7 Actors Who Can Play Batman In The Arrowverse

There've been several hints that Batman exists in the Arrowverse over the years. However, the biggest confirmation came on this week's episode of Arrow where Oliver Queen openly spoke of Bruce Wayne, confirming the billionaire's existence in this continuity. While many might consider this as merely a tribute to the Dark Knight, the one thing we've learned about the Arrowverse is that nothing's ever a coincidence. Much like the Man of Steel appearing in Supergirl, don't write off the Bat popping up on The CW at some point. In fact, it might be sooner rather than later. In the case that the World's Greatest Detective makes his bow here, the biggest question is, who should portray this iconic hero? Additionally, will it be a once-off, recurring guest role, or even his own series? And will Robin show up, too? So many questions… Before we get ahead of ourselves and plot out the future of a weekly Batman TV show though (and no, Gotham doesn't count as one), let's have a look at the 7 actors best suited to playing Gotham's favorite son first. As always, this is a matter of opinion and we do welcome your suggestions. So, please leave us all your thoughts in the comments section down below. 1) Jon Hamm If the Arrowverse is intent on keeping the status quo of having an older Bruce Wayne/Batman, then Greg Berlanti and his team should look no further than Mad Men's Jon Hamm. The Golden Globe - and Emmy Award-winning - actor is no stranger to the TV world and he's hot property in the industry at the moment. Now, pipe down with all the Professor Pyg jokes because of his surname and hear us out for a minute here. While Hamm might not be as towering and intimidating as Ben Affleck's Caped Crusader, he's no small man at six foot two and could easily make the cape and cowl his own. In terms of the billionaire playboy look, he's also got the sophisticated charm and predominant jaw line to woo all the ladies of the universe. The chances of this casting happening, though, are extremely slim for two reasons. One, will DC allow a live-action Batman show with a new film universe, helmed by Matt Reeves, in production? It seems unlikely. And two, would Hamm be satisfied with making guest appearances on the likes of Arrow and The Flash when he has big Hollywood films in the pipeline? Also unlikely, if you ask us. Sorry, fam, but Hamm might only become Batman in the DCEU - if Affleck decides to call it a day in the near future as rumored. 2) Eion Bailey When you talk about a world of what ifs, Eion Bailey must feel like he lost out on the opportunity of a lifetime as Christopher Nolan decided to cast Christian Bale in Batman Begins instead of him. In fact, the Internet never forgets and Bailey's screen test is still available online for those who'd like to see what he'd look like in the suit and as Bruce Wayne. Heck, even Cillian Murphy lucked out as he scored the role of Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow despite also auditioning for the Batman part, while Bailey walked away with nothing. Fortunately, it isn't like his career came to a shattering end and he's continued to get regular acting gigs on popular TV shows, such as Once Upon a Time, Ray Donovan, and Stalker. He's done okay for himself, all things considered, but there must still be a part of him that wonders what it would be like to portray the Caped Crusader. Appearing in the Arrowverse could be his final shot at finding out. Bailey has the ability and TV credentials to establish himself as a big-time player in The CW's world and it would make a remarkable PR story. The fact that he isn't a Hollywood A-lister could also work in his favor here, since he'd be unlikely to have major scheduling conflicts. 3) Gabriel Macht Ask yourself this, how many more seasons can Suits go on for? The show has undoubtedly hit its peak and it's all downhill from here. As a result, Gabriel Macht might be on the lookout for a new weekly gig. So, why not as Bruce Wayne? Unfortunately, Macht's last foray into the comic book world was as the titular character in Frank Miller's ill-fated The Spirit, but he was far from the worst thing about the film. It was a substantial mess from all angles and Macht could only polish the turd served to him on a platter. Surely, he deserves a second chance as a superhero? Macht's Harvey Specter could easily pass as Wayne's douchey playboy doppelganger, while the actor's formidable range could allow him to tap into the rage and damage lurking beneath the surface of the orphaned billionaire. He's a familiar face to the TV audience and casting him as the Dark Knight could also be a major coup for The CW. His Suits co-star Patrick J. Adams (Mike Ross) has already paved the way, appearing as Rex Tyler in Legends of Tomorrow, so the path is clear for him to jump ship, too. 4) Brett Dalton