Photo credit: DarkKnightNews.com
This week, we received word that DC’s next Batman movie – which will be titled The Batman – has officially been written and submitted for approval to Warner Bros. And apparently, it’s a hit:
Well that’s a good start!
Even though there hasn’t been even one detail released about the actual story line, writer/director Matt Reeves – known for helming such movies as Cloverfield and two of the most recent Planet of the Apes films – does apparently have a refined and impassioned vision for the film.
As far back as last year, Reeves let us know that this movie will focus much more so on the psyche of Bruce Wayne and the inner turmoil he faces each day, as opposed to the overplayed “good guy vs. bad guy” cookie-cutter approach we see in virtually all superhero movies. That is not to say that the Caped Crusader isn’t going to have to swoop in and save the day at some point – after all, it’s still freakin’ Batman – but it seems as though we’re going to get a bit more insight into the man behind the mask in this one.
As reported yesterday by CinemaBlend, Reeves further fueled such speculation recently when he mentioned a certain classic piece of literature that he’s been looking to for inspiration:
One of the things that I’ve found interesting, just as we’re working on the story, is looking back at Jekyll and Hyde, and the idea of your shadow-self, and the idea of, we are all multiple things. It’s different aspects of who we are, and I think there are times when maybe the surface of Bruce is not really who he is, but that’s his disguise. There are times when Batman’s the disguise, but there are times when his true essence comes out, because by being veiled, a kind of instinctual side comes out that’s very pure.
The point being: this isn’t going to be your typical, run-of-the-mill Batman story, and I’m actually on board with the direction Reeves seems to be taking the film.
But rather than continue to project about something for which we have so little to go off of, I am going to speculate about exactly who should play Bruce in the movie.
Contrary to what some may believe, Ben Affleck still hasn’t officially said he’s done playing the role. After checking into a rehab facility in late August, for the third time in recent years, many believed that it was pretty much over for him – not just in the DCEU but perhaps Hollywood in general. However, it’s been reported that after successfully completing 30 days in rehab, Affleck was seen at Warner Bros. studios on Wednesday, with what is believed to be a script of The Batman in hand.
Maaaaaybe we haven’t seen the last of Ben after all.
Does this mean he’s definitely back in? Absolutely not. But is it a sign that we could potentially see Affleck as Bruce Wayne at least one more time? It could be.
For what it’s worth, I have actually enjoyed Affleck’s portrayal of The World’s Greatest Detective much more so than I ever thought I would. I would actually endorse the idea of bringing him back for the role, as long as he seemed truly committed and willing to accept Reeves’s vision.
But just in case that’s not in the cards, here’s a quick look at my top candidates to replace him and step in as the next Bruce, if need be:
Jon Hamm
I’m not going to take credit for coming up with this one, as rumors connecting the 47-year-old to a leading role as Batman have been floating out there for quite some time. Hamm has not been bashful whatsoever regarding his interest in such a role, but he’s also quick to point out how he’s not had one concrete conversation with anyone regarding any serious offers to do so. It seems as though this is simply the product of fanboy-fueled Internet dreams, but maybe it could actually become a reality. He’s got Bruce’s charm and good looks, and there’s no doubt he can kick some ass. He may need to tone down his excellent comedic chops to play the vapid, empty vessel that is Bruce Wayne, but we know that won’t be an issue with his incredible range. He could definitely pull it off. And most importantly, he really wants to.
Armie Hammer
One of Hollywood’s biggest rising stars has been mentioned by some as a good candidate for the role. After first coming onto the scene in 2010’s The Social Network, Hammer has continued to impress with pretty much every role he’s taken on since. In fact, just between his respective supporting roles in J. Edgar and Call Me by Your Name, Hammer has won 13 different awards. Due to the heavy nature of both films, he shouldn’t have any trouble taking on the darker, more intimate elements that we are expected to see in Reeves’s film. He also already starred next to the DCEU’s maybe-still-current-but-we-don’t-know-yet Superman, Henry Cavill, in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and was The Lone Ranger in Disney’s 2013 take on the classic tale. His resume is heavy in both drama and action, making him seem like an almost too perfect fit.
Bradley Cooper
For a guy known for being a comedic actor during the early portion of his career, Cooper has dabbled a bit in the action world over the past few years. While I wouldn’t really consider 2010’s The A-Team as an “action” flick, he did take on the role of Chris Kyle in American Sniper and excelled. Much like Bruce Wanye, the character of Kyle was also forced to deal with immense internal strife throughout the entirety of the film. And while he technically was only the voice of a CGI-created raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, he did once audition for the part of Green Lantern, so like Hamm we already know he’s a comic book guy. (And apparently he couldn’t resist from reading the script at the audition in a Batman-esque voice, so he’s already got an obvious affinity for The Caped Crusader). He also already has that inherent douchey, rich-guy look about him. He just looks like a trust-fund baby, and I’d totally buy into him as Bruce.
John Krasinski
That’s right. From office prankster to Gotham’s protector, Krasinski is my sneaky and top choice to play the role. If you’ve seen A Quiet Place, it’s obvious that he can play the role of protector. And while I’ve yet to check out Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Krasinski has been getting rave reviews as the ass-kicking CIA operative. Though it still might be tough for some to see him as anything other than ole Jim Halpert, I think the DCEU would absolutely hit it right out of the park by attempting to make this one happen.
We still have a long way to go before production starts, which is expected to happen some time around Summer 2019, and a lot can change before this time. But it’s still fun to speculate in the meantime.
Who do you think should play Bruce? What do you think of my choices? Let us know in the comments below or The 300s Facebook page!
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