Bill Murray + 12 more actors who almost wore a big-screen Batsuit
It's one of the most high-profile action roles in history, and the part of Batman has been played by quite a few folks over the years. But who almost made the cut as the Dark Knight in all those Bat-flicks—but didn't?
Some of these make a fair bit of sense, and some of these potential casting moves are just pure WTF-ery.
But as we all know, for every Christian Bale and Michael Keaton, there's been another, less awesome, casting decision to bring Bruce Wayne to the big screen.
So who are some of the actors who almost donned the cape and cowl?
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Jake Gyllenhaal (Batman Begins, 2005)
Before Christian Bale won the role, Christopher Nolan looked at a ton of actors for the role, including Gyllenhaal, who probably wouldâve done a pretty good job in the role.
Mel Gibson (Batman, 1989)
Mel was on the short list, but his role in Lethal Weapon 2 took precedent over a turn as Batman.
Bill Murray (Batman, 1989)
Now this would have been interesting. Before Tim Burton went dark, the studio considered Bill Murray for a funnier take on the Dark Knight.
Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins, 2005)
Yep, before he was Scarecrow, Murphy was going strong after the Batman role. Though he was passed over, Nolan like him enough to keep him around.
Ashton Kutcher (Batman Begins, 2005)
This one was rumored for a while, and who knows how close it was to working out. God willing, it didnât happen.
William Baldwin (Batman Forever, 1995)
Hot off his turns in Backdraft and Flatliners, Baldwinâs star was on the rise, and there were talks to bring him in as the Dark Knight. It didnât happen, and Baldwin quickly slipped back to the B-list.
David Boreanaz (Batman Begins, 2005)
This couldâve actually been pretty awesome. Boreanaz was already a vigilante of the night in Angel, and he was briefly courted for the role of the original Dark Knight.
Charlie Sheen (Batman, 1989)
Before he was flipping out on sitcoms and #WINNING, Sheen was a young hot star when the original Batman was ramping up, and he was in talks for the role that eventually went to Michael Keaton.
Armie Hammer (Justice League, aborted 2007)
This is a tidbit of geek legend, with the huge-budget, aborted Justice League film of the mid-to-late-2000s. Young up-and-comer Hammer was tapped for the Batman role, but the film fell apart just as filming ramped up.
Alec Baldwin (Batman, 1989)
Yep, when the original Batman was coming together, Alec was briefly rumored for the role.
Willem Dafoe (Batman, 1989)
Though he was courted strongly to play the Joker, Dafoe also had a very brief flirtation to play The Dark Knight himself. Could you imagine the Green Goblin as Batman?
Ethan Hawke (Batman Forever, 1995)
Hawke was on the shortlist to play Batman in Forever, but actually turned down the role because he thought it wouldâve hurt his acting cred. After seeing how this one turned out, itâs hard to blame him.
Johnny Depp (Batman Forever, 1995)
Val Kilmer may have gotten the role in the semi-reboot of Batman, but journeyman thespian Johnny Depp was also in play during the early stages. He definitely would have brought an interesting energy to the role.
