Though the notion of Armie Hammer being the next Caped Crusader has been the subject of rumor, speculation and wishful thinking for some time now, a report published yesterday brought the hype to a head with its claim that the Call Me by Your Name star was in final talks to assume the title role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
In the wake of this alleged bombshell, however, multiple journalists responded with a flat denial that the news was genuine, and sure enough, Hammer himself has now shot down the rumor. The subject came up in an interview with Yahoo Movies UK, and as it turns out, the actor has yet to be asked if he’d be interested in taking on the role.
“No one who can actually give me the job has asked me if I’m interested,” Hammer said. “I don’t even know if they are done – they are still working on a script. I don’t think that they are close to production but I can conclusively tell you that no one has checked my availability, which is a bummer.”
From the sound of things, Hammer isn’t exactly closed off to the idea of being the next Bruce Wayne, which only figures seeing how he was the intended Dark Knight of George Miller’s ultimately canceled Justice League: Mortal. Still, with Warner Bros reportedly aiming to start production on Reeves’ film in the final months of 2019, it could be some time before the studio settles on their star, let alone announces their casting choice.
In the meantime, the speculation continues on who the new Batman might be, with recent reports suggesting that Warner could be looking for an actor in their 20s to portray Bruce in his early years. If so, then that likely puts Hammer out of the running, but regardless of who’s next to wear the cape and cowl, we can see them in action when The Batman hits theaters on June 25th, 2021.