The next Batman

[Edd Grayson]

Conroy was great, I still think he should play Bruce Wayne if they ever make a Batman Beyond film.

[BatmAngelus]

Thought this thread would be the best one to post this, but the Hollywood Reporter- a more legit source than others that have been reporting rumored names- says they have a list of frontrunners for the role:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/man-steel-2s-batman-actors-598856

Josh Brolin, 46 --  Warner Bros likes him a lot. He starred in the studio's Gangster Squad, and that's after he toplined the studio's 2010 dud Jonah Hex. He's also attached to star in Warners' Quasimodo project as well as Crazy for the Storm. Plus, he already has a Frank Miller connection: he leads the cast of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Robert Rodriguez's upcoming take on the Miller crime comics.
(Two sources say Brolin is the frontrunner at this stage, but a studio source dismisses the chatter, saying that the casting process hasn't even begun.)

Ryan Gosling, 32 -- Yes, Brolin's Gangster Squad co-star appears to be in the mix. He may be younger than the rest, he may be prettier than the rest, but no one questions his acting chops.

Other contenders:
Joe Manganiello, 36  -- According to several insiders, Snyder liked him as a possible Superman for Man of Steel before settling on Henry Cavill, but 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.

Richard Armitage, 41 -- The British actor appeared in TV's Strike Back, but may be best known to audiences for playing Thorin in the Hobbit movie for Warners' New Line division. He will reprise the characters for the second and third installments.

Max Martini, 43 -- He cut his teeth playing tough guys on TV in shows such as Revenge, Castle and Hawaii Five-O but won notice as a sacrificing father in Pacific Rim and will play a Navy SEAL commander in this fall's Captain Phillips.

Matthew Goode, 35 -- He's already worked with Snyder in the director's 2009 film Watchmen, in which he played Ozymandias.

I like Brolin, but I'm curious if it'd be too odd for him to take the role when his ex-wife, Diane Lane, is playing Superman's mom.

Other info:

First, some words of caution. The script is still being written, so nothing has been submitted formally to reps and actors. Two, according to sources, director Zack Snyder is only just beginning to look at actors.
But the real insight is the kind of Bruce Wayne/Batman that Snyder is looking to cast. According to numerous sources, this Wayne/Batman will be in the late 30s or around the 40 mark. He will be established and rugged. This new movie will not seek to recount an origin story or the rise of the Dark Knight. Christian Bale, The Dark Knight trilogy Batman, has said he won't return for another film.
Sources say the new movie is aiming for the tone of the relationship and fight seen in Frank Miller's 1980s ground-breaking mini-series The Dark Knight Returns

One insider says that any talk of casting is premature since the script isn't yet written. But that has not stopped studio insiders from whispering names or preventing agencies from drawing up lists of their best faces. Another insider scoffs "You might as well put Adam West in this list" and suggests that a left-of-center choice still could emerge.
Casting is likely to solidify in the coming weeks as Warner Bros wants to shoot the movie in early 2014 for a 2015 release.

[johnnygobbs]

I'm liking Brolin for the part too especially after that mock-up Ral posted.  He can play the rugged, grizzled action-man as well as the more suave playboy Bruce Wayne who I hope we get to see regardless of Frank Miller's connection to the production.  Brolin is also about three years younger than Diane Lane and bear in mind that she was playing far older than her years for the later parts of 'MOS' (hence the grey hair and slight aging makeup).  I only hope Brolin's part in the misbegotten 'Jonah Hex' hasn't put the *ahem* 'hex' on him playing another DC hero.

[BatmAngelus]

^ All true points.  Brolin's my pick out of that list, if they really want an older Batman (Brolin, at 46, would be the oldest actor to take on the role in live action). 

We'll just have to see what comes out of this.  It's important to note that even Hollywood Reporter is admitting that they're getting mixed messages and aren't sure how serious some of these candidates are.  It could be that they've taken it as far as talking to Brolin and company's agents.  Or it could simply be Snyder and WB in a room saying, "Okay, what actors are out there who could do it?"

[Silver Nemesis]

^ All true points.  Brolin's my pick out of that list, if they really want an older Batman (Brolin, at 46, would be the oldest actor to take on the role in live action).

Almost, but Adam West was 51 when he played Batman in the Legends of the Superheroes miniseries.

And yes, this was the first attempt at a live-action Justice League.

Of the names on the Hollywood Reporter list, I'd definitely go with Brolin. He's got the rugged, manly screen presence the character needs and the acting chops to pull it off. My only concerns are:
A) He already played Jonah Hex, and ideally I'd prefer an actor who has never appeared in a comic book movie before.
B) Physically he's not that close to the Batman from the comics. In fact he'd be the second shortest actor to play the part after Keaton.
But those quibbles aside, I'd be happy with Brolin. I'd definitely say no to Gosling and Goode. I'm not too familiar with the other names on that list, so I can't comment on them.

We'll just have to see what comes out of this.  It's important to note that even Hollywood Reporter is admitting that they're getting mixed messages and aren't sure how serious some of these candidates are.  It could be that they've taken it as far as talking to Brolin and company's agents.  Or it could simply be Snyder and WB in a room saying, "Okay, what actors are out there who could do it?"

