‘The Punisher’ Star Eyes Role as Batman in James Gunn’s DC Universe

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Ben Barnes, famous for his work in The Punisher and Shadow and Bone, has shared that he’s always wanted to play Batman.

At the FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention, Barnes talked about his childhood, explaining that he always enjoyed dressing up as characters like Batman and Robin Hood. “I was actually watching some- my parents just visited me, and they brought some old home videos, and we were watching them,” he shared.

“Looking back, every costume I had was either Batman or Robin Hood. I think I might have had a Spider-Man outfit once, but it was mostly Batman. So, naturally, starting around age four, I always asked for those costumes,” he explained to Collider.

Barnes wasn’t finished. When questioned about potentially joining James Gunn’s DC Universe, he enthusiastically replied, “Hey, I’m in. […] Just give me a call, I have my version of Bruce Wayne all prepared.” The actor shared that he spent his childhood enjoying superhero games and comics, but Batman was the character that always particularly fascinated him.

Within the DC Universe, David Corenswet has been chosen to play Superman. However, the actors for Wonder Woman and Batman haven’t been officially revealed yet, although James Gunn has stated he knows who he wants for those roles. Many fans have proposed potential actors, such as Jensen Ackles and Alan Ritchson (from Reacher), but Ritchson later shared that after speaking with Gunn, it seems unlikely he’ll be cast.

As a critic, I’m really excited about how DCU is planning to introduce us to their version of Batman. It looks like we’ll first meet him in The Brave and the Bold, and it won’t be a solo outing! The film is shaping up to be a family affair, really leaning into the “Bat-Family” dynamic. What’s even more interesting is that this is where we’ll be formally introduced to Damian Wayne as Robin – a major development for the character and the DCU as a whole.

Gunn has called it a “peculiar story about a father and son,” focusing on the relationship between Batman and Robin. Ben Affleck won’t be reprising his role as Batman; Matt Reeves’s Batman universe will continue on its own as part of the DC Elseworlds imprint. The Flash director Andy Muschietti is taking the helm, and Barbara Muschietti will co-produce alongside Gunn and Safran.

The project faced some scheduling adjustments to prevent clashes with Reeves’s The Batman: Part II, but a writer has now been brought on board and is collaborating with Gunn on the screenplay.

It’s great to see Ben Barnes is so enthusiastic about potentially playing Batman. Since the DCU is still searching for an actor, having someone who truly loves the character could really make the performance special. The idea of exploring a father-and-son dynamic with the Caped Crusader is a new and intriguing direction for the hero.

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2025-10-04 14:44