Michael Keaton, Robert Pattinson & More: Every Handsome Hunk To Ever Play Batman
Amid the electrifying news that Michael Keaton will officially return as Batman in ‘The Flash’ coming out in 2022, take a look back at all the notable actors who have donned played the caped crusader over the years.
The Batman franchise is still alive and kicking! Not only will Robert Pattinson, 34, play the caped crusader in a new movie coming out in 2021, but so will Michael Keaton, 69, who first took on the role of Batman in 1989’s Batman and its 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Walter Hamada, the president of DC Films, confirmed the news to The New York Times, while also spilling details about Ben Affleck‘s own return as the dark knight in 2022.
Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck will actually both play Batman in the Warner Bros. film The Flash, and the movie will “link the two universes and feature two Batmans,” the NYT reports.
Clearly, the character of Batman/Bruce Wayne has a long history that goes back decades. Some of the best actors in Hollywood have played Batman at some point in their careers. From Rob to George Clooney, 59, each version of Batman has been memorable in some way. While some Batman movies didn’t get the best reviews, the actors who have played Batman will be a part of history regardless. Batman is one of the most beloved superheroes, and it’s the chance of a lifetime to get to wear the Batsuit.
Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson will be the latest actor to take on the role of the Caped Crusader. He will star in The Batman, which is set to be released on Oct. 1, 2021. The first glimpse of the Twilight alum in the Batman suit was revealed in Feb. 2020 by director Matt Reeves, and Rob certainly did not disappoint.
Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck, 48, made his debut as Batman in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. His version of Batman was a little bit older than previous iterations, but he still brought all the action. Ben reprised his role as The Dark Knight in Justice League. He was supposed to star in his own standalone movie, but that eventually fell through. Ben will play Batman again, alongside Michael Keaton, in the upcoming superhero film The Flash. The Zack Snyder cut of Justice League will premiere on HBO Max in 2021.
Christian Bale
Christian Bale, 46, played Batman in 3 blockbuster movies: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. Christian and director Christopher Nolan are largely credited with reviving the Batman franchise after the flop of Batman & Robin. The Dark Knight is widely regarded as one of the best superhero films ever made.
George Clooney
George Clooney only played The Dark Knight for one film: Batman & Robin. The movie was released in 1997 and actually flopped at the box office. Despite the star power of George, it wasn’t enough to save the movie. George has been open about the fact that he “wasn’t good” in the movie and that it “wasn’t a good film.”
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer, 60, took over the role of Batman from Michael Keaton, 69, in Batman Forever, which was released in 1995. Val’s Batsuit was notable because it was the first Batman suit to have rubber nipples on it. In Batman Forever, the Caped Crusader was joined by Robin, played by Chris O’Donnell.
Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton first played The Dark Knight in Batman and Batman Returns. At first, Michael’s casting caused some controversy because he had done mostly comedic roles prior to the superhero flick. Michael faced off against Jack Nicholson’s Joker, and the film became a massive hit. Batman was followed by the 1992 sequel, which featured Danny DeVito’s Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. He will later return to the big screen as Batman in The Flash with Ben Affleck.
Adam West
Adam West starred as the titular Batman in a 1960s TV series. The series ran from 1966 to 1968. The show was particularly campy, with Batman and Robin regularly facing off against notorious villains. He also starred in the 1996 feature film Batman. Adam sadly passed away in 2017 at the age of 88.
