Cast the new Batman

[theenglish]

If they were going with an older, experienced Batman who has been around for a while, Jim Caviezel. But since they probably want someone younger who can do six or more movies and doesn't have a TV schedule that takes up eight months of his year, how about... Ryan Reynolds?

How about someone who can act?

 

[Turtletrekker]

Cosmic Book News is not what I would consider a reliable source of info under any circumstances, but apparently an actor named Tyler Hoechlin is being considered and will screen test with Cavill.

 

[Captaindemotion]

A few months ago I would've said that Armie Hammer had to be a frontrunner, but I imagine that the flop of The Lone Ranger has to have damaged his chances. I know Batman doesn't need a big name but they may feel that he might damage the brand. Having said that, Christian Bale had a string of flops and low-performers before BB, so they may take a gamble.

I would imagine that both those who were on the shortlist for Man of Steel and even those who were runners-up for Batman Begins will be under consideration this time out. If they want a more established Batman, then the likes of Jake Gyllenhall, who was apparently Goyer's preferred choice for Begins (Nolan plumped for Bale) must be contenders.

It's really hard to say, as they could go for a complete unknown, a biggish star or someone like Bale circa-2004, who had been around for a while, without making the A list. It depends on whether they want a Batman near the start of his career - and I have a feeling that this Batman will be a year or two into it - or a more seasoned one. Much is going to depend on the chemistry he shows with Cavill and that's just not possible to determine. I note that Cavill and Hammer are to co-star in The Man from UNCLE and this could either help or hinder the chances of them being paired as Superman and Batman.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

30ish, ruggedly handsome (maybe a little slicker than Cavill) but still believable as an internationally successful businessman and playboy. That's a tall order. Thoughts?

Well then, the choice is clear:

...if your joke happened, at long last, Michael Keaton would meet his match as the worst live-action Batman of all time.

 

[Pingfah]

Idris Elba.

 

[Christopher]

Sam Witwer

That is a really excellent suggestion. Not only is he the right physical type, but he's an amazingly good voice actor and thus could probably do a really good job differentiating Bruce and Batman, without having to resort to that ridiculous growl Bale used.

Unfortunately, he's only known as a TV actor and the casting will probably focus on people known from movies. (Then again, Zachary Quinto was known mainly from TV when he was cast as Spock. But he had the advantage of looking strikingly like a young Leonard Nimoy.)

 

[Captaindemotion]

Sam Witwer

Unfortunately, he's only known as a TV actor and the casting will probably focus on people known from movies.

Not necessarily. Henry Cavill was best known for The Tudors when he landed the Man of Steel lead, while Joshua Jackson, who was still remembered at the time for Dawson's Creek, was in the last handful of contenders for Batman circa Begins, as was the then little-known Cillian Murphy. Brandon Routh was more or less a complete unknown when cast for Superman Returns, Guardians of the Galaxy has just cast Parks and Recreation's Chris Pratt as its lead actor. And the likes of Matthew Bomer, Mutant X's Victor Webster and Angel/Bones' David Boreanaz tested for Superman at various stages over the years.

 

[Christopher]

^Good points.

Although I think Mr. Webster would probably prefer to be identified as "Continuum's Victor Webster." It's not only more current, but less embarrassing.

 

[The Wormhole]

A few months ago I would've said that Armie Hammer had to be a frontrunner, but I imagine that the flop of The Lone Ranger has to have damaged his chances. I know Batman doesn't need a big name but they may feel that he might damage the brand. Having said that, Christian Bale had a string of flops and low-performers before BB, so they may take a gamble.

Of course, on the flip side of that coin, George Clooney was a successful, high profile actor when he was cast as Batman. And we all saw how that movie turned out.

 

[Christopher]

^Which is a shame, since Clooney is the only live-action Batman since Adam West that I've really felt was a good fit for the part. (True, West didn't look a thing like Bruce Wayne, but he totally made the role his own.) He could've been a great Batman if he'd had a good script.