Very true. At this stage it's all speculation. I doubt they've entered into serious negotiations with any actors at this stage since they haven't even got a completed script ready.

Having said that, I think we will be hearing some casting news soon. Simply because Warner Bros are fast tracking this sequel and have already scheduled filming to commence early next year. Whoever they do cast as Batman will likely have to begin physically preparing for the role within the next two or three months, and for that reason alone they'll need to pick an actor sooner rather than later.

[BatmAngelus]

Latino-Review is adding Gerard Butler to the contenders:
http://latino-review.com/2013/08/03/contenders-emerge-for-the-goddamn-batman/

The article claims that Jim Caviezel and Jon Hamm are also in contention, though LR is ruling them out since the shooting of the film would conflict with the schedules for Person of Interest and Mad Men, respectively.  Shame, too, 'cause those would be my top choices of the list.

Almost, but Adam West was 51 when he played Batman in the Legends of the Superheroes miniseries.

Ah, I was only thinking of actors' ages when they first stepped into the role.

Of the names on the Hollywood Reporter list, I'd definitely go with Brolin. He's got the rugged, manly screen presence the character needs and the acting chops to pull it off. My only concerns are:
A) He already played Jonah Hex, and ideally I'd prefer an actor who has never appeared in a comic book movie before.
B) Physically he's not that close to the Batman from the comics. In fact he'd be the second shortest actor to play the part after Keaton.
But those quibbles aside, I'd be happy with Brolin. I'd definitely say no to Gosling and Goode. I'm not too familiar with the other names on that list, so I can't comment on them.

Agreed as well, though I think they could find a way around the height.  The boots and cowl could help make up for the three-inch height difference between him and Superman (Cavill is 6'1").

As for the others, I wouldn't mind Butler either.  He's younger and more physically close to the role than Brolin.  Gosling and Goode just don't fit in my mind, physically.  I haven't seen much of Martini, but from what I've seen, I have trouble picturing him as Batman.  I think Manganiello and Armitage are possibilities, but I should watch more of each before giving an opinion.  I've only seen the former in Spider-Man and a White Collar episode and the latter in Captain America and The Hobbit.  Still, I have a feeling that it'll be someone with more name recognition, like Brolin or Butler.  But who knows, maybe I'll be wrong.

[johnnygobbs]

Latino-Review is adding Gerard Butler to the contenders:
http://latino-review.com/2013/08/03/contenders-emerge-for-the-goddamn-batman/

The article claims that Jim Caviezel and Jon Hamm are also in contention, though LR is ruling them out since the shooting of the film would conflict with the schedules for Person of Interest and Mad Men, respectively.  Shame, too, 'cause those would be my top choices of the list.

Damn because Jon Hamm would be perfect and is my favourite contender followed by Josh Brolin, who always comes across as taller than his officially listed 5'9"/5'10" height.

I would have preferred Caviezel as Superman to be honest.  He exudes the aloof otherworldly integrity of Jor El, which admittedly may be partly to do with the (Passion of the) Christ connections, rather than either the hard-bitten, down-and-dirty grit of the Miller Batman or the suave playboy persona of Bruce Wayne.

Can't Hamm work around his 'Mad Man' schedule ala Michael J. Fox circa 'Back to the Future'/"Family Ties"?  Hamm really exudes the look of a classic comic-book alpha male hero in the same way Cavill does as Superman.   

[BatmAngelus]

Another name to (possibly) add to the list: Jeffrey Dean Morgan

http://www.thinkmcflythink.com/movie-news/2013/8/6/could-jeffrey-dean-morgan-be-up-for-batman.html/

[Silver Nemesis]

I'm not sure about Morgan. He's the right height. And if he could get into the same shape he was in when he made Watchmen then he'd have an adequate build.

But he doesn't really look like any version of Bruce Wayne from the comics. He's the oldest actor that's been suggested so far and I sense his performance might end up being be a tad one note. He's not a bad actor, but he's played more or less similar characters in everything I've seen him in. And I'd prefer someone who hasn't been in a comic book movie before.

Maybe we should create individual threads for some of these actors who are being rumoured. It could be like an election campaign where we argue the merits of our preferred candidates and balance the pros and cons of the ones we're not sure about. Chances are none of these guys will get the role in the end, but it might make for some fun discussions. We could even have a vote in a few weeks time to decide which actor Batman Online endorses.

[BatmAngelus]

I agree that he's not my favorite choice.  Funny enough, a few years back when Snyder expressed interest in doing a Dark Knight Returns movie, Morgan piped in that he'd love to take on the role of the older Bruce Wayne:
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/thegeekfiles/2009/02/watchmen-star-wants-to-be-next.html

"I've heard Zack mention he'd like to do it in the media a few times recently. I'd love to see myself in that role. I don't think [Warner] will do it at the moment, not with what The Dark Knight is doing. But the studio loves Zack, and if Watchmen does as well as we hope it does, you never know, he might get a crack at this thing."