live-action versions of Batman moving forward. Robert Pattinson's The Batman franchise will remain its own thing while James Gunn has a new actor play Bruce Wayne in the DCU. The new Dark Knight will debut in Batman's The Brave and the Bold movie, which will also feature the live-action debut of Damian Wayne.

There have been no official updates on potential candidates to play the DCU's Batman. However, several names have emerged among fans as favorites for the role. Those include stars like The Boys' Jensen Ackles, Reacher's Alan Ritchson, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Glen Powell. The latter is the outlier due to a couple of factors. The biggest of them is that Powell has already appeared in a live-action Batman movie before, and I believe that the actor has the necessary skills to do that again, only this time, Powell would come back as Batman in the DCU's The Brave and the Bold.

Glen Powell Has Already Been Part Of A Batman Movie

The Actor Worked With Christopher Nolan

Glen Powell as a trader in The Dark Knight Rises

Powell has become one of Hollywood's most in-demand stars after charming roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone but You. However, the actor spent many years without rising to the top of the movie-making industry. That is the disappointing reality that so many young actors face, but interestingly, it was a Batman movie that showed Powell that he had what it took to hang on and eventually find success in Hollywood. Recently, Glen Powell talked about his experience in The Dark Knight Rises, where the actor appeared opposite Tom Hardy's Bane for a short scene.

Powell played a stock trader who got his head bashed against a table by Bane. Despite only having a small role in the Batman film, Powell is grateful for having been a part of it. The actor revealed that he had to go through multiple auditions to get the part, and being cast in a major movie directed by Christopher Nolan helped him see that he had potential. I think Powell ended up having one of the movie's most memorable moments, and the actor has revealed Christopher Nolan is glad he picked him early, which is a huge praise.

Glen Powell Wants To Play Batman & Make It Different From Robert Pattinson’s

The Actor Has Made his Superhero Movie Intentions Clear

I would love to see a full-circle moment for Powell, with the actor going from a stock trader in The Dark Knight Rises to playing Batman in the DCU's The Brave and the Bold. It seems like that is not only something I and other DC fans want, but Powell himself would also be open to it if the opportunity came his way. Speaking with GQ UK in May, Powell touched on the possibility of playing a superhero in the future. When asked about which character the actor saw himself as, Powell revealed he always liked Batman.

All Live-Action Batman Movie Appearances

Movie Name

Year Of Release

Batman

1943

Batman And Robin

1949

Batman: The Movie

1966

Batman

1989

Batman Returns

1992

Batman Forever

1995

Batman & Robin

1997

Batman Begins

2005

The Dark Knight

2008

The Dark Knight Rises

2012

Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

2016

Suicide Squad

2016

Justice League

2017

Joker

2019

Zack Snyder's Justice League

2021

The Batman

2022

The Flash

2023

The Batman - Part II

2026

Interestingly, Powell also revealed that he "would have a wild take on Batman," which would differ from the more grounded tone of Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne in director Matt Reeves' The Batman. Powell said his version of Batman would be more similar to Michael Keaton's. While I'm a fan of Pattinson's Dark Knight, I have to say that I'm excited about the prospect of getting a completely different take on the character if Powell gets his wish. A more fantastical version of the hero would fit better with James Gunn's DCU plans, and it would differentiate it from The Batman.

I Think Glen Powell Would Be A Perfect Fit For The DCU’s Batman

DC's New Dark Knight Has An Exciting Setup

At 36, Glen Powell is at perhaps the perfect age to play the DCU's Batman. DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran have a 10-year plan for the DC Universe, which could extend beyond that. As such, DC will need to cast an actor who can lead a decade or more of movies as Batman. Powell could easily do that. I also like that the actor would be closer in age to the DCU's Superman — who is 31, like actor David Corenswet — while Bruce Wayne would end up being just a little older.

Glen Powell and David Corenswet starred in Twisters. Powell and the Twisters cast celebrated Corenswet's Superman casting.

I think Powell's age is perfect because it is realistic for the story the DCU wants to tell with its Batman, and it would also allow the actor to be close in age to Corenswet's Superman and other younger heroes in the franchise. The Brave and the Bold's story revolves around the debut of Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's biological son. At 36, Powell would be realistic as a Batman who has a son in the 7-12 age range that would fit Damian. Besides the fourth male Robin, James Gunn has revealed that more Bat-Family characters will also appear.

Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne smiling and Batman angry
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While I could see age being a factor in Powell's possible casting as Batman, I think the actor brings much more to the table. Not only does Powell have the classic Bruce Wayne look, but the actor has shown that he would excel at playing the playboy billionaire side of the character with movies like Top Gun: Maverick and Hit Man. The latter showed Powell's acting range, as the actor played several different versions of the same character, which I think would lend itself well to Powell making the Bruce Wayne and Batman personas of the hero feel very different.

I Would Love To See Glen Powell The DCU Even If It Isn’t As Batman

Powell Would Be Perfect For A Few DC Heroes

I think that Powell would be a fantastic pick for the DCU's Batman, but if that does not happen, I want to see the actor still get a major DC role at the end of the day to complete his career shift after The Dark Knight Rises. Powell has the charisma to play some characters that could become DCU fan favorites, with one of them already being announced to have a solo project. Powell is my favorite choice to lead HBO's Booster Gold series, and the actor sees potential in the character, telling Entertainment Tonight that "Booster Gold is funny."

Another major DC hero that I could see Powell playing is Green Arrow. While Stephen Amell's version of Oliver Queen is beloved, he played the character more like Batman than a comic book-accurate Oliver Queen. After that and the DCEU chose not to use the character, Green Arrow's live-action return could be with a classic take on the character that makes him every bit as charming and funny as he is in the comics. Powell would be perfect for that version of Oliver Queen. That said, I still hold out hope that Glen Powell will be DC's new Batman.

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