Ever since James Gunn was announced as Co-President of DC Studios, fans have been speculating what the future of the DCU is. With reports of a new Superman and a potential reset of the DCU, many have wondered what this means for the character of Batman, one of the most popular superheroes in the world and arguably Warner Bros.’ most profitable film franchise. While many would assume Robert Pattinson would be Batman in the new DCU, it appears that The Batman franchise will remain its own stand-alone set of stories.
The much anticipated new Batman franchise is The Brave and The Bold. The movie will be based on a Grant Morrison comic series in which Bruce Wayne joins forces with his only biological son Damian who, together, will embark on a journey to fight crimes as Damian becomes the new Robin. The film is set to be directed by Andy Muschietti, and even though Superman: Legacy has begun casting, Gunn has said it will be some time until any news is made on Batman.
Updated July 3, 2023: With Superman: Legacy recently having cast the Man of Steel, all eyes are on the DCU version of the Dark Knight, so this list has been updated with more potential Batman actors for The Brave and the Bold.
This leads Warner Bros. and DC in the position to cast a new Batman that will be appearing in films while Robert Pattinson is also playing the role. This is on top of the fact that this will be the fifth Batman since 2005, as audiences have had Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, Michael Keaton returning, and Pattinson. While there are fears of too much Batman, there will need to be one in James Gunn’s new DCU. With that in mind, here are some actors that could play the Caped Crusader that would be different enough from previous versions and could offer a new spin on the character.
Michael Fassbender
The Irish actor Michael Fassbender proved to be a central part of the Marvel universe through his amazingly performed role of the young Magneto in the X-Men films. With all the films set to be released in 2023, like The Killer, Fassbender is reminding the world of his undying talents and passion for acting. It may be just the right time for him to switch over to the DCU universe and bring all his gifts to The Brave and The Bold as well.
The actor’s 46 years of age give him the maturity and the poise expected to shine through the character of Bruce Wayne. He has the physical strength and even the subtle good looks that are perfect for the discrete Batman. Fassbender is a beloved actor, and his presence would be a welcome one.
Henry Golding
Henry Golding seems to have spent a good portion of his career trying to prove he can play Batman. In Crazy Rich Asians, he showed he could play a suave, handsome, rich man, and in A Simple Favor showcased the actor was able to play dark psychological material. Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins allowed the actor to show off he had what it takes to be the star of an action movie. The actor feels like an obvious pick to play Batman.
While most depictions of Bruce Wayne have been white in past adaptations, there is nothing about the character that is defined by his race, and casting an actor like Henry Golding could show a more diverse DCU. He also would make for a good on-screen counterpart to David Corenswet Superman.
Scott Eastwood
Scott Eastwood is the son of Clint Eastwood, and since Clint Eastwood has been a fan favorite to play older Bruce Wayne in a possible Batman Beyond film, casting his son as Bruce Wayne just feels obvious. Scott Eastwood is no stranger to the DC Universe, as he appeared in Suicide Squad. Eastwood played an original character named Lieutenant Edwards, a soldier taking his orders directly from Joel Kinnaman’s Colonel Rick Flag. The role was small and seemed like a waste of a talented star. The DCU could take a leap of faith by giving the role to the talented Eastwood and granting him the chance to show the Batman within him.
Noah Reid
Noah Reid is most well-known to audiences for playing Patrick on the hit comedy series Schitt’s Creek. While Reid might not immediately jump out as the dark, gloomy avenger of the night, Reid has the acting range to give it a try. More importantly, he could play a version of the character closer to the Silver Age version of Batman or the more lighthearted but still serious take seen in Batman: Brave and the Bold cartoon. Similar to Michael Keaton, Reid could surprise audiences with what he would bring to the role of Batman.
Jamie Dornan
It might be type-casting to cast Jamie Dornan as another rich billionaire with a mysterious secret after having played Christian Grey in the 50 Shades franchise, yet it is hard to deny the actor seems well suited for the part. Much like Robert Pattinson, who many fans associated with his role as Edward Cullen in Twilight, Dornan has done quite a bit of work to distance himself from 50 Shades of Grey. After his excellent work in the Irish series The Fall, Dornan had a huge year in 2021, as his roles in Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Sol and Belfast showed the actor’s range with two very different projects in terms of tone and audience.
