10 actors who should play the DCU Batman, according to fans

After Superman, one massive question remains: who will play the DCU’s version of Batman? There are fan casts across social media, and these are 10 of the most popular names.

When James Gunn announced the DCU’s first “Gods and Monsters” slate, there were two important details. Firstly, Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves’ world (including The Batman Part 2) would be classified as Elseworlds, so the sequel isn’t part of the main continuity (for now, at least).

Secondly, we know Gunn is developing a new Batman project: The Brave and the Bold, set to introduce another version of the Dark Knight alongside Robin.

To be clear, if this comes to pass as originally explained, there will be two live-action Batmen. So, who should don the cowl?

Alan Ritchson

Prime Video

Alan Ritchson is best known for Reacher, a show in which he spends a lot of time beating bad guys and crooks to a pulp and stretching the limits of the law – in other words, he’d make a perfect Batman.

Going by the silhouette seen in Creature Commandos, the DCU’s Batman will be bulky, and Ritchson’s physique is even more musclebound than Ben Affleck’s caped crusader in BvS. Plus, he actually wants the role.

“I would love to play Batman. There, I said it. I’ll shout it from the rooftops: I wanna be Bruce Wayne,” he told THR.

“Here’s the thing about Batman, you know what his superpower is? Intelligence. Dude is the smartest superhero there is. He’s inventive and he’s got all the gadgets… but he’s super smart. I wanna be that guy, and also to have a cave with hypercars… I’m into that stuff.”

Brandon Sklenar

Paramount

Brandon Sklenar has been one of the most common fan casts, particularly since the release of 1923 Season 2. During his press tour, he was asked multiple times about playing Batman – and, let’s just say, he’s keen on the idea.

Speaking to The Playlist, he said: “I’ve seen a bunch of fan-casting for this Batman thing and that’s very interesting to me. I love Batman. That would be a dream, for sure. But we’ll see what happens, I’m built for it.”

If Sklenar’s dream comes true, he already has his “own ideas on the character… he was my favorite comic book character as a child, and he’s superior because he is a real man.”

“He’s just really hurting and reeling from the death of his parents, and Batman is his way of coping,” he told THR.

“So I think there’s a lot more to explore there, and there’s a way to do it that makes it very real. I’ve honestly enjoyed every incarnation of Batman, but Christian’s was my favorite. I do love what Rob is doing with it now. It’s a really bold choice, and Rob is just an incredible actor, in general. So, if it ever comes around, I would gladly take that torch, and I would not take it lightly.”

Sklenar certainly has the look of Bruce Wayne, and he’s 35 years old, which is pretty much the perfect age for a new Batman to join the franchise.

Theo James

Netflix

Theo James’ star is rising. He’s appeared in the Divergent movies, The White Lotus, The Gentlemen, The Monkey, and he had a voice role in X-Men ’97. So, what about Batman?

Well, going by his interview with The Movie Dweeb, it may not be at the top of his list of priorities.

“Everyone loves The Batman. I feel like there’s been about 70 Batmans. I feel like that’s pretty covered… I liked Ben Affleck’s Batman to be honest,” he said.

Nevertheless, one fan wrote: “When can we all start campaigning Theo James to play Batman?”

“Ok but realistically I think DCU Batman is gonna be Theo James (if he does audition). They’ll want someone who already has a presence, someone who’s a good actor and whose popularity won’t lose that badly against Pattinson,” another posted.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen

Netflix

You’ve probably seen Oliver Jackson-Cohen in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House, Bly Manor, and Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man movie.

On paper, he’s bang on the money: 38, so old enough to play a slightly older Bruce Wayne; he’s over 6ft tall, so he won’t look small next to David Corenswet’s Superman; and he’s not so famous that he’d overwhelm Pattinson and Reeves’ movie(s).

Unfortunately, he’s never spoken about it in any interviews, but there are entire Reddit threads dedicated to why he’d be the perfect Batman.

Henry Cavill

Warner Bros.

Walk with me. Henry Cavill as Batman may sound like an insane idea, and it’d undeniably be an example of ‘stunt casting’ (casting intended to provoke a big reaction and spark curiosity)… but it could work.

Of course, Cavill is best known for playing Superman in the DCEU. He was confirmed to reprise his role after Black Adam, and then James Gunn and Peter Safran scrapped those plans and (politely) sacked him.

