With James Gunn gradually establishing the groundwork of the new DC Universe, there is one name that continues to circulate in Batman talk, and it is not just casting rumors, but from the Batman actor himself.
Jensen Ackles is not shying away from his long-term desire to portray the Caped Crusader. If anything, he’s leaning into it with honesty, enthusiasm, and the patience of someone who knows timing matters in Hollywood.
Batman Still Suits Jensen Ackles Perfectly
In a recent fan convention appearance in Las Vegas, Ackles reiterated that Batman is one of his dream roles. There was no grand campaign or pressure attached, just a candid acknowledgement that, yes, if the opportunity ever came, he’d absolutely want it. “There are probably a few dream roles. Yes, somebody up here yelled Batman. Yes, that is certainly a dream role…Yeah. I mean, I’ve got a few go-tos: Batman, Wyatt Earp, Robin Hood, that kind of stuff,” he stated (via daniiela1899).
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To those who have been with him through his career in genres and decades, it was not so much wishful thinking as it was a natural progression. The relationship between Ackles and Batman is not hypothetical. He has already played the character on several occasions, just not in live action. He has been voicing Bruce Wayne in a number of animated DC projects over the years, and has been praised as having a performance that was both menacing, restrained, and emotionally charged.
That experience has quietly strengthened his case, even if it hasn’t pushed him to the front of any official casting lists. Other than Batman, Ackles said that there were a few other dream roles. This includes legendary characters like Wyatt Earp and Robin Hood, which says a lot about his perception of his career. He is attracted to mythic presence, moral complexity, and the inner code of characters. Batman, perhaps more than any other superhero, fits that description perfectly.
Where Ackles Fits In James Gunn’s DCU Vision
James Gunn’s DCU is still in its infancy. ‘Superman’ has already been established, ‘Supergirl’ is in the pipeline, and Batman has yet to be introduced to the DCU on his own through ‘The Brave and the Bold’. The script isn’t finished, casting hasn’t begun, and Gunn has been careful to keep this version of Batman distinct from Matt Reeves’ grounded take starring Robert Pattinson.
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That separation actually works in Ackles’s favor. Batman, as portrayed by Gunn, is supposed to be older, already established, and existing in a broader superhero universe, a Bat-Family. Ackles, now in his mid-40s, fits the age range and gravitas such a version would likely require. In the meantime, Ackles’ schedule is busy but still adaptable.
He is coming back for the last season of ‘The Boys’ and will also appear as Soldier Boy in the spin-off ‘Vought Rising’. However, nothing has him committed to one franchise in the long term. The timing may coincide with ‘The Brave and the Bold’ finally proceeding. Still, Ackles remains a clear choice and a fan favorite.