I just saw another interesting suggestion online: Jensen Ackles has said he'd be up for the role. Now, I was never too impressed by what I saw of him on Smallville and Supernatural, but he did a superb job of voice acting as Red Hood in the animated movie Batman: Under the Red Hood.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^Good points.

Although I think Mr. Webster would probably prefer to be identified as "Continuum's Victor Webster." It's not only more current, but less embarrassing.

Must admit, I've never heard of Continuum, but I mentioned Mutant X because, IIRC, Webster was in that show when he auditioned for the role (I think this was circa the time that McG was to film the controversial JJ Abrams 'Flyby' script).

A few months ago I would've said that Armie Hammer had to be a frontrunner, but I imagine that the flop of The Lone Ranger has to have damaged his chances. I know Batman doesn't need a big name but they may feel that he might damage the brand. Having said that, Christian Bale had a string of flops and low-performers before BB, so they may take a gamble.

Of course, on the flip side of that coin, George Clooney was a successful, high profile actor when he was cast as Batman. And we all saw how that movie turned out.

Well, in fact, George was still a regular on ER rather than a big name movie actor when he landed the role. He didn't leave the show until 1999, though his part was reduced while he took on movie roles like The Peacemaker and Batman and Robin. Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer would have been better known actors with longer-standing movie careers under their belts at the time when they were cast.

Edit - I originally said he left ER in 2009, which was obviously a mistake

 

[Samurai8472]

If they were going with an older, experienced Batman who has been around for a while, Jim Caviezel. But since they probably want someone younger who can do six or more movies and doesn't have a TV schedule that takes up eight months of his year, how about... Ryan Reynolds?

I heard he's got some injuries that restrict him from doing too much.

The beauty of Batman is his mask. It would mostly be a stunt man as it as it has been for the majority of the 5 or 6 films.

Bale I think wore the suit the most for action scenes out of all the previous actors.

 

[Greg Cox]

Do we really want to cast Caviezel and Cavill opposite each other? Nobody would be able to keep their names straight!

(Seriously, after Cavill was cast, I ran into more than one person on-line who had him confused with Caviezel. "They cast that Jesus guy as Superman?" Etc.)

 

[Christopher]

Many would say that Jim Caviezel essentially is playing Batman on Person of Interest.

The beauty of Batman is his mask. It would mostly be a stunt man as it as it has been for the majority of the 5 or 6 films.

Uh, not in close-up or in dialogue scenes.

 

[Ryan8bit]

Do we really want to cast Caviezel and Cavill opposite each other? Nobody would be able to keep their names straight!

(Seriously, after Cavill was cast, I ran into more than one person on-line who had him confused with Caviezel. "They cast that Jesus guy as Superman?" Etc.)

I was thinking the same thing. A lot of people suggested that Caviezel play the future John Connor instead of Christian Bale, so I briefly considered him for Batman until the name thing. Well, and I don't know if I'd really buy him as Batman either.

 

[Gojira]

Matt Bomer was up for the role of Superman, many think he would make a great Batman and I agree.


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[Set Harth]

Unfortunately, he's only known as a TV actor

And videogames!

Many would say that Jim Caviezel essentially is playing Batman on Person of Interest.

And his costar played the Joker...

 

[Dark Gilligan]

Bomer's good, no question, but I rather like Ian Somerhalder. The piercing quality of his eyes would be striking in the shadows of Batman's mask. He's the right age (not quite buff enough but that's easily fixed) and already has a very large fan base. The vampire thing doesn't hurt either.

 

[Dick Whitman]

I like the suggestion of Sam Witwer a lot!

 

[Captaindemotion]

Bomer's good, no question, but I rather like Ian Somerhalder. The piercing quality of his eyes would be striking in the shadows of Batman's mask. He's the right age (not quite buff enough but that's easily fixed) and already has a very large fan base. The vampire thing doesn't hurt either.

His character in Smallville, Adam Knight, was based on Batman and derived his name from Adam West (1960s Batman) and the Dark Knight.