While the world waits with bated breath for the next installment in the Dark Knight saga, fans of the Caped Crusader are busy debating the question: Who is the next actor to don the cowl?
The debate took an interesting turn when, earlier this month, it was revealed that Warner Bros. had plans to reboot the Batman franchise with a younger, hipper cast. But just who will don the cowl in the forthcoming movie?
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Batman franchise, let’s take a look at the actors who have played the masked vigilante in the past.
Jack Nicholson
Arguably the greatest of all time, Jack Nicholson famously donned the cape and cowl in 1967’s Batman, and reprised the role in 1989’s brilliant Batman Returns. Jack’s portrayal of the Dark Knight was such an iconic moment in film that, when he agreed to reprise the role in Darren Aronofsky’s much hyped but underwhelming The Wolverine, many fans were disappointed.
Still, we have to admire Wolverine’s stealthy acrobatics and Jack’s consummate portrayal of a tortured genius. And let’s not forget about the countless imitators that followed in his wake, from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns to The Wolfman, Zorro, and so many more.
Michael Keaton
Actor Michael Keaton won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2013 for his brilliant portrayal of an aging Bruce Wayne in the movie adaptation of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. The film is widely considered one of the best superhero origin stories of all time, and one of the greatest comic book films of all time.
Many fans were anticipating a sequel, and while Keaton’s involvement in the upcoming Joker movie has yet to be officially confirmed, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he reprised his role as Batman for another installment in the franchise.
Christopher Nolan
The Dark Knight’s director, Christopher Nolan, has also been a major reason for the franchise’s enduring popularity. The British director has worked tirelessly to create stories that entertain and thrill his fans while also sticking to the basics of good storytelling.
The result is a series of dark but compelling films that ask audiences to connect with the characters and invest their time and energy in the story. While the films vary in style and tone, they all share a unique vision that has resonated with audiences around the world.
Michael Mann
Speaking of good storytelling, let’s not forget about the great British director Michael Mann. His films are often characterized by their heightened realism and attention to detail, and his 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises is considered one of the greatest superhero films of all time. In addition to being an incredible filmmaker, Michael Mann is also one of the best designers of capes and cowls of all time.
The Dark Knight Rises opens with a famous quote from Alfred: “It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s… ” With that first line, Mann establishes a rhythm that continues for the rest of the film. Like Jack Nicholson before him, Michael Mann’s Batman is often imitated but never duplicated. From his first cinematic roar to his final, blood curdling scream, Mann’s Batman is etched into film history. The Dark Knight Rises is a must-see for any fan of the superhero genre.
Val Kilmer
Let’s not forget about Val Kilmer, who famously donned the cowl in 1995’s Batman Forever. The actor also happened to play the character in the 1990 TV series, therefore making him (sort of) a part of the Batman family. Val Kilmer’s Batman was the epitome of the ‘90s ‘bromance’ between the Caped Crusader and his sidekick Robin, and the actor brought a likable goofiness to the role that endeared him to fans. But like Nicholson, Nolan, and Mann before him, Val Kilmer was not meant to be the star of the Batman franchise. He will always be remembered for the part though.
Tim Burton
Tim Burton’s stylings made him the perfect fit to bring a gothic sensibility to the world of superheroes. And while he may not have been the first to don the cowl (that honor goes to Boris Karloff), he certainly gave it a new life in the ‘90s. Burton also brought a colorful chaos to the streets of Gotham City that brought a whole new dimension to the universe of Batman. Whether it was his cinematic interpretation of Jack the Ripper or his delightfully camp interpretation of the Penguin, Burton’s Batman is surely one of the most memorable creations of all time.
Jim Carrey
Actor Jim Carrey has been associated with the Batman franchise since its very beginning. He first portrayed the Caped Crusader in 1992’s Batman Returns, and went on to reprise the role in 2003’s Batman Begins and 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises. While his involvement in the first two movies was little more than cameos, Carrey had larger roles in the last two films. He even went on to appear as himself in the unmade sequel to that first Batman film, where he was set to reprise his role as the Joker.
But if you’ve seen one Jim Carrey movie, you’ve seen them all. Whether he’s playing an anthropomorphic animal or creating chaos as the Riddler, Jim Carrey always has something new up his sleeve. Despite his busy schedule, Jim Carrey has found time to lend his voice to several video games and even appeared on Broadway in 2016 in the title role of Hamlet. Hopefully, we’ll see more of Jim Carrey in the future.
Jackie Robinson
While we’re on the subject of Broadway, how about Jackie Robinson, who played the role of baseball legend Jackie Robinson in a 2016 Tony Award-winning revival of the 1937 classic The Rise of Louis the XIII. The role, which won the actor a Tony, required him to don the cowl for seven performances a week, a total of nearly 200 hours of filming. So it seems that the demanding role of baseball’s first African-American manager (and the character’s resemblance to Robinson’s own life) was more than just a coincidence.
While the 2016 production was a critical and commercial success, fans of the original 1937 version have long desired a remake. With a predominantly black cast and crew, it seems as though the show might finally satisfy that demand. And let’s not forget about that other famous baseball player whose name is on the game: Ted Williams, who played the role of Commissioner Gordon in the 1966 TV series. Perhaps they’ll team up again soon to bring some justice to those who would dare defy the ban of Major League Baseball on cross-dressing. After all, you can never have too much justice.
Morgan Freeman
Actor Morgan Freeman has appeared in several movies and TV shows, but he is probably better known to fans for playing the wizard Zabra in the Harry Potter series. While most people probably associate Morgan Freeman with Harry Potter, he has also had recurring roles in House M.D., Fringe, and The Big Bang Theory, among others.
Recently, he revealed that he’d been approached about playing a superhero or a supervillain, and that he’d be open to the idea of donning the cowl. While we await future projects from Morgan Freeman, let’s hope that he chooses a character that isn’t based on another comic book legend. The last thing we want is for him to become Superman.
Robert Pattinson
Finally, we arrive at the most recent addition to our list of possible Batmans, Robert Pattinson. Like many of the other actors on this list, Pattinson has played multiple roles in the Batman franchise, starting with an uncredited role as a child in 1989’s Batman and evolving into his most recent starring role as the young Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises.
While we can’t know for certain which part Robert Pattinson will play in the upcoming Joker movie (rumors vary from a cameo to a full villainous role), one thing is for certain: His portrayal of the Joker will be memorable. The British actor has been lauded for his singular take on the Joker and his commitment to portraying a character that is often considered to be one of the most difficult to inhabit. It’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing a lot more from Robert Pattinson in the future!
As we’ve established, all of these actors have played the role of Batman at one time or another. There is, however, one more candidate, one we’ve barely mentioned up until now: Laurence Fishburne.