Next Batman Odds: Egerton To Pip Brittney & Murphy For Caped Crusader Role
Robert Pattinson is to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/ Batman for 2027's The Batman: Part II, but he won't be in the role for forthcoming DC Universe (DCU) film The Brave and the Bold.
DCU co-creator James Gunn has confirmed as much, which has sparked speculation on betting sites about who might take on the coveted Caped Crusader role next.
The Brave and the Bold will focus on a new incarnation of Batman and his son Damian Wayne, as Robin, who is around 10 years old in the comics.
This surely means Batman is unlikely to be portrayed by an upcoming star?
From Rocketman To Batman
While Gunn hasn't given much away about the movie, he has insisted there are plenty of "big actors" who want to become Gotham's protector.
Gunn previously told IGN: "Listen, first of all, I can't tell you the amount of big actors that have told me they want to be Batman.
"I think you'd have a harder time finding actors who don't want to be Batman. He's the one character everyone wants to play. That's the truth."
One major star who already took on the role was Welsh-born Christian Bale, who was incredible as Batman/ Bruce in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy.
"James Gunn has said some 'big actors' are keen to play Batman next, and if that includes Cillian Murphy then the director should break the DC bank to get him. Yes, he's been part of the Batman universe before, but fans can surely overlook that. If not, Taron Egerton would be perfect as the Caped Crusader." - James Leyfield
And one of Bale's compatriots could also portray the guardian of Gotham in the future. Welsh star Taron Egerton is 6/4 favourite on betting sites to play the Caped Crusader next.
Egerton fits the bill as a big actor who could land the part, rather than a relative unknown, and, at 36, he is old enough to play a character with a 10-year-old son.
The actor, who has proved himself as a top actor in the likes of Apple TV+'s Black Bird and Sir Elton John biopic, wouldn't be a surprise choice to go from Rocketman to Batman in the near future.
Egerton has history of replacing Pattinson, after he signed up to take his place in romantic thriller film Stars at Noon, but he later dropped out for personal reasons.
Next Batman Odds:
Candidate | Odds | Probability |
Taron Egerton | 6/4 | 40% |
Tom Brittney | 13/8 | 38.1% |
Alan Ritchson | 7/4 | 36.4% |
Cillian Murphy | 15/8 | 34.8% |
Jamie Dornan | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Richard Madden | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Brandon Sklenar | 3/1 | 25% |
Theo James | 7/2 | 22.2% |
Aidan Turner | 4/1 | 20% |
Winston Duke | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Sam Heughan | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Tom Bateman | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Reverend To Radical
But Egerton could face stiff competition from fellow Brit by name and nature - Tom Brittney.
The English actor shot to fame as Reverend Will Davenport in TV series Grantchester, but he could be set to land his biggest role yet - as Batman.
Brittney has been heavily linked the role in recent months, and he is just 13/8 to take on the part.
Such speculation intensified last November when Gunn admitted Brittney was one of his "favourite actors in the world".
Gunn said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast: "He's tested for me a couple of times. He's one of my favourite actors in the world, and I normally don't say when an actor tests because that's up to the actor to say if they want to say if they tested.
"But I'm gonna say in this case that Tom Brittney tested, and he's an amazing actor, and I hope to use him someday. And I hope other people are turned on to this guy because he keeps being near misses, you know."
That is some praise. Gunn could turn Brittney into the groom rather than the best man by signing him up for Batman, but he might also have the likes of Alan Ritchson (7/4) and 1923's Brandon Sklenar (3/1) in his thoughts.
A Batman Return For Cillian?
Irish megastar Cillian Murphy (15/8) is no stranger to a Batman movie. The Peaky Blinders actor portrayed villain Dr. Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow) in Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy.
While some think that portrayal may have ultimately ruled him out of playing Batman, stranger things have happened in Hollywood and he would certainly fit the bill as a "big actor" to take on the role of the next Caped Crusader.
Northern Irish actor Jamie Dornan (2/1) could also be in conversations surrounding the next Batman, as might Scottish star Richard Madden. The Game of Thrones actor has been linked to the role several times, and he's just 5/2 to sign up as The Dark Knight.
Madden's compatriot, Sam Heughan, is a 6/1 outsider on betting apps for the role, but Irish star Aidan Turner - who is best known as the leading man in Poldark, and a huge star of Disney+ series Rivals - is a 4/1 shot to play Bruce Wayne/Batman next.
