4 Marvel Stars Who Almost Played Batman in DC Cinematic Universe
Batman, or The Caped Crusader, is one of DC’s most popular characters. Every actor who wants to be in a comic book-based superhero movie would give their arms and legs for the role due to its insane popularity. It has been pulling audiences since the 1990s. Especially after Christopher Nolan gave it a makeover, it became one of the most coveted roles in the DC universe. From Michael Keaton to Ben Affleck to Robert Pattinson, some of the most iconic actors in Hollywood have played the role of Batman.
One would be surprised to know that there are many Marvel stars who came close to playing the iconic role. Here is a list of 4 Marvel actors who almost played the role in the DC universe:
Willem Dafoe
Rumors were flying about that Willem Dafoe was contacted by Tim Burton during the casting of Batman. Everyone assumed that he was slated to play the Joker. However, in an exclusive with MTV News, he broke the news that he was actually being considered for playing Batman:
“Very early, they talked to me about playing Batman.”
Fans will always regret not being able to see such an iconic actor in the role. However, he did make up for it in Marvel’s Spider-Man as Norman Osborne, who lives in the heads of the audience rent-free.
Also Read: Willem Dafoe’s Best Villain Roles, Ranked
Jake Gyllenhaal
Anyone who has seen Jake Gyllenhaal in movies like Nightcrawler or Donnie Darko would not have a hard time imagining him as Batman, especially after the brooding, dark, and edgy portrayal of the hero done by Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson.
Fans would be surprised to know that Jake Gyllenhaal was actually running as a contender for Nolan’s Batman trilogy. According to CinemaBlend, Jake Gyllenhaal was one of the top choices for Nolan. However, the role went to Christian Bale, and he ended up playing Mysterio in Marvel’s one of the most successful movies of all time, Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin was seriously considered for the role when Warner Bros. first announced that Zack Snyder would focus on Batman after Superman’s arc in Man of Steel. Although Ben Affleck ultimately got the role, Zack Snyder was actually considering Josh Brolin for it. While talking to the Huffington Post, Brolin was asked how far along the process they were and whether they had any conversations about the role, and he said:
“We did. I didn’t have conversations about it, but Zack [Snyder], that was part of his idea. It just didn’t turn out. It’s OK. It is OK. You know, another scenario might have worked better, but I’m happy for Ben.”
However, Josh Brolin did a superb job as Thanos in the iconic Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He also played the role of Cable in Deadpool 2, and he appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder as well. One can only hope that they will see more of this fantastic actor in the Marvel or DC franchises.
Nicholas Hoult
‘The Great’ Nicholas Hault is mostly known for his role in dark comedies. However, one would be surprised to know that he was one of the last two contenders for the latest Batman role that ultimately went to Pattinson. Matt Reeves wanted to capture the inexperienced and young version of the hero, and therefore Nicholas Hault and Robert Pattinson were his main contenders.
Although he did not land the role in DC at that time, he was great as Hank McCoy/Beast in X-Men. Not just that, according to sources at Deadline, he might have landed the role of Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman movie, Superman: Legacy.
Although these actors did not land the role, they all shined brightly on their own accord and gave some classic performances in Marvel that are unforgettable.
