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What's wrong with Ben Affleck and Batman? A few months ago, it was announced that the director and actor decided to give up directing the long-awaited film, The Batman. His replacement will be Matt Reeves. However, we have now been surprised by an eventuality where it is said that Affleck is tired of being Batman (remember that he has played the character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and in Justice League, apart from his brief appearance in Suicide Squad).
Undoubtedly, Ben Affleck as the Dark Knight has been very good in his performance. But if the auguries are confirmed, it looks like it will be time to look for alternatives, so, as always, Hollywood is full of options to play Bats.
Taking the place of Affleck would be a job for titans, for obvious reasons— Ben is not only a professional, but his work has associated him with the character in a way that neither Michael Keaton, George Clooney, nor even Val Kilmer, have ever managed. Many of the following actors on this list have repeatedly expressed their desire to play the Caped Crusader, others simply seem to fit in perfectly, although, there are also some who are sounding strong, but who in the end would not be a good choice for reasons such as age, appearance, acting style, etc.
Jon Hamm (Good Choice)
Jon Hamm was considered as an alternative to Henry Cavill to play Clark Kent/Superman but was discarded at the last minute, unfortunately. However, Jon Hamm would have been ideal for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. He is intelligent, defiant, dark, and a playboy. His performance on Mad Men must have earned him a place in the discussion for the role of Batman, in fact, he would be an excellent option. If you look at his age, 47, and his height of over six feet, he could be a great Bruce Wayne stylish guy and get in shape to make a "mature" and "decadent" Batman, very much like Affleck's embroidery.
The Mad Men actor, who we also saw on Baby Driver, Black Mirror, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, needs a big role on the big screen all at once, and Batman could easily be that option. Jon Hamm, as you all know, is especially popular for his role as publicist, Don Draper, in AMC's Mad Men series, for which he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a drama series in 2008 and 2016. Undoubtedly, Jon Hamm’s life changed in 2007, when this talented actor was chosen from over eighty people to star in this series.
Luke Evans (Good Choice)
Luke Evans is ideal for the role of Bruce Wayne if you focus on his most eccentric dimension. His interpretation of Zeus in the film Immortals speaks for itself of a solid performance that can be perfectly adapted to the Night Vigilante. As a bonus, he has already worked with Henry Cavill, the current actor who plays Superman in the DC Universe.
This Welshman began his career in the theater, performing in many of the productions in London's West End theaters, including Rent, Miss Saigon, and Piaf before he got his first major Hollywood role. He began his career in film starring in the new version of Clash of the Titans (2010), playing the god, Apollo. After his debut, Evans was featured in action and suspense films such as Immortals (2011), The Raven (2012), and The Three Musketeers (2011), in which he played Aramis. In 2013, Evans played the lead antagonist, Owen Shaw, in the hit movie, Fast & Furious 6, and played Bardo in the trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien's Peter Jackson adaptation of The Hobbit and brought the vampire Dracula to life in the film, Dracula Untold (2014). His last projects were to give life to the villain Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (2017) and his reappearance in Fast & Furious 8.
Jake Gyllenhaal (Bad Choice)
Jake Gyllenhaal was one of the names that were shuffled to be Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. But, now that Robert Downey Jr. has given in to Marvel's mermaid songs and become his Holy Grail, a move to Gotham City could be Jake Gyllenhaal’s perfect return to action and big-budget cinema, taking away once and for all the bad taste Prince of Persia left behind. Gyllenhaal's schedule's been tight lately. He is an excellent actor, but he has a very precise calendar: two films a year, at least in the last years. In fact, his name is the strongest one in the media, and it wouldn't be a bad choice if it wasn't for the fact that the actor himself said no.
During an interview with China News Asia, Jake Gyllenhaal was asked point blank if there was any truth to last year's report that he was The Batman director, Matt Reeves,' first pick to take over Ben Affleck. "Wow, that's a very difficult question," said Gyllenhaal. "The answer to that question is no." Unfortunately, Jake Gyllenhaal got off the boat early, which automatically leaves him as a bad choice to play Batman, but only time will tell.
