5 actors who could replace Ben Affleck as Batman in the DC Universe

Ben Affleck (Batman / Bruce Wayne) in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max
Ben Affleck (Batman / Bruce Wayne) in Zack Snyder's Justice League. Photograph by Courtesy of HBO Max
1 of 6
Best Batman, Batman Returns, Christmas movies, Is Batman Returns a Christmas movie?, Christmas, The Flash, Michael Keaton
Photo: Batman Returns. Image Courtesy Warner Bros. / DC Universe

Unfortunately, James Gunn and Peter Safran won’t build around Matt Reeves’ Batman, so we’ll get a new actor as the Dark Knight in the DC Universe.

With the upcoming release of The Flash, fans are eagerly anticipating the reset of the DC Extended Universe timeline, which will give the filmmakers the chance to reimagine the iconic characters from the ground up. One of the characters who is most in need of a fresh start is Batman.

While Ben Affleck’s portrayal of the Dark Knight was well-received, many fans felt that Zack Snyder’s version of the character missed the mark. We never got to see what made this Batman who he is. Instead, we were told. In fact, Affleck stated that The Flash gives us his best portrayal of his Batman.

Fortunately, James Gunn and Peter Safran are here to save the day, as they plan to introduce a new, younger Batman who will be more in line with the comics in their upcoming project The Brave and the Bold.  But who could possibly fill the shoes of the Caped Crusader?

The actor must be old enough to have an adolescent son, but young enough to carry the mantle for future films. One name that has been thrown around in fan cast circles is Richard Madden, who rose to fame as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones and has since starred in Bodyguard and Eternals. Jensen Ackles is another fan favorite but he’s on the plus side of 40, which is fine but it seems Gunn and Safran want someone a lot younger.

With the introduction of Damien Wayne, fans are also speculating that the new Batman will be a more seasoned veteran, but still have the agility and quick thinking of a younger hero. The possibilities are endless, but one thing is for sure, the new Batman will be a crucial part of the future of the DC Universe. So, someone has to play the role.