The only way we’ll see him as Superman again is if Gunn is planning to adapt Crisis on Infinite Earths, which could lead to a multiversal cameo. Or, if they were feeling brave, they could cast him as Batman and set the world on fire.

Think of it like this: he has the physique, the height, and he’s a decent age to play an older Batman (42).

Plus, as one fan pointed out, “If I were James Gunn I’d cast Henry Cavill as Batman to confuse/mess with/troll the Snyder Bros.”

“Think about it for a moment. Like actually,” another wrote. “A meme so funny it would actually become a great casting decision,” a third posted.

Glen Powell

Paramount Pictures

Glen Powell is arguably one of the most famous actors on the planet right now, especially after Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters, and he has The Running Man and JJ Abrams’ secretive sci-fi blockbuster coming up.

Does he need to play Batman? No, but you could have said that about Robert Pattinson, and his casting gave us one of the greatest Batmen of all time (Powell also had a tiny role in The Dark Knight Rises; he got his head slammed off a table by Bane).

“I was always a Batman guy. I would have a wild take on Batman. It definitely would not be like a Matt Reeves tone – it’d probably be closer to [Michael] Keaton,” he told GQ.

However, that profile also notes that Powell “has no interest in playing a superhero”, so we may be out of luck.

Jensen Ackles

Prime Video

Jensen Ackles has already played Batman in five animated movies: Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman: The Long Halloween, Legion of Super-Heroes, Justice League: Warworld, and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths.

He’s really good in them, he looks the part, and he’s a well-liked actor, especially off the back of Supernatural and his role as Soldier Boy in The Boys. So, why shouldn’t he play Batman in live-action?

Speaking to Collider about the prospect of playing a live-action Batman, he said: “Oh, man. I don’t know.

“It would be hard to carve out something truly unique amongst all of the performances as Batman. I would probably have to lean heavily on Gunn and whoever’s directing and whoever’s writing it, and get inspiration from the text.

“You talk about not wanting to fumble the football – that’s one that I would be nervous as hell to carry. But also proud. A certain feather in the cap.”

Scott Adkins

Lionsgate

Scott Adkins’ martial arts chops speak for themselves (he’s appeared – and fought – in John Wick: Chapter 4, Avengement, and American Assassin), but he’s also an underrated dramatic actor.

He’s on the older side (49 years old), but that’s okay – if Gunn wants an older Batman training Damian, Adkins would be a great option. Also, he auditioned for the role before Batman v Superman – you can watch his audition tape here.

Speaking to Entertainment Focus in 2019, Adkins was asked for his thoughts on Pattinson’s casting Batman.

“Well, I’m sure he’s going to do a great job and I’ve not seen a lot of what he’s done to be honest, but I do really like Matt Reeves as the director. He’s obviously seen something in Robert and we all just need to shut up and not say anything until we see what they do,” he said.

“Regarding my audition, I read a few things in a few places that said that I put my audition out, and that’s kind of frustrating. I would never have done that! The whole thing shouldn’t have got out, but it did, so what can you do? That audition was for the Batman that Ben Affleck ended up playing.”

A complete unknown

DC

You could pick any half-famous, fit, handsome actor and say they’d make a good Batman. But, a bit like James Bond, the actor doesn’t need to make the role – Batman can make the actor.

Considering the casting of Tom Rhys Harries as Clayface (especially when the likes of Jack O’Connell and Tom Blyth were on the short list), Gunn may be open to taking a chance on someone who’s secretly perfect for the part – we just don’t know it yet.

“DCU Batman gotta be a complete unknown pulled from theater,” one user posted. “I think casting an unknown as Batman for the DCU would be a perfect direction to take the character it helps focus on and the audience see Batman not the actor who’s playing him,” another wrote.

Robert Pattinson

Pattinson is already Batman. Better yet, he’s one of the greatest Batmen we’ve ever had. That’s all there is to it.

If you want to be convinced, we have a whole article explaining why Pattinson should be the DCU Batman. In short, two Batmen is confusing, and the clash of Gotham’s grit and Metropolis’ fantastical nature is exactly why they should come together; synergy isn’t a crossover.

Superman is in cinemas now. Find out where Superman will be streaming, how long it is, details about its post-credits scenes, and our ranking of the Superman movies.

You can also read our breakdown of Superman’s box office and the one thing Man of Steel did better than Gunn’s movie.