Michael Fassbender (Good Choice)
Can you imagine? It would be a big hit. The career of the legendary Fassbender, although he doesn't need any kind of reminder, it's not bad to recall Shame, Steve Jobs, Prometheus, X-Men, or Assassin's Creed. It is not easy for Fassbender's calendar of projects and ideas to match Warner's dates, although, it would be a great option, as he has the renown and is able to support the weight of a mega project.
His film debut was with the movie, 300 (2007). In 2008 with the film, Hunger (2008), he got his first starring role, which was well received by the critics and with which he won his first British Independent Film Award. In 2009, he participated in two films that were also well received by critics, Fish Tank (2009) by Andrea Arnold and Inglourious Basterds (2009) by Quentin Tarantino. In 2010, he acted in his first superhero film, Jonah Hex (2010), in which he brought the villain Burke to life. In addition, one of his best performances has been in Shame (2011), for which he has won multiple nominations for prestigious awards including the Golden Globe and the BAFTA awards.
Bradley Cooper (Good Choice)
A renowned actor for several years, he has been involved in major projects with his friend, Jennifer Lawrence. While she dressed up as Mystique in the X-Men saga, he has never been a superhero in the cinema, although, he is the actor who gives the voice to Rocket Racoon in The Guardians of the Galaxy at the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So why not start now and move away from roles like American Sniper, Silver Linings Playbook, The Hangover, American Hustle, Limitless, or Joy? He's busy with his next fatherhood with the beautiful Russian model, Irina Shayk, but then what? Then it would not be a bad thing if Cooper played Batman, because he has the talent, the presence, and the body. Besides, he's a natural-born stud.
His work at Silver Linings Playbook earned him his first Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category. Cooper was nominated again the following two years for his work in American Hustle and American Sniper. And he is currently working on a new adaptation of A Star Is Born, for which he is the director. He will also star alongside singer and actress Lady Gaga, who will also compose the soundtrack. The film will be released later this year.
Armie Hammer (Bad Choice)
Without a very long resume yet, this Los Angeles-born man has one important point against him, however: The Lone Ranger. Gore Verbinski's film could have been the release of Hammer as a superstar, but its reviews in the U.S. have been disastrous, and that could have been an obstacle. In addition to his role in the western for children and youth, he is known for his role as the Winklevoss twins in the biopic drama film, The Social Network, the American spy, Illya Kuryakin, in the action film, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mike in the suspense film, Mine, and as the voice of Jackson Storm in the animated film, Cars 3.
But it wasn't until 2011, when Hammer, for his performance of Clyde Tolson in the biographical drama J. Edgar, began to see good fruit as an actor. He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, and, until last year, for his performance as Oliver in the romantic drama, Call Me by Your Name, he received nominations for a Critics' Choice Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Golden Globe Award for best-supporting actor. But with that and all, Hammer doesn't have the name or weight in Hollywood to wear the Batman cloak.
Jamie Bamber (Good Choice)
Known by many fans of the Battlestar Galactica series that he repeated for many seasons in the role of one of the main characters, Captain Lee Adama. Bamber has the right physique and a good profile, but his name is not as media-friendly and he is not positioned in the first Hollywood group, although, he has everything to act as Batman.
His television debut came in 1998 when he played Archie Kennedy in the television film, Hornblower: The Even Chance, based on the literary series by Horatio Hornblower, written by Cecil Scott Forester. Bamber repeated the role in the following adaptations, released over the next three years. He also made several episodic appearances in series such as The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999), Band of Brothers (2001) and Peak Practice (2001-2002). In 2004, he joined the main cast of the Battlestar Galactica series, as mentioned above, until the end of it in 2009. In 2009, he joined the main cast of the Law & Order: UK series where he played police detective, Matthew "Matt" Devlin, until the end of season five, in 2011, after his character died after being shot by a young man who was upset by his brother's death.