There's only so many times that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. can keep bringing Brett Dalton back to the show. He's had a good run and made a lasting impact, but it's time to say goodbye and move onto greener (read: darker) pastures on Inhumans… LOL! Just kidding, we're talking about him as Batman in the Arrowverse. The 34-year-old actor is in the same age category as Stephen Amell and could act as a valuable and equal ally to the Green Arrow, rather than the creepy older guy who hangs out with younger people and bosses them around. It's entirely plausible that this could then be the foundation for the start of the TV version of the Justice League. The Flash, Superman, and Supergirl are already present, so why not bring in the whole gang? Furthermore, who wouldn't want to see Dalton's Bruce Wayne talking trash to Amell's Oliver Queen about how he ripped off the Batcave from him? We foresee a lot of back-and-forth banter between these two that could result in riveting TV. Think about it: Marvel's loss could be DC's gain, so it's in their best interests if they strike fast and tie him down to a contract. 5) Jim Caviezel Another actor whose name has long been associated with the Dark Knight is Jim Caviezel. While his days of being a film star seem to be relegated to mostly B-grade movies now, his performance as John Reese in Person of Interest has ensured his celebrity amongst the TV audience. With the series now concluded, he should have some free time on his hands to don the Batsuit and take the keys to the Batmobile, right? Whether Caviezel would want to do it is another story altogether. He seems to cherry pick his roles and doesn't get bullied into going for something purely for the money or presumed prestige. So, the question begs, would he want to play Batman? Well, his character in Person of Interest was pretty similar to the ol' Bat, so he's certainly got some familiarity with the type of persona. And who the hell wouldn't want to play Batman?! At the age of 49, though, it's probable that Caviezel's turn to play the Bat has passed. Even if he did accept the role, would he want to be a part of The Bold & the Beautiful world of the Arrowverse where everyone looks like a model? We're not so sure he would. 6) Jensen Ackles While many people would love to see Jensen Ackles as the DCEU's Jason Todd/Red Hood, especially after he voiced the character in the animated feature Batman: Under the Red Hood, the chances are higher that he'll appear in the Arrowverse in some capacity. The reason for this is simply because of the Supernatural connection. If there's one thing we've learned about The CW, it's that they love recycling actors across their various programming. In case you forgot, Ackles appeared in Smallville as Lana Lang's love interest Jason Teague as well. Still young enough at the age of 39, the actor could easily pass as Bruce Wayne. Undoubtedly, he's one of the beautiful people on the network's shows and he'd certainly bring the dashing look to the playboy-turned-vigilante. He's also still in good shape and could complement the other heroes and heroines in the universe, who are ripped AF. Do keep in mind that Supernatural is still going strong though, so it's doubtful that it'll be canceled any time soon. Nonetheless, if the Arrowverse's Batman is only a cameo or for limited appearances, it's possible that Ackles could step up to the plate and still fulfill his other obligations. Out of all our listed choices, we see this as the most likely to happen. 7) Jay Ryan Jay Ryan is another CW alumnus who could be in the run for the Batman gig, especially since Beauty & the Beast has ended. We haven't seen him in much lately so the New Zealand-born actor should be available if the network requires his services. While he might not be everyone's first pick, it's entirely believable that the producers could approach him in the event that the Bruce Wayne appearance is relatively small - which, in all honesty, it appears like it will be. Standing at six foot two and possessing striking good looks, Ryan is no stranger to the dark and brooding roles, having grimaced and pouted his way through four seasons of Beauty & the Beast. If anything, his appearance would send the teenage girls into delirium, seeing the former heartthrob make his return to primetime TV as the world's - or at least Gotham's - most eligible bachelor. Once again, we must reiterate that Ryan will probably not be anyone's first choice. However, as we've often discovered with these sorts of things, it's these kind of actors who end up securing the roles anyway, due to scheduling conflicts, pricing, and previous connections. Nonetheless, we could get used to Ryan as Wayne/Batman. Tell us, what do you think of our picks? Who do you think should portray Batman in the Arrowverse? Let us know in the comments section below.