By now, you all have heard that the next installment of the Man of Steelfranchise will feature the Big Blue Boy Scout facing off against The Batman. Announced at last month’s Comic-Con, director Zack Snyder used Frank Miller‘s The Dark Knight Returns comic as just the inspiration necessary to ignite fans around the possible sequel.
While there is still no script in the works, that won’t stop us (or anyone else for that matter) from trying to predict who will don the legendary cape and cowl formerly worn by Christian Bale. In a rumor that was dropped by The Hollywood Reporter, there’s already a potential casting list of names that are being thrown around that include True Blood‘s Joe Manganiello and Brit actor Richard Armitage.
The premise of these two Justice Leaguefounders finally being featured in a blockbuster film together for the first time is quite an exciting idea. Adapting Frank Miller’s catastrophic tale, which pits Supes against Bats in a battle for the ages, will equally make comic book fans happy since DC Comics hasn’t really struck gold with their own live action film projects.
Either way you slice it, now that a Superman/Batman movie has been officially confirmed, we’ve singled out these actors who possess the skills to instill criminals with fear and the philanthropic charisma to play the Bruce Way/Batman role convincingly.
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Richard Armitage
A regular across the water on BBC‘s exceptionally awesome show Spooks, Armitage plays one of the British government’s most respected intelligence agents. While most movie fans will be getting acquainted with him as king-to-be Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, his 6’2″ frame, rugged handsomeness and intimidating nature make him a great fit for the rebooted version of Batman.
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Matthew Goode
Most of the names tossed out on this list are admittingly nothing more than rumors at this point. The upcoming Batman vs. Superman film finds this actor falling into our ‘too famous,’ ‘too unproven,’ or ‘been there done that’ categories. Can you figure out which one Matthew Goode is? He’s already worked with director Zack Snyder in the director’s 2009 film Watchmen, in which he played Ozymandias. Nerditry aside, does the 35-year-old make your cut as those who could become the Dark Knight?
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Anson Mount
While his face may scream that of Cullen Bohannon from AMC‘s Hell On Wheels, this actor brings a lot to the role even when he isn’t given lots of dialogue to work with. Before his time on the small screen, Mount managed to bring a young Britney Spears to her knees in her big screen debut, Crossroads(2002), which means that portraying the heartthrob known as Bruce Wayne isn’t quite a stretch. Mount’s build and intimidating look (see: Safe with Jason Statham) could match well against Henry Cavill‘s good guy on a mission. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Anson Mount is a really talented actor.
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Tyler Hoechlin
You might be wondering to yourself, aloud even, “Who is this guy?!” For the 20 million odd fans of MTV‘s Teen Wolf, Tyler Hoechlin is one of the premiere faces of the show. When word broke online that the hunky actor is screen testing alongside Henry Cavill to possibly play Batman, the Internet itself almost broke from pure confusion. Although unproven, the 25-year-old Hoechlin brings an awareness, an intensity and legion of female fans that will make any studio exec perk up in his (or her) seat. Is this enough to play the Caped Crusader? We shall see.
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Alexander Skarsgård
When you’re extremely handsome, the son of a screen legend, and look fantastic in a suit, why shouldn’t Alexander Skarsgård be considered to play Batman. At 6’4″, he towers over Superman, who would measure up at 6-foor-even. He’s consistently been on the shortlist for a number of high profile tentpole projects over the years. With his lead role in Tarzanon hold, 2014 could see the Swedish actor going from vine-swinger to Caped Crusader in what could be unquestionably a terrific spot of casting.
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt
At the end of Christopher Nolan‘s epic Dark Knighttrilogy, many were intrigued with the prospect of the former child actor stepping into the big boy boots of Batman. With him and fellow young thespian Ryan Gosling leading the books as to whom will play the Caped Crusader, there’s even wages being placed by those with an interest hoping to make the right pick. Gordon-Levitt, who stands as the 3/1 favorite to play the role, lacks the physical intimidation and brooding demeanor to accurately portray Bats. But director Zack Snyder has already rewritten Superman’s origin story, so there’s no telling if he would adopt a new look for the Dark Knight too.
