Bloody hell! Ben McKenzie is left battered, bruised and bleeding after a brutal street fight as he films second season of Gotham 

First season marked it as one of the darkest shows on television and looks like for round two the Batman spin-off will take it up a violent notch.

Once known for his pretty bad boy look on teen show The O.C., Ben McKenzie's face was reduced to a bloody mess on the Gotham set on Tuesday.

While the damage to his good looks was only temporary - thanks to the talented makeup department - the 36-year-old's injuries looked very convincing as he wrapped a scene in Brooklyn, New York's DUMBO neighbourhood.

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Ouch! Once known for his pretty bad boy look on teen show The O.C., Ben McKenzie's face was reduced to a bloody mess on the Gotham set in New York on Tuesday

Ouch! Once known for his pretty bad boy look on teen show The O.C., Ben McKenzie's face was reduced to a bloody mess on the Gotham set in New York on Tuesday

Suiting up to play a young detective James Gordon - who will one day be the greatest ally of Batman - the star emerged from an alleyway looking like he had done a few rounds with Mike Tyson.

For the obviously brutal fight scene, Ben had a pretend cut to the head, lip and a very banged up eye.

Making the injuries seem even more realistic, the makeup team stepped in and added more blood as filming went along to show the wounds were bleeding over time.

Round one: Suiting up to play a young detective James Gordon - who will one day be the greatest ally of Batman - the star emerged from an alleyway looking like he had done a few rounds with Mike Tyson

Round one: Suiting up to play a young detective James Gordon - who will one day be the greatest ally of Batman - the star emerged from an alleyway looking like he had done a few rounds with Mike Tyson

Not the face! The 36-year-old started off looking just fine but then the makeup team added cuts to his head and lip and a banged up eye

Not the face! The 36-year-old started off looking just fine but then the makeup team added cuts to his head and lip and a banged up eye

Gory realism: Making the injuries seem even more realistic, the makeup team stepped in and added more blood as filming went along to show the wounds were bleeding over time
Gory realism: Making the injuries seem even more realistic, the makeup team stepped in and added more blood as filming went along to show the wounds were bleeding over time

Gory realism: Making the injuries seem even more realistic, the makeup team stepped in and added more blood as filming went along to show the wounds were bleeding over time

When the injuries were first applied, the former teen heartthrob was still smiling when the cameras were not on him but, as he got more into the scene and his 'injuries' worsened, the star took on the determined yet pained expression of his character.

The star had started out the day of filming looking very dapper in his grey suit and black tie, running past the Gotham city emblem with his gun drawn.

It seems his run in the bad guys happened once he ran down an alley under the real Brooklyn Bridge which, thanks to the magic of CGI, will be turned into Gotham's bleaker landscape for the show.

Good start: The star at first looked very dapper in his grey suit and black tie, running past the Gotham city emblem with his gun drawn

Good start: The star at first looked very dapper in his grey suit and black tie, running past the Gotham city emblem with his gun drawn

Feeling it: When the injuries were first applied, the former teen heartthrob was still smiling when the cameras were not on him but, as he got more into the scene and his 'injuries' worsened, the star took on the determined yet pained expression of his character

Feeling it: When the injuries were first applied, the former teen heartthrob was still smiling when the cameras were not on him but, as he got more into the scene and his 'injuries' worsened, the star took on the determined yet pained expression of his character

Also on set, and looking very different to the former Southland actor, was Erin Richards.

The 29-year-old British beauty looked perfectly polished with her long voluminous curly hair swept to one side and her clothing impeccable coordinated.

Erin - who plays James Gordon's former fiancee Barbara Kean - managed to walk down an alley without ending up looking like Ben.

For the scene, the star was dressed in a pair of black pants with a black shirt under a long trench and for a pop of colour red leather gloves. 

British beauty: Erin Richards was also on set and looked perfectly polished with her long voluminous curly hair swept to one side and her clothing impeccable coordinated
British beauty: Erin Richards was also on set and looked perfectly polished with her long voluminous curly hair swept to one side and her clothing impeccable coordinated

British beauty: Erin Richards was also on set and looked perfectly polished with her long voluminous curly hair swept to one side and her clothing impeccable coordinated

Love lost: Erin plays James Gordon's former fiancee Barbara Kean, a gallery owner from a wealthy family

Love lost: Erin plays James Gordon's former fiancee Barbara Kean, a gallery owner from a wealthy family

Fans of the dark series will soon be rewarded with new episodes - 22, in fact, after the network decided to extend the second season - with FOX announcing Gotham will return to screens September 21.

This season Detective Gordon will continue to try to solve the murder of Bruce Wayne's (who will one day be Batman) family.

Fans will also be treated to some big name bad guy action with The Riddler, The Joker and Mr. Freeze all trying to take Gotham for themselves.

Coming soon: Fans of the dark series will soon be rewarded with new episodes with FOX announcing Gotham will return to screens September 21

Coming soon: Fans of the dark series will soon be rewarded with new episodes with FOX announcing Gotham will return to screens September 21

 

 

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