I never really liked the Nolan/Bale Batman. I appreciated it as a kind of else worlds spin, but Batman should be a detective, a genius and not a murderer. None of which applied to Bale's Batman. So that they are going to inevitably reboot gives me hope I can see the character as he should be (or at least as I think he should be) on film. The Batman from Year One, from War Games, from Hush. That's who I want to see.

Then comes the question of who should play Batman. Who has the charm and charisma to play Bruce Wayne as well as the acting chops to be an intimidating force of the night, clinging to the shadows. I can imagine him donning a convincing Matches Malone persona while growling at someone in the cowl.

These are my choices in order, although I would be curious what others think.

1. My first choice is Eric Bana..

I think Eric Bana has the physique, the right look and the acting chops to pull of Batman. He is certainly charismatic enough for Bruce Wayne, and has played some pretty dark roles. I don't think he would have any problem nailing the dark obsessed detective Batman.

2. My second choice is Jensen Ackles

I think Jensen is an excellent actor. I mainly know him from his show Supernatural, where he plays a very charismatic, dark and at times very intimidating character. I think he would make an excellent Bruce Wayne, and be a very intimidating Batman. On Supernatural he has played many roles and does a lot of detective work anyway....I think he should be a very strong candidate for the role.

3. My third choice is Joe Manganiello.

I know Joe Manganiello from True Blood where his acting is fine. He plays a dark character, but having seen him on How I Met Your Mother I think he could play a charming and charismatic Bruce Wayne. I think he has the right look and a good build for the character. I haven't seen enough of his acting to make him higher in my list, but I would be excited to see how it would turn out if he were cast.

4. My final choice is Michael Fassbender.

I was mainly sold on Michael Fassbender for his performance of David in Prometheus. I think he did such a great job there, that I certainly think he could handle being a charming Bruce Wayne...although I'd like to see him be intimidating. Not a top choice, but I wouldn't be upset if he were cast. I'm not sure he really looks the part, but I would be interested to see where it went. I'd certainly prefer him over other fancast choices like Ryan Gosling or Channing Tatum.

The reason I'm not adding John Ham is because I think he would make a far better Superman than a Batman.

What do you guys think?

All pretty awful choices, but I guess Eric Bana would be the most tolerable.

Why do you think they are awful choices? Who would you prefer?

any of the last 2 . jensen ackles is destined to be guy gardner no other role will do!!!

#3 or Jensen Ackles

@SoA: He destined to be Jason Todd...

@SoA:How is that guy destined to be a ginger with a bowl cut?

Option 5: Ryan Gosling (with dyed hair)

Drive

Ides of March

Blue Valentine

Gangster Squad

Gallery

@Teerack said:

Ally pretty awful choices

That kid is a better casting choice

Fassbender.

@OutlawRenegade said:

Option 5: Ryan Gosling (with dyed hair)

Drive

Ides of March

Blue Valentine

Gangster Squad

Gallery

agreed

John Hamm is never picked...

@MuyJingo: Probably some one new or rather unheard of because there aren't any big names i can think of that i think could do Bruce Wayne justice.

Batman aside I'd love to see Matt Bomer as the Riddler

@Teerack said:

@MuyJingo: Batman aside I'd love to see Matt Bomer as the Riddler

Only if he's an FBI agent who's trying to find out Batman's identity and who secretly moonlights as a serial killer who leaves behind clue because he's a narcissist.

Also, throw in the court of owls as another threat, and you have a movie.

@JakeN7 said:

How is that guy destined to be a ginger with a bowl cut?

If I may...

@JonSmith:Yes you certainly may! That was amazing! One of the best fan-trailers I've seen. Would love to see him do it over again now that Dark Knight Rises is out, plenty more footage to use.

@OutlawRenegade: @havoc1201: Ryan Gosling is too ..pretty. I don't think he is right for the role. I'd much rather see what he can accomplish as the Joker.

