An MCU Star Wants To Play Batman In James Gunn’s DC Universe [Exclusive]

Every Batman fan knows the requirements for anyone hoping to become Gotham City’s Caped Crusader: a magnetic screen presence, a convincing sense of physicality, and a chiseled jawline. Much like Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson, Winston Duke just so happens to fit every one of these categories … so it’s a little surprising that it’s taken this long for anyone to fire up their fan-cast engines and start campaigning for the actor to suit up as the brooding hero. Well, anyone even vaguely familiar with comic book fandom these days can probably guess why that hasn’t really happened with this traditionally white character, but Duke is certainly aware of how he’d be shaking up the status quo if he ever got his wish.

While talking to /Film’s Ryan Scott, who mentioned that Duke actually has starred as Bruce Wayne before in the “Batman Unburied” podcast, Duke all but leaped at the idea of portraying Batman in a live-action film. Director Andy Muschietti’s reboot “Brave and the Bold” is coming up (relatively) soon, so there’s no time like the present! According to Duke:

“Listen, man, can you start that [campaign]? [Laughs] I would say I challenge you to get on all these socials and push for me. Get your community. I would love to. I would love to do that as Batman. I’d love any opportunity to explore new characters, to change narratives around some of these entrenched ideas of how these characters are supposed to look, sound, and perform. I’m all for it.”

So are we, Winston, so are we. This wouldn’t be the first time an actor has willed a role into existence! Until then, you can catch him in “The Fall Guy,” which opens in theaters this weekend.