Kit Harington Favored to Be Next Batman After Ben Affleck Departs

• Ben Affleck has stepped down from the role of Batman
• There could be a number of names in the running to take up the role
• Who is the best bet when it comes to being the new Batman?

The world needs Batman… but Bat-fleck is no more.

By now you’ve heard the news that Ben Affleck is stepping down as the caped crusader after just three appearances. It’s the latest twist in Warner Brothers’ rocky road to create the DC Extended Universe.

But with projects on the go, someone will have to fill the role. And the favorite is one of pop culture’s biggest draws.

Odds On Who Will Be the Next Batman

In looking at these odds it’s worth pointing out that odds to be the next Batman haven’t wavered. But there’s something we have to clear up before moving on.

Despite no knowledge of the situation, we’re assuming Affleck didn’t store some footage for use in DC’s upcoming slate of movies.

DC has two movies due in 2019: Shazam! and Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. Batman likely wouldn’t show up in Shazam! and, as weird as it sounds, he won’t be in the Joker movie as it’s a spin-off from DC’s cinematic universe.

So Affleck (+500) seems safe to ignore.

Will Kit Harington Step in as Batman?

The odds-on favorite is Harington. Could he go from Jon Snow to Bruce Wayne? He certainly fits what DC is going for, as rumors are they want a younger Dark Knight. Harington is 14 years younger than Affleck in real life, so that fits.

His schedule is also going to be really open soon, with Game of Thrones set to air its final season. But back in September, it had been reported that Harington’s people hadn’t heard anything.

The first time Kit Harington heard about this Batman rumor is when I called his rep yesterday to ask. So no (unfortunately!) https://t.co/Z6g8eSJvYD

— James Hibberd (@JamesHibberd) September 12, 2018

Who Won’t End Up Being Batman?

First of all, cross off super longshot Will Smith. Smith played Deadshot in Suicide Squad, and could be in line for a spin-off.  Even without that, it’s tough to see DC recasting Smith so soon, especially after playing a character with close ties to the Bat.

We can also cross off Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Idris Elba, and Jake Gyllenhall. Morgan has campaigned hard for the role, but there’s no upcoming movie that would fit his take on the character.

Elba, like Morgan, is likely too old for DC.

🚨 Attention, @SpiderManMovie fans! Jake Gyllenhaal reveals why he couldn't turn down the role of #Mysterio in 2019's #FarFromHome, after being asked "for a number of years, would you do a movie like that?" https://t.co/RmF7nljkdk pic.twitter.com/D3tldoProB

— LAT Entertainment (@latimesent) January 27, 2019

Gyllenhall  is set to play Mysterio in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. Disney likely has his services locked up for the future, and probably wouldn’t let him out to play Batman.

Who Can We Bet on Being Batman?

There are two interesting names that came up: Riz Ahmed and Armie Hammer.

While Ahmed would have to bulk up for the role, his profile has been on the rise the past few years. A multicultural spin on Batman wold be an interesting step for WB to take. Hammer, meanwhile, already looks and acts like the prototypical Bruce Wayne. And he’s clearly got a passion for the role.

With plenty still to be decided before The Batman is due out in 2021, Hammer (+800) may be the name to watch.