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Luke Evans
If Warner Bros. doesn’t go with Joseph Gordon-Levitt to play Bats, but they still want to cast lesser-known but proven actors as its superheroes, then Luke Evans would be a great successor to the cape and cowl. The Welsh actor has had a heap of exemplary performances in films (see: The Three Musketeers, the upcoming Fast Six) and his unpredictability could factor well in a brouhaha between Bats and the Man of Steel. Aside from the fact that he’s already worked with Henry Cavill in Immortals, Evans star will surely hit the stratosphere when movie fans see him as ‘Bard the Bowman’ in the upcoming The Hobbittrilogy.
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Matt Bomer
The lead in USA Networks‘ White Collar, this Spring, Texas, actor is well versed in the art of “legal action”. His trait of being stingy and sterile in a world full of crooked millionaires is just the acumen fans would be intrigued to see him pull off in the role of Bruce Wayne. He’s no stranger to playing within the DC Universe, as he voiced Superman in this year’s animated feature, Superman: Unbound. Add to the fact that Bomer gained more female fans than just a bit after his appearance in Steven Soderbergh‘s MagicMike and you might just have the makings of a perennial all-star addition to the Justice League.
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Bradley Cooper
He’s been a part of big blockbuster films and indie delights. He has the cockiness and the charisma to play a young upstart version of Bruce Wayne, as well as handle the demands of a popular film franchise. Good-looking enough to woo the ladies (possibly swiping Lois Lane from Supes on the low); capable of handling himself in a fight (see: The A-Team); and his self-assurance and arrogance could work well for Batman’s potential feud with the all-American boy scout Superman.
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Joe Manganiello
According to The Hollywood Reporter, he is one of the few actors truly shortlisted to play the role of Bruce Wayne, and even have a quote from an insider confirming Zack Snyder‘s interest in him. “Snyder liked him as a possible Superman for ‘Man of Steel’ before settling on Henry Cavill,” the blurb reads. “One major stumbling block was the schedule that Alan Ball had him on for filming ‘True Blood’, the HBO vampire series in which Manganiello plays a werewolf.” Imposingly tall, very charismatic, and able to handle himself in a fight. Add to the mix that Manganiello has no projects upcoming for 2014, and you may very well just have your Batman.
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Orlando Bloom
Proven he’s able to carry a franchise (see: Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings), Orlando is supposedly the hot new contender to take over the bat-mantle. Those roles don’t necessarily prove that he’s able to command the brooding intensity and fierce internal torment that lives within Bruce Wayne. But, intriguingly enough, if Bloom were to get the role it would mean that America’s three most iconic superheroes (Bloom, Henry Cavill and Andrew Garfield) would all be played by Brits for the first time.
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Idris Elba
Supremely talented. Incredibly gifted. All these descriptors and more can be pegged to Idris Elba. His roles on The Wire and Luther proved that he can be intimidating and sleuth-like. While his appearance in the Marvel actioner Thor and this summer’s Pacific Rim showcased his ability to play a super heroic character. Those credits might be enough to win over the legion of comic book nerds who would use his race to detract him from the list of these other capable actors.
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Josh Brolin
It’s no secret that Warner Bros. likes him a lot. He’s managed to play a heavy-handed hitter in The Gangster Squad; a DC Comics‘ hero in Jonah Hex, and has a Frank Miller connect as he leads the cast of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. He’s old enough to play the grizzled, anti-social vigilante that Miller’s tale would require, and charismatic enough to woo the pantalones off a would-be damsel in distress. At this stage, Brolin is a safe pick for the studio to make, but does that mean he’s the right choice?
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Ryan Gosling
Judging by his critically-acclaimed performance in Driveand Only God Forgives,Gosling is adept at playing tortured souls. As Bruce Wayne / Batman, he can perfectly handle the duality of being Gotham’s last bastion of hope and one of Earth’s mightiest heroes. He’s handsome and can woo the ladies as proven in Crazy, Stupid, Lovethat would find him working that “cocky guy in a suit” angle. Add to that his major box office draw both critically and commercially, and the former Mickey Mouse Clubmember would make a very viable fit to Man of Steel 2indeed.
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Jon Hamm
Purely a man’s man with the charisma to match, Mad Man‘s Jon Hamm is an intriguing choice to make as the Dark Knight. Although he is a bit older, if director Zack Snyder chooses to go fully with Frank Miller‘s adaptation, then he would be an ideal candidate. He’s cool under pressure, taller than his good-guy counterpart, and has an awesome chin that would look good in a one-on-one fight against Supes. Hell, even his voice will sound right coming out of that cowl. But will he be the studio’s choice to play the World’s Greatest Detective?
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