Gary Oldman portrayed Commissioner Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy, appearing in Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).7 His casting was not initially intended, as Nolan had originally considered Oldman for a villainous role, possibly Scarecrow, but Oldman declined due to his desire to avoid playing another "weirdo".11 His manager suggested the role of Gordon instead, and Nolan found the idea intriguing, leading to Oldman's iconic casting.12 Oldman has described the role as challenging, emphasizing Gordon's "incorruptible" and "straight as an arrow" nature, despite the character often being overshadowed by Batman's actions.9

Oldman's performance was influenced by personal circumstances during the filming of Batman Begins, as he was a single father living in Los Angeles and flew back and forth between the U.S. and London—where the film was shot—making 27 round trips to spend time with his children.5 This real-life weariness contributed to the authentic portrayal of Gordon's world-weary demeanor.12 He has credited both the Harry Potter and Batman franchises with saving his career and personal life during a difficult period, allowing him to work less while earning significantly and being present for his children.5

Critics have praised Oldman's performance, with film critic Mark Kermode calling it "the best performance in the film, by a mile" in his review of The Dark Knight.78 Oldman's portrayal is widely regarded as one of the most compelling live-action versions of the character, bringing depth and realism to the role.6 He has also shared anecdotes from the set, including how Nolan trusted his actors to deliver strong performances without excessive direction, and how he once broke character during filming due to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's intense acting.10