@ALFMutant: If you read the OP, I said I didn't choose John Hamm because I think he would make a far better Kal-El.

@Teerack:Why do you think Ackles or Bana would not do Batman justice? Not trying to argue, just curious as I can see them being pretty perfect for the role. Ackles has already done a lot of Batman type stuff on Supernatural.

@MuyJingo said:

@OutlawRenegade: @havoc1201: Ryan Gosling is too ..pretty. I don't think he is right for the role.

I call bull****. Bruce Wayne is one of the most handsome men in the DC universe. He's a handsome billionaire playboy. That's who he is. Ask all 100 million women he's laid. You're not supposed to think that Bruce and Bats are the same. Ryan can act both roles, and he is at a great age to carry the franchise unlike a lot of the others mentioned. Furthermore he is in great shape, he's got a name that will put people in seats, and he's the same height as Cavill. But I would understand you being jealous. =P

@MuyJingo said:

@Teerack:Why do you think Ackles or Bana would not do Batman justice? Not trying to argue, just curious as I can see them being pretty perfect for the role. Ackles has already done a lot of Batman type stuff on Supernatural.

Like this!

I say this guy!

of those four, I would only see Fassbender or Bana. Jensen is not a good enough actor to carry a film like that and the same goes double for the guy from true blood.

I could see gosling, maybe and, although John Hamm looks like a superhero, I think he's too old at this point to be put into a position to play Bruce for any extended time.

IMO, the next person to play batman should be relatively unknown, or not extremely well known.

Out of those four? Fassbender.

@Tmul501: I think Jensen could be surprising....he is a pretty impressive actor in my book. Smallville and his movies were pretty hammy, but he has done some impressive and heavy stuff on his show.

totally agree with outlawrenegade on this, he is a great actor and is in amazing shape, the people you picked are older and Bana is a badass but i cant see him or the others you picked playing a great batman

@Jean199999@MuyJingo : Jensen Ackles was great as Jason Todd in Under the Hood. I'm sure he'd give an equally great live action performance as Jason Todd.

Gosling doesn't look the part. I think Bana is a far better choice...lets see what Gosling does with a villian instead.

bana is to old, Gosling looks like he is Bruce wayne and he can play dark as well so i feel he is by far the best choice.

Fassbender !

1.) People stop. Bana can't act to save his life. Please stop.

2.) Jensen Ackles NEEDS to be in a Jason Todd movie. I could see him being in the Nolanverse very easily. Oh and by need, I mean I NEED HIM to be in a Jason Todd movie.

3.) No, dye his hair blonde make him Aquaman, he doesn't have the right air about him to make him a dark brooding character.

4.) He doesn't have the right build or face to be Batman.

5.) John Hamm, maybe if he can bulk up.

@havoc1201: Gosling looks nothing like Bruce Wayne, lol.

Bana is 44, but could easily play a 35 yaer old Bruce Wayne with makeup and such, 35 is the ideal age for Batman on film IMO...

Actually out of all of them I think the guy from True Blood looks most like Bruce Wayne.@spidermonkey2099: Agreed, I would be happy with hiim as Jason Todd also.

@MuyJingo: i could not disagree with you more for one how does the guy from true blood look the most like Bruce Wayne? and Bana would not be able to fit his big ears and nose into a cowl

Michael Fassbender for the incredible curbstomp.

@havoc1201: Because he is tall dark and handsome, and has the build I would expect from Bruce Wayne. Ryan is pretty damn far from looking like Bruce Wayne. Again, keep him as a villain. You don't think Bana in the photo with his shirt off could be Bruce training?

@TheCrowbar:

1) That's pretty darn silly

3) That's pretty darn silly, since that's what he plays.

5) Hamm for Superman, not Batman.

@MuyJingo: i just cant see bana as batman i think he is a great actor but not batman

I don't see Gosling as batman. I don't think he's that good of an actor, he kind of annoys me in the movies he's in to be honest.

Sorry, can't see any of them as Batman.

