Top 10 Actors Who Could Play Batman Next

Who will be the next to don the cowl? Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down the top ten actors who could play Batman next. For this list, we’re looking at the top ten actors who could portray the Dark Knight if those rumors about Ben Affleck bowing out of the role in the near future prove to be true. #10: Luke Evans There’s more than a couple of similarities between Dracula and the Caped Crusader, and we’re not just talking about their mutual affinity for capes. Both are dark, brooding creatures of the night, tortured by their pasts and ready to spring from the shadows at any moment before returning to their swanky digs to sleep the day away. That’s why we think that the “Dracula Untold” star might be a good fit for Gotham’s favorite crimefighter. The Welsh actor also has experience behind the wheel of some fancy cars, and his turn as Gaston in the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” isn’t too far removed from the cocky affectations of Bruce Wayne. #9: Justin Theroux You may recognize this lantern-jawed leading man from his starring role on HBO’s “The Leftovers,” or from small roles in everything from “American Psycho” to David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive.” You’d be hard-pressed to find an actor who looks more like a comic book illustration come to life, with his granite chin and hairline sharper than the edge of a Batarang. Add in the action chops he showed off in “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and you have a pretty decent bat-candidate on your hands. He’s also got David Lynch’s phone number, and we can’t be the only ones out there curious to see a Lynch-style “Batman” movie. Oh, we are? Really? Well, never mind. #8: Josh Brolin This actor is no stranger to comic book roles, with outings both as the time-traveling mutant Cable and the Marvel big-bad Thanos on the horizon. And also Jonah Hex, but we don’t talk about that one. With an impressive stature, a commanding baritone and the acting skills to pull off virtually any role you throw at him, he’d a great choice to don the cape and cowl. There’s a reason he’s dipped a foot in almost every comic book franchise currently in theatres: few other actors can play a convincing nemesis for everyone from the Merc with a Mouth to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. #7: Richard Armitage You probably remember seeing him first as Thoren Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit” trilogy, but this English actor has been around longer than you might expect. With a career that spans TV and film, he’s got enough experience to pull off a variety roles. A turn as the Dark Knight wouldn’t even be his first foray into comic book movies. In “Captain America: The First Avenger”, he portrayed the Hydra assassin responsible for the death of Abraham Erskine, the scientist who created Cap’s super soldier serum. He also recently lent his gravelly voice to the stoic demon slayer Trevor Belmont in Netflix’s epic “Castlevania” series. #6: Jake Gyllenhaal It might be hard at first to see the former “Donnie Darko” star stepping into the boots of a character like Batman, but hear us out. A dedicated actor with a nuanced grasp of his craft, the California native has shown off his ability to play obsessives in films like “Nightcrawler” and “Zodiac”, as well as some serious physical capabilities when he portrayed boxer Billy Hope in Antoine Fuqua’s “Southpaw”. For a tortured character like Batman, who also happens to be built like a brick house, we can easily see this talented thespian doing a fantastic job in the role, especially if he starts practicing his Batman voice. #5: Armie Hammer This Los Angeles-born actor has come a long way since appearing in a double role as identical twins in “The Social Network”. He’s since appeared in a number of action-driven roles, from the shootout thriller “Free Fire” to a memorable turn in “The Man from UNCLE”. It’s that last one that makes us think he’d be a great Batman, as the driven, humorless KGB agent he portrayed in the film was just a cape and tights away from already being a superhero himself. And so what if he’s blonde? Dye that sandy mane jet black and you’ve got a prime contender for the next cinematic Batman. #4: Idris Elba Since his career-making performance as Stringer Bell on HBO’s “The Wire”, this London-born actor has been making some serious waves, especially after landing a recurring role in Marvel’s “Thor” series that further rocketed his star skywards. In addition to his work as a blockbuster lead, he’s also appeared in gritty dramas like Netflix’s “Beasts of no Nation” and the ongoing cop drama “Luther”. With an excellent onscreen presence, impressive physique and charm to spare, he’d be a great fit for the Caped Crusader. He’s more than capable of pulling off a role like Batman. #3: Michael Fassbender When you’ve played everyone from Macbeth to Magneto, Batman is child’s play. Rising to fame with roles in “300”, “Inglourious Basterds” and of course his turn as the Master of Magnetism in the “X-Men” franchise, this actor has a range like few other actors working today. He’s played psychopaths, robots, detectives and more, so it’s hardly a stretch to imagine him suiting up as Batman. We can easily see him bringing new levels of depth and pathos to the Dark Knight, making for a more nuanced and layered portrayal of the character than we’ve seen in a long while. If nothing else, we know he looks good in a cape. #2: Karl Urban You need a lot of qualities to play Batman, and your ability to scowl is one of them. If nothing else, this New Zealand actor’s turn in 2012’s “Dredd” proves he can scowl with the best of them. Sporting a resume that includes “The Lord of the Rings”, “Star Trek” and most recently “Thor: Ragnarok,” this actor is no stranger to massive franchises, but his commitment and versatility make him a good fit for almost any project. We can definitely him taking over the role and bringing that same intensity and raspy voice to Batman that he used to be an amazing Judge Dredd. Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable mentions Ryan Gosling Clive Owen Oscar Isaac #1: Jon Hamm The star of HBO’s “Mad Men” could honestly play either Superman or Batman if he needed to, combining a face that looks like it was carved out of granite with the kind of deep, authoritative baritone that could easily be heard lecturing a criminal on the error of their ways. The actor has never ventured into comic book movie territory, and despite small roles in movies like “Sucker Punch” and “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, he’s kept his distance from blockbuster sci-fi or fantasy. But if he ever decides to change that, we’d love to see him as the next Dark Knight.