Batman is one of the most darling superheroes in the reality . Over the years ,   many different   stars have played the Caped Crusader on the big cover : Adam West , Michael Keaton , Val Kilmer , George Clooney , Christian Bale , Ben Affleck , the list last on . On top of that , there are many more actors who auditioned for Batman and   did n’t get the part .

When the time do to boot Batman ’s motion picture franchise , the producers cast a wide profits in their search for the next Dark Knight . Plenty of role player have been weigh for the part over the years ; some perfect for the role and others terrible for it .

update on March 18th , 2022 by Ben Sherlock : With the passing of Matt Reeves’The Batman , fans have been treated to a new translation of the Dark Knight . Robert Pattinson ’s brooding take on Bruce Wayne is delightfully refreshing . This Batman does n’t vex with the Corinthian facade and barely spends any metre out of the Batsuit . Like Travis Bickle , he ’s an insomniac vigilante charting his psychology through diary ledger entry . Pattinson has done a fantastic problem with the theatrical role . But , as always , he was n’t the only casting choice .

Comic book art: batman by arkham asylum

Jon Hamm

According toMovieWeb , when doubt was cast on whether or not Ben Affleck would continue to playBatman in the DC Extended Universe , Jon Hamm lobbied to replace him .

Affleck ’s casting   excite up monolithic controversy among the DC Comics fan groundwork . But , as usual , the actor whose cast was criticized by fan ended up being widely praise for   his performance .

Henry Cavill

accord toCinemaBlend , a few year before Zack Snyder cast him as Superman in the DCEU , Henry Cavill auditioned to toy Batman for Christopher Nolan . Of course , he miss the role to Christian Bale .

The darker , granular translation of the Man of Steel that Cavill play in Snyder ’s movies was criticized for kick up the cynicism of Batman more than the unwavering optimism of Superman . He ’s reluctant to use his powers to save masses and he even stamp out without much incitation .

Kurt Russell

George Clooney played Bruce Wayne inBatman & Robinand has since apologized for the movie a cluster of time and confessed to kill the enfranchisement ( although that can mostly beblamed on his director , Joel Schumacher ) . According to theL.A. Times , before Clooney was cast , the producers turn over Kurt Russell for the role .

hold Schumacher ’s camp tone , Russell ’s Batman in all likelihood would ’ve been more akin to Jack Burton fromBig Trouble in Little Chinathan Snake Plissken fromEscape from New York . The X - Files ’ David Duchovny was also consider .

Willem Dafoe

When the rumour circulated that Tim Burton had been in trace with Willem Dafoe about casting him in his first Batman movie , fan naturally speculated that Dafoe was considered for the role of the Joker .

But the actor toldMTV Newsthat he was actually under considerateness for the part of Batman himself : “ Very early , they talked to me about playing Batman . ”

Ethan Hawke

When Michael Keaton change by reversal down the luck to star in a third Batman film , Warner Bros. had to remodel the role in fourth dimension forBatman Forever . The producer bid the role to Ethan Hawke , but he reverse it down , fearing that playing the Caped Crusader would run to typecasting .

According toCollider , Hawke has since express rue over his decision because toy Batman would ’ve open a lot of doorway for his vocation .

Jake Gyllenhaal

Pattinson ’s wickedness , loom bend inThe Batmanevokes Jake Gyllenhaal ’s edgiest performances from movies likeDonnie DarkoandNightcrawler . grant toCinemaBlend , Gyllenhaal was one of the actor consider for Bruce Wayne when Christopher Nolan was visualise his groundbreaking ceremony reboot .

If Gyllenhaal had played Bruce in Nolan ’s trilogy , he would ’ve been reunite with hisBrokeback Mountainco - star topology Heath Ledger for a decidedly less romantic dynamic inThe Dark Knight .

Pierce Brosnan

When Tim Burton ’s firstBatmanmovie was in growth , the producers ’ top choice for the role of Bruce Wayne was Pierce Brosnan . However , grant toThe Guardian , Brosnan was n’t interested in playing a comic volume character , so he turn down the part .

When Michael Keaton was sick , Batman fan were horrified by the decisiveness to cast an actor known primarily for star in clowning , and the studio received thousands of ailment letters . Keaton , of course , proved the naysayers unseasonable with a definitive portrayal of Bruce Wayne .

Cillian Murphy

During Christopher Nolan ’s search for the perfect Bruce Wayne , Cillian Murphy was up for the part . According toDen of Geek , Murphy did an auditory sense for the purpose . Nolan did n’t think Murphy was correct for Bruce ( and neither did Murphy himself ) , so he was cast as the Scarecrow instead .

This is one of many examples of an histrion auditioning to toy a superhero before being cast as the villain . Tom Hiddleston audition to play Thorbefore being cast as Loki ; James Franco auditioned to flirt Peter Parker before being cast as Harry Osborn .

Josh Brolin

agree toCollider , No Country for Old Men ’s Josh Brolin was offer the role of Bruce Wayne in the DCEU’sBatman v Supermanbefore Ben Affleck was cast .

Scott Adkins also auditioned for the part , and the producers reportedly considered Richard Armitage , Luke Evans , and Orlando Bloom for the office , too .

William Baldwin

When Warner Bros. was tasked with recasting the purpose of Bruce Wayne after Michael Keaton decided not to star in a third Batman movie , the studio apartment offered the part to William Baldwin ( according to theL.A. Times ) .

Before Val Kilmer was opt , the producer also calculate at Baldwin ’s crony Alec Baldwin , as well as Daniel Day - Lewis , Johnny Depp , Ralph Fiennes , Tom Hanks , and Keanu Reeves .

Comic book art: Batman faces the four Robins: Nightwing Dick Grayson, Red Hood Jason Todd, Red Robin Tim Drake, and Robin Damian Wayne.

A collage image of Luke Skywalker in A New Hope

Heath Ledger as Bruce Wayne

Jon Hamm

Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel

Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in Escape From New York

Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn sharpening a knife in Spider-Man

Ethan Hawke in Before Sunset kneeling and looking at Julie Delpy’s character.

Danny Sharp with a machine gun in Ambulance

Bond drives a tank while also holding a gun in Goldeneye

Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow wearing his mask in Batman Begins

Josh Brolin as Cable in Deadpool 2

William Baldwin

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Batman