And just saying, but I think that Bale was perfect for that particular take on Bruce/Batman

There is a serious lack of Fassbender-love on this forum.

@MuyJingo said:

@TheCrowbar:

1) That's pretty darn silly

3) That's pretty darn silly, since that's what he plays.

5) Hamm for Superman, not Batman.

All your opinions are silly too! See I can play that game too.

@havoc1201 said:

@OutlawRenegade said:

Option 5: Ryan Gosling (with dyed hair)

Drive

Ides of March

Blue Valentine

Gangster Squad

Gallery

agreed

@OutlawRenegade said:

@MuyJingo said:

@OutlawRenegade: @havoc1201: Ryan Gosling is too ..pretty. I don't think he is right for the role.

I call bull****. Bruce Wayne is one of the most handsome men in the DC universe. He's a handsome billionaire playboy. That's who he is. Ask all 100 million women he's laid. You're not supposed to think that Bruce and Bats are the same. Ryan can act both roles, and he is at a great age to carry the franchise unlike a lot of the others mentioned. Furthermore he is in great shape, he's got a name that will put people in seats, and he's the same height as Cavill. But I would understand you being jealous. =P

@OutlawRenegade said:

Option 5: Ryan Gosling (with dyed hair)

Drive

Ides of March

Blue Valentine

Gangster Squad

Gallery

This. Gosling is by far the most qualified.

Bana is old and he doesn't have the look. True blood is too tall compared to Cavill, and his acting is questionable at best. Fassbender will be too old pretty soon, and he's more of a James Bond anyway. Ackles is a TV actor who doesn't have the chops for film.

I love how muyjingo has no real reason to not choose Gosling other than jealousy over his looks. "He should play a villain--not Batman." Why? Why should he play a villain when he's so clearly qualified to play a hero.

And Bruce Wayne has always been handsome. lol Ryan even looks like Capullo's Batman/Bruce. It's uncanny. You can see it in the chin.

Lol. You guys with the mancrush on Gosling are quite amusing. Thing is, It doesn't matter that Gosling is in great shape and a great height...he DOESN'T LOOK THE PART. Based on his performances, it would be much more interesting to see what he did with a villain that a role he isn't right for. Silly batfans with their mancrush.

@Captain13 said:

This. Gosling is by far the most qualified.

Bana is old and he doesn't have the look. True blood is too tall compared to Cavill, and his acting is questionable at best. Fassbender will be too old pretty soon, and he's more of a James Bond anyway. Ackles is a TV actor who doesn't have the chops for film.

I love how muyjingo has no real reason to not choose Gosling other than jealousy over his looks. "He should play a villain--not Batman." Why? Why should he play a villain when he's so clearly qualified to play a hero.

And Bruce Wayne has always been handsome. lol Ryan even looks like Capullo's Batman/Bruce. It's uncanny. You can see it in the chin.

Bana certainly has the look and is far from too ols. True Blood is not too tall, dno't be silly. Both True Blood and Ackles are fine actors, with accomplished roles.

What insane logic it is to assume jealousy. Come out of the closet already, and start making sense with your posts. Or you know, more mancrushing.

Out of your choices, I'd say Fassbender. He's proved that he can be pretty versatile. I could see him developing 2 entirely different personas (one for Batman and one for Bruce Wayne) better then any other actor who has done that so far. He could make Bruce Wayne affable and conceited, while making Batman intimidating and dark.

Fassbender would be the best of the 4 given, but I'm really not sold on any of the options.

Not really sure who I would cast, it just seems too soon after Bale to dwell on it IMO.

@DeathpooltheT1000: ?????????

What point are you trying to make?

Fassbender is a cool guy, def. have the Bruce Wayne looks, but needs to be more beefier me thinks :D

Jensen Ackles would be a pretty cool choice. He's already been in a Batman movie, playing my favorite member of the Bat Family, so it's not like he'd be going in blind and I think he'd do an AWESOME job.