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Kit Harington Favored to Be Next Batman After Ben Affleck Departs

Bryan Thiel

By Bryan Thiel in Entertainment

Updated: April 12, 2020 at 10:19 pm EDT

Published:


Kit Harington
Kit Harington is likely to have some time on his hands with Game of Thrones coming to an end. Photo by Suzi Pratt (flickr) [<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0">CC License</a>].
  • 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

Who Will Be the Next Batman Actor in Any DC Comics Movie? Odds
Kit Harington +165
Jon Hamm +200
Riz Ahmed +300
Ryan Gosling +350
Joseph Gordon-Levitt +400
Scott Adkins +450
Ben Affleck +500
Jeffrey Dean Morgan +650
Jake Gyllenhall +700
Armie Hammer +800
Ben Barnes +1000
Richard Armitrage +1400
Dacre Mongomery +1500
Matthew Goode +2500
Tom Hopper +4000
Ryan Guzman +4500
Will Smith +10000
Field +600

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.

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.

 

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.

YouTube video

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

Bryan Thiel
Bryan Thiel

Sports Writer

Bryan has spent the last decade working in the sports industry. From the sidelines in the OHL and Rugby League to behind the scenes at TSN, Bryan has a wealth of experience with a soft spot for props and parlays.

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