‘Gotham’ Brings In Michael Chiklis To ‘Share The Burden Of Heroism’

As an origin story, Gotham has really pinned all of its hopes on a single hero and that savior is not Batman, but James Gordon, as played by Ben McKenzie. Fans of Gotham have seen just how hard it has been for Jim Gordon to merely exist within the city of Gotham, while standing by his own morals and an unwavering sense of justice. Bruce Wayne (David Mazouz) may have the heart, but he is far too young and still lacks the training that will help him to fill the Dark Knight’s shoes, so where is Gotham‘s Gordon to go for support?

Gotham has answered that question with the addition of Michael Chiklis, an actor well known for police procedural dramas, and that will certainly give Chiklis a leg up in his newest role. Micheal will come to Gotham to join the Gotham Police Department as Captain Nathaniel Barnes.

Hoping to give Gordon more practical support and back up, the Gotham producers already have an idea of how the role of Captain Barnes (Chiklis) will play out.

“Barnes lands on the Gotham City Police Department like a tornado, ripping out the dead wood of the city’s police force. He is a law-and-order zealot; unafraid of making enemies on either side of the law. For Gordon (Ben McKenzie) he is a hero and a mentor, someone with whom he can share the burden of heroism. Captain Barnes proves himself to be a strong ally to Gordon (Ben McKenzie), but one day he will make an equally powerful enemy.”

It seems that Chiklis will join Gotham just in time, as the show’s executive producers have already revealed that the second season of Gotham will see an influx of new villains, proving Detective Gordon will need all of the help he can get. Let’s face it, Harvey Bullock just doesn’t cut it.

Adding to the trouble on Gotham’s streets, the series showrunner Bruno Heller has already revealed that The Joker (Cameron Monaghan) will be returning to Gotham in the second season as well.

“We’re going to find out how the hell Jerome, the proto-Joker we met [in season one], connects with the Joker as people known him,” said the Gotham showrunner. “That’s the big focus of the beginning of the second season. We’re going to tell the story of how the Joker came to be.”

The season premiere of Gotham will air on Monday, September 21 on Fox.

[Featured image: Micheal Chiklis courtesy of Mark Davis/Getty Images]