Richard Armitage (Good Choice)
He has been in the pools for many years as a possible candidate since he has the physique and disposition. The fact that he played the famous character of the dwarf, Thorin, in Peter Jackson's, The Hobbit saga, was one of the reasons he was considered. It didn't work out then, but if Affleck leaves, the options of including him again are not unlikely.
His popularity in the movies began when he appeared in 2011 in the movie, Captain America: The First Avenger, where he played Heinz Kruger, a Nazi agent, and Steve Rogers' first enemy, aka Captain America. And a year later, playing Thorin Oakenshield, the dwarf heir to the Lonely Mountain throne in the trilogy simultaneously filmed on the novel, The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien, composed of the films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (released in December 2012), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (released in December 2013), and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (released in December 2014). In 2016, he joined the main cast of the Berlin Station series where he plays Officer Daniel Meyer, and last year, he joined the cast of My Zoe where he will bring James, Isabelle's ex-husband, to life.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Bad Choice)
A souvenir to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the co-star of The Dark Knight Rises, is almost mandatory. If you've seen the movie, you know what we are talking about. In the movie, because of Batman's heroic act of taking his own life, the city considers Batman to be a goner and honors him as a hero with a monument. With Bruce also believed to have passed away during the initial riots, Wayne's will provide that Wayne Mansion remains in Gotham to become a new orphanage. After Bruce's funeral, Blake, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, wishes to reveal Batman's identity to the world as a tribute, but Commissioner Gordon believes it is best that it remains a secret. Blake resigns from the police force and his legal name is revealed as Robin and he inherits the Batcave, after receiving his location in Bruce's will, leaving Blake as his successor. Isn't that enough for Joseph Gordon-Levitt to put himself in Batman's shoes? Well, unfortunately, when this film was released, the actor made it clear that the conclusion of the story was that, a conclusion, and if anyone expected to see him in new Batman films, it wasn't going to be like that. Can you imagine an actor playing Robin and Bruce Wayne/Batman as well? That would have been outrageous.
Taylor Kitsch (Good Choice)
Kitsch may be another option to consider. We saw him in the second season of True Detective, but also earlier in John Carter and Battleship in much heavier roles. He is a little young for the recent Batman, at 37 years old, we know, but that should not be an impediment if he works well on the charisma and the physical part.
His first big-screen appearance was in the horror film, The Covenant, where he played Pogue Parry. In February 2008, he signed a contract to play the character, Gambit, in the film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is a prequel to the original saga of X-Men's films. In 2009, he performed in the film, Bang-Bang Club, with Ryan Phillippe and Malin Akerman. The film was directed by Steven Silver and the plot was set in South Africa during the last bloody days of apartheid. Kitsch plays Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Kevin Carter, who captures the violence in the African country with his lens. However, the problem that turned out to be John Carter may be against Kitsch, as the film had one of the largest budgets in Disney history: $250 million. However, the failure at the US box office was resounding.
Matthew Goode (Good Choice)
Can you imagine Watchmen's Ozymandias as Batman and Bruce Wayne? Why not? If you make a mental effort, it might do the trick. Matthew Goode was a worthy actor in very attractive and successful films such as Stoker, Match Point, and The Imitation Game, among others. Matthew Goode has been gaining strength in his career and is a guy to consider in major roles.
Matthew Goode graduated from the University of Birmingham and later traveled to London, where he studied at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. In 2003, he played Gerald Brenan in Fernando Colomo's film South from Granada. The following year, he starred in the film, Chasing Liberty, with Mandy Moore, in which he played a private agent, Ben Calder, who works for the President of the United States. Matthew Goode also starred in the film, Leap Year, with Amy Adams. But it was finally in 2009 that he achieved great notoriety, due to his performance of Ozymandias in Zack Snyder's movie, Watchmen, so his familiarity with superhero movies can be an asset if he is chosen as a Batman. Goode has been in a relationship with Sophie Dymoke since 2005 and they were married in 2014.
