Ben Affleck’s time as Batman has been the subject of much speculation since the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, with frequent conflicting reports regarding his continued involvement with the DC Extended Universe.
He was of course originally attached to write and direct the planned solo movie The Batman, before stepping down and handing over the reins to Matt Reeves (War for the Planet of the Apes), who is now said to be planning a new trilogy.
While the official line has always been that Affleck will remain in the cape and cowl going forward, the actor recently revealed that he is “contemplating” the solo movie, but is looking to “segue out of the role” in the near future, prompting rumours that Jake Gyllenhaal (Stronger) is being lined up as his replacement.
Well, following yesterday’s report that Affleck is only likely to return for one more DC movie – Flashpoint – we now have a new candidate to succeed him as The Dark Knight:
So, according to RadarOnline, Mad Men and Baby Driver star Jon Hamm has been “gunning hard for the role” and believes “he’d be better suited for the job” than Affleck. Apparently Hamm is “desperate for the gig” and has been “carefully courting” Matt Reeves, who is said to be a fan of Hamm’s work. The site goes on to claim that Gyllenhaal also remains under consideration, but it is thought as “Jon is closer to Ben’s age and look, and will be a smoother replacement to fit into the plans already in place.”
Until we get an official announcement from Warner Bros. about the Affleck situation – and his replacement, if necessary – we’re probably going to see plenty more rumours along these lines, so it may be best to take them with a pinch of salt. Still, let us know in the comments below what you’d make of Jon Hamm as Batman, and whether you think he’s a better fit than Jake Gyllenhaal…
Originally published December 9, 2017. Updated April 19, 2018.
