20 years after losing Batman to Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal says it would be “an honor” to play the hero in the DCU

He’s thrown his hat in the ring

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Jake Gyllenhaal has said it would be an “honor” to play Batman in the DCU. On the promotion trail for his new movieRoad House, the actor had a candid response when asked if he’d consider it.

Gyllenhaal auditioned to play the Caped Crusader for Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins back in 2005, but ultimately lost the role to Christian Bale. Drawing comparisons from his fights in Road House and Batman,Screen Rantasked the actor if it was a role he was still interested in playing.

“Oh, man. That’s a classic. It’s an honor,” he said before speaking more broadly on roles made famous by others. “I’m going to play Iago in Othello with Denzel Washington, and I think about the history of actors that have played that role throughout time, and I’m intimidated by that. So that’s the first level. That’s what I’m working on right now. But of course. It would be an honor always. Those types of things and those roles are classics.”

The role of Batman is currently up for grabs inJames Gunn’s new DCU, which kicks off a new live-action era for DC Studios. Along with his co-CEO Peter Safran, the pair have a Batman and Robin film planned calledThe Brave and the Bold. However, that may be a while off still withSupermanand Supergirl planned as the first live-action movies in their universe.

Gyllenhaal is no stranger to superhero movies himself, having played Mysterio inSpider-Man: Far From Home. Last year, screenwriter David S. Goyer revealed to theHappy Sad Confused podcastthat the actor was also considered for Batman Begins, even getting as far as donning the iconic suit for a screen test.

For more, check out all of thenew superhero movieson the way, as well as our guide to thehow to watch the DC movies in order.

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I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.

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