Jake Gyllenhaal becoming the DCU’s new Batman would vindicate the iconic actor following a missed opportunity 19 years ago.

Although Robert Pattinson is playing the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’ isolated The Batman trilogy, DC Studios’ imminent DC Universe reboot will need a new actor to play the Dark Knight in their upcoming movie, The Brave and the Bold. To that end, Gyllenhaal is one of many names that have been proposed by fans in recent months.

Not only does Jake Gyllenhaal look the part to play Bruce Wayne, but he also has the experience to bring one of DC Comics’ most popular superheroes to life. Similarly, it certainly helps that the actor himself has commented about his interest in the role, as well as the fact that he nearly played Batman almost two decades earlier. Keeping that in mind, there are several reasons why Jake Gyllenhaal is such a strong contender to play the DCU’s new Batman in the near future.

Here’s every new DC movie confirmed as in development by WB for 2024 and onwards, including release dates and where they belong in the franchise.

Jake Gyllenhaal Lost The Batman Role To Christian Bale In 2005

A Testament To His Future Dark Knight Potential

Ironically, Katie Holme’s Batman Begins character Rachel Dawes was recast by Maggie Gyllenhaal in 2008’s The Dark Knight (Jake Gyllenhaal’s sister).

Jake Gyllenhaal was also in the running to play the Dark Knight in Batman Begins before the role ultimately went to Bale. However, it’s recently been revealed by Gyllenhaal himself that he received a personal call from Nolan, a testament to just how close Jake Gyllenhaal came to being the live-action Batman of the 2000s. However, perhaps the time has finally come for Gyllenhaal to don the cape and cowl on the big screen now that a brand-new version of Batman is being developed, one connected to the wider DC Universe that’s currently in the works.

Jake Gyllenhaal Getting The DCU Batman Role Would Vindicate Him

The Actor Would Be Honored To Finally Get The Role

Jake Gyllenhaal has recently commented on his missed Batman role as well as how honored he’d be if he were to get a new chance to play the Caped Crusader. Speaking with ScreenRant during the press tour for 2024’s Road House, Gyllenhaal referenced the classic nature and legacy of the Batman role and how he’d have to overcome the intimidation that inherently comes with it:

“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.”

Gyllenhaal later doubled down on his Batman comments, confirming that he would be both honored and flattered to receive a new chance to be cast as Batman in the future with the DCU’s upcoming Brave and the Bold:
“One interview… I knew it… Someone asked me and… Of course, I would be flattered. Anyone would be.”

While other Batman candidates have been proposed by DC fans such as Reacher’s Alan Ritchson or Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles, Gyllenhaal is certainly a top contender due to past considerations where he nearly got the role in Nolan’s trilogy, combined with his own interest in tackling the legacy DC Comics character.