Dornan has lobbied to play a superhero role and would likely jump at the chance to play Batman. There is even the fun behind-the-scenes factor of casting Dornan, a contemporary to Robert Pattinson, given that 50 Shades of Grey began as Twilight fan-fiction, with Christian Grey being a stand-in for Edward Cullen. Both characters are dark, mysterious, and brooding, making the actors that play them ideal picks to play Batman.
Lucas Bravo
Lucas Bravo has had an incredible run lately. The French actor broke out with audiences due to his role on the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris. In 2022 the actor starred in Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris and Ticket to Paradise, two films that showed very different sides of the actor. Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris showcased a more traditional leading man, while Ticket to Paradise put a spotlight on his comedic talent.
The actor seems destined for big things, and casting him as Batman would be a major get for DC Studios. He certainly has the looks to pull off Bruce Wayne, and while many would question casting a French actor as an iconic American hero like Batman, the actor could always put on an American accent like British-born stars Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson when they put on the cape and cowl.
John David Washington
John David Washington has worked with both The Dark Knight trilogy director Christopher Nolan and current Batman actor Robert Pattinson on Tenet, which would make for a poetic casting of Washington to play Bruce Wayne and Batman in the DCU. The son of Denzel Washington, who himself would have once made a great Batman, John David Washington has the presence to play the Caped Crusader.
There has been a great deal of discussion if a non-white actor could play Bruce Wayne,and following Winston Duke voicing Batman in the audio drama Batman: Unburied, it shows that DC is comfortable exploring a Black actor in the role. Casting John David Washington would not only put a great actor in the role of one of the most popular superheroes, but his casting would help distinguish his Batman from Robert Pattinson.
Jon Hamm
The Batman of the DCU will likely be older, given he has a son and also likely a slew of Robins, so this might be the perfect time to fulfill a casting dream come true and cast Jon Hamm as Batman. The Mad Men star, who was recently seen in Top Gun: Maverick, has the classic strong-jawed look of a Golden Age superhero. Baby Driver showed a dark, sinister side that would translate to a ruthless Caped Crusader.
Hamm is one of the most well-respected and beloved actors in Hollywood, and it is hard to imagine anyone being upset with the idea of him playing Batman. He can play comedic, serious, and everything in between, which will be vital for this new DCU Batman.
Nicholas Hoult
It is widely known that Nicholas Hoult was one of the finalists to play Batman in Matt Reeves’ The Batman before the part went to Robert Pattinson. Hoult also recently auditioned for the part of Superman in Superman: Legacy but lost the part to David Corenswet. While Hoult may not have been right for Superman or Reeves Batman, he might be the right choice for the DCU Batman.
Henry Cavill famously lost the part of Superman in 2006’s Superman Returns, only to get the part four years later when they were casting Man of Steel. He had to wait for the right Superman project, and the same could be true of Hoult. Hoult is a talented actor, and it is clear he is on James Gunn’s radar, so he could be Batman after all.
Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles has been a top fan choice to play Batman since his breakout role on Supernatural. Fans wanted to see the actor play the character on the Arrowverse, and while that did not happen, Ackles is no stranger to the world of Gotham City. The actor voiced Jason Todd aka Red Hood, in the 2010 direct-to-video animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood and has been the voice of Bruce Wayne in the Tommorowverse series of interconnected DC animated films including Batman: The Long Halloween and Legion of Superheroes. Ackles himself has expressed interest in wanting to play Batman.
The actor has grown and matured to where he could play an older version of Bruce Wayne, one that has had a long history in Gotham City and likely taken a few different sidekicks under his wing. Jensen Ackles could handle the intensity but also the warmth associated with the father-like figure that the character is known for in the comics that many of the films have overlooked. Possibly casting a fan favorite could help win some fans over who have been disappointed by recent DCU cancelations.
