Ben Barnes wants the keys to the Batmobile, and honestly, he made a pretty good case for it. The Punisher alum has been talking about Batman a lot lately, and with James Gunn building a brand-new Dark Knight for the DCU, the timing is interesting.
Ben Barnes: Batman was the childhood obsession
Talking to Collider, Barnes said he grew up glued to the cowl. He was recently watching old family videos with his parents and noticed a trend: tiny Ben was constantly in costume.
'In every single one, I was dressed like Batman or Robin Hood. I think there may have been a Spider-Man one, but it was mainly Batman. So obviously, from age 4 and up, I obviously requested that.'
He doubled down on it at FanX Salt Lake Comic Con. Collider's Lovitt prodded him to manifest the dream, and Barnes did not hesitate:
'Hey, I accept. [...] Just call me, I have got Bruce Wayne ready to go.'
Batman has clearly been the one that got away for him. Barnes already did the Marvel thing as the villain in Netflix's The Punisher, but if he ever suits up as Batman, it would be under James Gunn and Peter Safran's DCU reboot.
Where he would fit: DCU's The Brave and the Bold
Gunn and Safran's first DC slate, titled 'Gods & Monsters', includes The Brave and the Bold, which introduces a new Batman alongside Damian Wayne. The film is set to be directed by The Flash filmmaker Andy Muschietti. Meanwhile, Matt Reeves' The Batman Part II keeps doing its own thing in the Elseworlds corner, separate from the DCU.
Fan speculation about the new suit and all the tiny design choices has been... intense. Gunn, on comedian Tom Segura's podcast, waved off the costume debates and emphasized story over accessories:
'Should Batman have white eyes? That is a big subject of conversation. It is like, "Guys, that is really what matters?" Should his utility belt be yellow? Should he have the yellow crest around the bat? All of that sort of stuff. None of those things are what is most important to me. What matters is the character, the story and I think we have a really really good story now for what is happening with Batman.'
Translation: less arguing about the belt, more caring about the guy wearing it.
Why Ben Barnes could actually pull this off
Barnes is 43, a sweet spot if you are introducing a seasoned Batman who can mentor a young Robin. He also has a specific lane: charming, brooding, and just dangerous enough. You have seen shades of Bruce and the Bat in his past roles:
- The Punisher (2017–2019) — Billy Russo/Jigsaw: Brutality, inner torment, anti-hero energy that fits Batman's darker side; less useful for Bruce Wayne's public charm since he is firmly villainous here.
- Westworld (2016–2018) — Logan: Not heroic, but the ruthless streak and moral decay echo Batman's shadow; shows the duality of a mask covering something uglier.
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008–2010) — Prince Caspian: Heroic determination and inner struggle for Batman; noble presence and regal ease that map cleanly to Bruce Wayne.
- Dorian Gray (2009) — Dorian Gray: Textbook duality; polished exterior with a dark interior for Batman; suave, aristocratic charm for Bruce.
- Shadow and Bone (2021–2023) — General Aleksander Kirigan/The Darkling: Commanding presence and dark charisma for Batman; sophisticated, charming, calculating energy for Bruce.
Put him in a modern suit and tux and you get the two halves: a believable billionaire playboy and the guy who terrifies criminals in the dark. Plus, the mentor angle with Damian Wayne fits his age and screen gravitas.
The bottom line
Barnes has been manifesting Batman since he was 4, and he is still game if Gunn calls. The Brave and the Bold is the lane where it would happen. There is no release date yet, and Gunn is more concerned with story than whether the utility belt is yellow. That is probably the right priority. If Barnes does end up as the DCU's Bruce, the resume makes sense — and the guy clearly already has the voice in his head.