Cast This: The Batman

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

After what has seemed like years or will he or won't he, it looks like we've seen the last of Ben Affleck as Batman. As someone who genuinely enjoyed his portrayal of the Dark Knight, I have to say that I'm a little sad we won't get at least one more proper film with him in the role.

Matt Reeves (WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES) will be writing and directing THE BATMAN, which was recently given the release date of June 25, 2021, and he's repeatedly said that his take on Batman will finally do justice to the character's description as the World's Greatest Detective. "It’s very much a point of view-driven, noir Batman tale. It’s told very squarely on his shoulders, and I hope it’s going to be a story that will be thrilling but also emotional. It’s more Batman in his detective mode than we’ve seen in the films," Reeves said. "The comics have a history of that. He’s supposed to be the world’s greatest detective, and that’s not necessarily been a part of what the movies have been. I’d love this to be one where when we go on that journey of tracking down the criminals and trying to solve a crime, it’s going to allow his character to have an arc so that he can go through a transformation." Reeves is in the process of doing another pass on the script, but has said that the casting process will begin shortly as they put together their battle plan.

As we know, Bruce Wayne swore that he would bring justice to Gotham City after witnessing the murder of his parents as a child. After spending years mentally and physically preparing himself to fight crime as Batman, he uses a handful of high-tech gadgets and world-class detective work in order to take on an expansive rogue's gallery. We're no strangers to having someone new take on the cape and cowl, as we've seen Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale play Batman in feature-films over the past thirty years. It's been said that THE BATMAN will feature a younger actor in the role this time around, but just how young still seems to be up in the air. Variety's Justin Kroll has said that Matt Reeves was aiming for someone in their 20s while the studio would prefer an actor in their 30s, adding that the studio also "wants a familiar face and Reeves has his certain age in mind and that age is very specific like I said two names within 7 years of each other; 'Too young, too Old'"

We've already tackled casting Batman for The CW's Arrowverse, but now it's time to up our game and decide who should be the next big-screen Batman. I'll toss out a few ideas to get you started. One name which popped up once it was revealed that Matt Reeves' film could focus on a 20 something Batman was Timothée Chalamet (DUNE), but in all honesty, at 23 years old, he's still a little too young for my liking. Instead, I'll go for Jack O'Connell, a slightly older 20 something who greatly impressed me with his work on Netflix's Godless. Another actor who has frequently been brought up at a replacement for Ben Affleck is Armie Hammer (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME), who was actually cast as Batman in George Miller's JUSTICE LEAGUE: MORTAL before the project fell apart. Now, more than a decade later, perhaps Hammer could get a second chance and take on the mantle of the Dark Knight once again. For my final suggestion, I'll go with Dan Stevens (APOSTLE). With Legion set to conclude with its upcoming third season, the time is right for Stevens to break out with a big-screen superhero role.

Remember, you're free to suggest anyone in the comments, so let your inner casting director run wild!

Previously on Cast This, you were asked to fill the role of the Next James Bond Girl, which isn't quite so easy a task as there are countless actresses out there who could fit the bill. As always, you came through magnificently with awesomes choices. Jessica Chastain (DARK PHOENIX) proved to be a popular pick, but there were plently of other great suggestions as well including Marion Cotillard (ASSASSIN'S CREED), Karen Gillan (JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE), and Elizabeth Debicki (WIDOWS).