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The DCU Batman has been a topic of discussion for a while, and ever since the release of Superman on July 11, 2025, people have been wondering about this universe's Caped Crusader. As of today, the script for the DCU movie headlined by The Dark Knight, The Brave and the Bold, is not complete. Moreover, no actor for the Caped Crusader or Damian Wayne's Robin has been announced.
Furthermore, James Gunn, in a June 2025 Rolling Stone interview, revealed that he was finding it difficult to cast the DCU version of the Caped Crusader. However, if you ask the internet, there are two favourite picks for the DCU version of Gotham's hero: Alan Ritchson and Jensen Ackles, and both have a history playing a DC character. Moreover, their journey with the DC Universe began with the same series: Smallville.
Jensen Ackles and Alan Ritchson's Batman fancasting explained:
As mentioned before, both Ritchson and Ackles began their journey in the DC Universe in the early 2000s in Smallville as Aquaman and Jason Teague. Teague was an antagonist in season 4, while Ritchson's Aquaman made his debut in the fifth season. The reason for their fan-casting is simple: both look the part, especially Ritchson, who is known for his bulk.
Moreover, Ritchson has the distinction of playing not just one, but two DC characters on the live-action DC TV shows. First, Aquaman in Smallville, then he was Hank Hall/Hawk in Titans, where he shared screen with the Dark Knight's sidekick Richard Grayson, who is the first Robin. This is why a lot of fans want Alan Ritchson as The Dark Knight.
Ritchson himself addressed this fan-casting in a March 2025 WIRED video, where he said that he would be happy to play Batman even without getting paid. However, despite bulk, there is one thing that Jensen Ackles has over Alan Ritchson: experience with the Batman franchise in the past.
Ackles ' first experience was Jason Todd/the Red Hood in 2010's direct-to-home animated movie, Batman: Under the Red Hood. Almost a decade later, the actor returned to voice the Caped Crusader himself in the two-part animated adaptation (again, direct-to-home) of The Long Halloween. This experience is why many believe that he can bring out the stoicism of The World's Greatest Detective.
When asked about playing Gotham's hero in a recent interview with Collider while promoting the Prime Video series, Countdown:
"Oh, man. I don’t know. It would be hard to carve out something truly unique amongst all of the performances as Batman. I would probably have to lean heavily on Gunn and whoever’s directing and whoever’s writing it, and get inspiration from the text. But look, you talk about not wanting to fumble the football, that’s one that I would be nervous as hell to carry, but also proud, and a certain feather in the cap. Anybody who gets to wear the cowl, they got something."
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While fan-casting is a fun exercise, it should be noted that we shouldn't take it seriously. Ultimately, who plays Batman in the DCU depends on the completed script.
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