Casting continues for Gotham, the upcoming Batman prequel TV series set in earlier years when future commissioner James Gordon was a young detective, Bruce Wayne was still mourning the death of his parents, and some nasty villains were establishing their infamy.

Ben McKenzie is set to play the young Jim Gordon, and actors have also been cast for Penguin, Alfred, and others, as well as Harvey Bullock.

Now comes word that Jada Pinkett Smith is the most recent name joining the cast, and that she’ll be taking on the role of a villain on the show.

When we found out about Robin Lord Taylor being cast as the Penguin, Oswald Cobblepot, he was described as a psychopath that works for a gangster named Fish Mooney. As it turns out, Pinkett Smith will play that gangster.

Mooney is an original character that is not found in Batman comics. She is described as someone you do not want to get on the bad side of, “a sadistic gangster boss and nightclub owner” with “street smarts and almost extra-sensory abilities to read people like an open book” that is “imposing and hotheaded.”

When you hear about some gangster named Fish Mooney being used in a Batman TV series, Jada Pinkett Smith might not be the first name that comes to mind. I personally pictured someone like Paul Giamatti, just based on the name (because why not!). But don’t be fooled, Pinkett Smith does have a dark side, and it could be interesting to see how this plays out.

What do you think of the decision to use a character not found in Batman comics for Gotham, and Pinkett Smith being cast for the role?

[Source: Hero Complex]