Top 20 Actors Who Almost Got the Part in a DC Film

The world of DC movies is full of stories about actors who almost played famous characters. Plans changed, projects were cancelled, or another actor was chosen, leading to many close calls. Sometimes, actors even filmed screen tests or were part of a complete cast for movies that were never released. These near misses ultimately influenced the final look and feel of the heroes and villains we saw on screen. Here’s a look at twenty times an actor almost became a DC icon.

Armie Hammer

George Miller gathered a complete Justice League cast for a film called ‘Justice League Mortal,’ with Armie Hammer slated to play Batman. They had already started making costumes and preparing for filming when the studio unexpectedly canceled the project. Despite significant progress, including location scouting and advanced pre-production work, the film never got made, and Armie Hammer never got to play Batman on screen.

D.J. Cotrona

D.J. Cotrona was once cast as Superman in a Justice League movie that was ultimately canceled. He even went as far as having his costume fitted and practicing with the other actors. The film would have featured the League as an already established team, but the project’s cancellation meant Cotrona never got to play the role of Superman.

Megan Gale

Megan Gale was originally cast as Wonder Woman for George Miller’s planned Justice League movie. She even did costume fittings and began training for the role. Unfortunately, the film was put on hold and later cancelled due to issues with the studio and other problems, meaning her portrayal of Wonder Woman was never seen by audiences.

Common

Common, the rapper and actor, was officially cast as John Stewart, a Green Lantern, for a planned Justice League movie. They had signed a contract and started working on the script, which would have featured a different Green Lantern than the one audiences saw in the earlier ‘Green Lantern’ film. Unfortunately, the movie was canceled, meaning that version of the character never made it to the screen.

Adam Brody

I was so excited when Adam Brody was cast as the Flash! It seemed like they were really building towards something special with the whole team, focusing on how they’d all work together instead of just telling one hero’s story. He even started training for the role, learning all the moves to make the Flash feel super fast and real. It’s a real shame, though, because the project ended up getting cancelled, and he never actually got to film a scene as the Flash. It’s a bummer, but I always wondered what his take on the character would have been like.

Marlon Wayans

During the making of ‘Batman Returns,’ Marlon Wayans was initially cast as Robin and stayed involved even as the movie’s plans changed. He even had costumes made and a contract, despite the character being written out of the script. Eventually, the studio decided to recast Robin with a new actor for ‘Batman Forever.’ In the end, Wayans never actually played Robin on screen.

John Lithgow

John Lithgow was considered for the role of the Joker in the movie ‘Batman’. He had meetings with the director and producers during the initial casting process, but ultimately decided not to pursue the part. Jack Nicholson was then cast in the role.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams was considered for several villain roles in Batman films, including the Riddler in ‘Batman Forever’. Studio executives talked about him while they were deciding which villain to use and were working on different script versions. Although there was interest from both sides, a deal never came together, and another actor ended up playing the part.

Cillian Murphy

Cillian Murphy initially auditioned for the role of Batman in ‘Batman Begins,’ even doing some screen tests in costume. Director Christopher Nolan was impressed with his audition and how he carried himself. Ultimately, the team decided he was a better fit as Dr. Jonathan Crane, and he went on to play the villain Scarecrow in several films.

Eion Bailey

Eion Bailey was a finalist considered for the role of Batman in ‘Batman Begins’. He filmed scenes while wearing the Batsuit so the filmmakers could assess how well it fit and how he looked in the part. The production team filmed several actors performing the same scenes to ensure a fair comparison. Ultimately, Christian Bale was chosen for the role following these tests.

Heath Ledger

Before Heath Ledger took on the role of the Joker, he initially met with Christopher Nolan when Nolan was looking for someone to play Batman. Ledger wasn’t interested in the Batman role at the time because the creative vision didn’t appeal to him. However, when Nolan later approached him with the idea of playing the villain, Ledger was intrigued. That conversation ultimately led to him being cast as the Joker.

Pierce Brosnan

When Tim Burton was casting for ‘Batman’, Pierce Brosnan tried out for the role of Bruce Wayne. He spoke with the filmmakers about how they envisioned the character and the overall feel of the movie. The role needed an actor who could be both charming and intense, and ultimately, Michael Keaton was chosen for the part.

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke revealed he was once considered for the role of Batman when the film series was looking for a new actor. While there were discussions about him potentially taking the part, he ultimately decided against pursuing it. The studio then moved forward and cast someone else.

Josh Brolin

Zack Snyder initially talked with Josh Brolin about playing an older Bruce Wayne in ‘Batman v Superman.’ They discussed how to portray Wayne as a seasoned veteran and his physical build. However, due to scheduling conflicts and creative choices, the studio decided to go with Ben Affleck for the part.

Nicholas Hoult

I was really hoping Nicholas Hoult would get the Batman role! I heard he made it super far in the running, even doing a lot of screen tests and meetings as they narrowed down the choices. Apparently, the filmmakers were trying to figure out what kind of Batman they wanted for this detective-focused story. Ultimately, though, Robert Pattinson ended up landing the part. It was close, though!

Jessica Biel

Jessica Biel auditioned for the part of Selina Kyle in ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ The studio looked at a number of well-known actresses, and the role needed someone who was both physically fit and could deliver a strong performance. Ultimately, Anne Hathaway was selected after a final round of auditions.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley was also considered for the role of Catwoman and was among the actresses being evaluated. During auditions, the filmmakers focused on how well each actress looked on screen and how they interacted with the actor returning to play Batman. Ultimately, they chose Anne Hathaway for the part.

Annette Bening

Annette Bening was initially chosen to play Catwoman in ‘Batman Returns,’ and work on the movie began with her cast in the role. However, she later had to withdraw due to personal reasons, leading the studio to search for a new actress. Michelle Pfeiffer ultimately took over the part and appeared in the final film.

Matt Bomer

Matt Bomer was considered for the role of Superman when the movie ‘Superman Flyby’ was being developed. He went through a lengthy audition process, but the project was put on hold because the studio changed its plans for the film and how they wanted to portray the character. Eventually, the movie was restarted with a new team.

Jude Law

Jude Law was once considered to play Superman when the studio was first trying to reboot the film series. He went as far as trying on an early version of the costume, but eventually decided not to take the role. The studio then pursued a different approach and cast another actor.

Share your favorite near miss and which casting you wish had happened in the comments.

2025-11-06 01:48