Ryan Gosling (Bad Choice)
Lately, the ex-Disney boy has been everywhere in Hollywood. From dramas to comedies and even musicals. That's why Ryan Gosling wouldn't be an ideal choice for Bruce Wayne, even if he knows how to combine his wounded heart with a physical presence that can be scary, as he did on Drive. Let's remember that Gosling is in vogue for his role in La La Land, but his career is also practically flawless and he's up to the task in any role... except that of Batman. He has presence and charisma, as we have said, and a golden resume, but his weak point is that he is still nice and physically very pretty, and Batman is a traumatized, beaten guy, who lost his parents when he was just a kid.
You may not know it, but Ryan Gosling has been acting since he was a kid. He and his older sister, Mandi, four years older, sang together at weddings. When he was twelve, he attended an open audition in Montreal, winning a role in The Mickey Mouse Club; this forced him to live in Florida for a while and be classified as a Disney kid, something that he still recalls with humor.
Chris Pine (Good Choice)
Playing Captain Kirk in Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond, Chris Pine has been simultaneously a genius, a flirt, and a man of impulsive, but responsible, actions. Do we need to say more? On the other hand, in his second film with J.J. Abrams, Chris Pine took not one, but two of the most beautiful girls in the galaxy to bed. Which, if you play Batman, is also a plus, since we all know that he is a stud.
Chris Pine's first role was in 2003 in the television series, ER. That same year, Chris Pine appeared in episodes of The Guardian and CSI: Miami. Until then, his most notable role came in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), where he played Nicholas Deveraux, a man who at first tried to seize the throne of Genovia until he fell in love with Mia Thermopolis, played by Anne Hathaway. 2016 was a very good year for Pine, as he co-starred in the Oscar-nominated film, Hell or High Water, and in 2017, Chris Pine starred in Wonder Woman, in which he acted as pilot, Steve Trevor, the love interest of Princess Diana of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta.
Wes Bentley (Good Choice)
The idea of American Beauty's mystery boy dressing weird and fighting crime may sound bizarre but interesting. After all, since 1990, Bentley has been moving in the honorable realm of second roles with a trade. But thanks to The Hunger Games, his popularity is on the rise, which will help to make him known again to the general public.
In 2014, Wes Bentley was selected to appear in the third season of the Ryan Murphy series, American Horror Story, in American Horror Story: Freak Show as Edward Mordrake, a character based on a real person who had an extra face on the back of his head that could not eat or talk but could laugh and cry. In the following season of the series, entitled American Horror Story: Hotel, Bentley was chosen as one of the protagonists in the character of Detective John Lowe, a role that led him to be nominated for Best Actor in a Critics' Choice Television Awards Film/Miniseries. Bentley is also known as Ricky Fitts in American Beauty (1999), as already mentioned, Blackheart in Ghost Rider (2007), Thomas in P2 (2007), and Doyle in Interstellar (2014), a film by Christopher Nolan about space and time travels.
Tyler Hoechlin (Bad Choice)
The Californian actor appeared as one of the strongest options before Ben Affleck was recruited. Tyler Hoechlin has already expressed his desire to play Batman. Unfortunately, Zack Snyder, before the production of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, made it clear that he was looking for a Batman in his 40's, which left Hoechlin, who was in his 30's, out of the competition. Tyler Hoechlin, who once interested Warner Bros., currently plays Superman/Clark Kent in the Supergirl series, which apparently would be very bizarre to see him in the bat coat as well.
This actor is best-known for his role as Michael Sullivan Jr. in the 2002 film, Road to Perdition and Martin Brewer in the 7th Heaven series. He is also most recently known for playing Derek Hale in MTV's, Teen Wolf. He has won the Saturn Awards and the Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards and was named the third most attractive man of 2011 by Buddy TV. Tyler eventually plays baseball for the University of California team, and has said he plans to play professionally in the major leagues in the near future… especially if he can’t become the next superstar to play an all-time favorite comic book character: Batman.
Reference: IGN
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