Batman from Christian Bale, but few other actors have been confirmed as yet, including who will portray Batman’s faithful assistant Alfred Pennyworth.
In anticipation of the Batman vs. Superman shoot commencing, we take a look at the Top 5 superhero butlers…
1. Alfred Pennyworth
The list starts with the daddy of all superhero butlers in Batman’s confidant Alfred Pennyworth. Most recently portrayed in film by Sir Michael Caine in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy it is former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton who is lined up to don the bulter attire for the upcoming movie should the 80-year-old not continue in his role.
Alfred raised Bruce Wayne following the murder of his parents and has been the one consistent in Wayne’s life every since he was orphaned at such a young age. Alfred has been an actor, storyteller, medic, and spy throughout his life and has worked as a part of the British Armed Forces and MI6 before continuing his father’s footsteps of servicing the Wayne family. Without Alfred at his side, Batman would certainly not been as effective a fighting force as he has been and he is has a massive amount of awe and respect from bingo site Butlersbingo.com which you can see on their infographic here.
2. Edwin Jarvis
A former RAF pilot who flew during World War II and was boxing champion for three years running for the Royal Air Force, Edwin Jarvis was hired by Howard and Maria Stark as a man servant when he moved to the USA following the Second World War. Following the deaths of his employers he watched over their mansion and after Tony Stark became Iron Man and donated the mansion to The Avengers after calling the first meeting at the mansion, Jarvis became butler to this group of superheroes.
He was a father figure to the newer recruits to The Avengers throughout their existence and was the only ever present, leading Captain America to state that Jarvis is equally deserving of being regarded as a member of the group. In the recent Iron Man and Avengers movies Tony Stark’s AI is named J.A.R.V.I.S. after the Avengers butler. The big question is with The Avengers looking to continue at pace on film, will we ever see the great man appear in person?
3. Ianto Jones
Welshman Ianto Jones can be loosely described as a butler for the Torchwood 3 team based in Cardiff in the Torchwood series, which was a spin-off from the rebooted Doctor Who series. Despite being the “tea boy” and general caretaker of the Torchwood 3 Hub and its personnel, Jones is a private person and very little is known of him outside of his role at the Cardiff Hub to begin with, but he became a vital part of the team before his untimely death in the third season of the show as he is killed by an alien virus.
We’re a major fan of Ianto Jones and his swashbuckling ways that saw him promoted from general dogsbody to full field operative that saw him battle with a pterodactyl as well as familiar Doctor Who bad guys such as the Cybermen and Daleks. Although he was killed off, anything is possible in the Doctor Who universe and, who knows, maybe Jones will return one day to continue his butler duties at Torchwood 3.
4. Duckworth
While Scrooge McDuck and his nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie are not exactly superheroes in the usual Batman/Superman sense, they certainly have as much money, if not more, as Bruce Wayne with Scrooge being the world’s richest duck and they travel the world doing good deeds. We feel that this certainly qualifies them as heroes and where would they be without Duckworth the Butler to aid in their good deeds?
Although DuckTales is a series about ducks and Duckworth has “Duck” in his name he is, in fact, a dog and he is Scrooge’s longtime, and long suffering, butler and chauffeur. Until Scrooge hired Mrs. Beakley, Duckworth was the only servant in the household leaving him to be the errand boy, chauffeur, butler and all around (pardon the pun!) dogsbody. He rarely has a starring role in the show, but he is always around to offer advice and help out on adventures for Scrooge and his nephews.
5. Aloysius “Nosey” Parker
Parker is the quintessential English butler and faithful servant to Lady Penelope in Thunderbirds after she rescued him from a life of crime. He has earned the nickname of Nosey from his criminal escapades of cat burglary and safecracking as well as having a large nose and a tendency to listen into conversations.
The 52-year-old London native speaks with a heavy cockney accent and he is devoted to Lady Penelope and fulfils her every wish. As butler, chauffeur, mechanic and safe breaker, Parker is vital to the International Rescue cause and has helped the Tracey family prevent many a disastrous situation.
Who is your favourite superhero butler? Let us know below…
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