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9 Actors You Probably Didn’t Know Almost Played Batman

We might have seen a few different versions of the likes of Spider-Man and Superman on the big screen, but Batman still holds the record for being the most portrayed superhero in cinema. From when Lewis Wilson donned a high-waisted pair of underpants in 1943’s Batman serial to Ben Affleck wearing a high-tech metal suit in this year’s Batman V Superman, ten different actors have played the Dark Knight on the silver screen to date.

7) Johnny Depp

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The tense true story of undercover agent Joseph D. Pistone, who infiltrated the Bonanno crime family, pits Depp against Al Pacino in what is one of the actor's best films to date. Depp brings depth to his complex role in this tightly woven crime thriller where performance is a matter of life and death. Significantly more nuanced than he usually is, Depp pitches those tense moments between himself and the gang members at the perfect intensity levels. Desperate, frightened and, above all, brave, this performance shines through as arguably being the most complex in the actor's filmography.

In retrospect, given how close a working relationship Tim Burton and his recurring star Johnny Depp have, it is strange that they did not work together on Burton’s two Batman films, where Michael Keaton instead played the role. If you believe the uncorroborated rumours, however, it seems Burton did try to get Depp the part.

While Burton and Depp were not familiar with each other in time for 1989’s Batman, by the time that the threequel Batman Forever came around they had worked together on both Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood. Michael Keaton wanted to retire from the role so Warner Bros. were looking to recast. Burton, who was also bowing out of the series, apparently suggested they pick Depp to replace him.

Fast forward a few years and many fans campaigned for Depp to play The Riddler in the Dark Knight trilogy. Neither the actor nor the character eventually appeared, however.

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