Posted: Wed., Feb. 18, 2004, 9:02pm PT

Freeman to boss 'Batman'

Thesp to join crusading cast after 'Edison' duty

By Cathy Dunkley, Marc Graser

Freeman

Corrections were made to this article on Feb. 19, 2004.

Batman's hired a boss: Morgan Freeman has joined the cast of Warner Bros.' fifth "Batman" adventure as the head of Wayne Enterprises.

Freeman will play Lucius Fox, a respected businessman who runs billionaire Bruce Wayne's mega-conglom, based in Gotham City.

Freeman is the latest to join the Christopher Nolan-helmed project as it nears its March 16 start date in London. Liam Neeson plays Ducard, a mentor to Wayne.

Christian Bale stars as the Caped Crusader. Also cast are Michael Caine (as butler Alfred), Cillian Murphy and Katie Holmes.

Freeman, repped by the William Morris Agency, most recently wrapped production on Miramax and Revolution's drama "An Unfinished Life."

He will shoot Millennium Films and Emmett/Furla Films' "Edison" with Justin Timberlake, Kevin Spacey and LL Cool J before segueing to "Batman."