With the recent releases of Batman Unburied on Spotify, fans of the Caped Crusader have no shortage of iterations to choose from these days. And yet, none of them are funny.
Since Adam West's classic and hilarious take on the character back in the 60s, the closest thing audiences have gotten to a silly Batman was Will Arnett's LEGO version in 2017. It's been far too long since Batman had any fun, and a new comedic take on the costumes vigilante is exactly what the Bat-Signal ordered.
Andy Samberg
Andy Samberg may have the ideal mix of talent for the job. Since making his name on Palm Springs, and led Brooklyn Nine-Nine to eight successful seasons.
The connecting thread across these roles has been a certain mix of confident idiocy and youthful vulnerability. Especially as Conner4Real in Popstar, he is adept at playing a good soul led astray by ignorance and narcissism. Who is that if not Bruce Wayne, a rich man-child playing at heroism by beating up street criminals or engaging in mind games with similarly costumed weirdos.
Channing Tatum
As a former dancer, Channing Tatum is the type of movie star who has complete control of his tools as a performer. With a classically ripped physique and a handsome face that doesn't necessarily project intelligence, he's been deployed quite effectively as the buffoon in Dog.
All of these personas fit perfectly into a comedic Batman. Surrounded by cerebral villains like the Joker, the Riddler, and the Penguin, Tatum's Dark Knight would be a blunt instrument who's always the last to realize anything. Though this wouldn't necessarily jibe with the idea of Batman as the World's Greatest Detective, it would be an effective send-up of the might makes right nature of superherodom.
Rob McElhanney
After an incredible 15 seasons and counting of surprising moments of tenderness and humanity, and he plays them extraordinarily well, marking him as possibly the best performer of the bunch.
But McElhanney's real audition for Batman comes in his dynamic with Charlie Day's Charlie. Every week their hair-brained schemes are so consulted and insane that they call to mind the warped logic of Adam West's old series, with Mac as the confident Batman and Charlie as the eager-to-please Robin. If this interplay can be duplicated, It's Always Sunny in Gotham can't miss.
Bo Burnham
Burnham has emerged as one of the most interesting voices in comedy, and his take on the Caped Crusader would inevitably be compelling. His latest special, Inside, was a solo effort in every way as he struggled through his isolation during the pandemic, and it immediately became one of the defining works of art for the era.
While his light snark mixed with a barely concealed rage over the state of the world doesn't necessarily point to him being interested in a major superhero movie, there is an opportunity there. If the studio is willing to give Burnham complete freedom, he would likely not only deliver a Batman comic but an exciting and vital superhero satire that would be a potent jolt to the system.
Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage has made a decades-long career with countless off-the-wall performances. To some, this is evidence that he is an inexplicable overperformer who will only occasionally make a good movie by accident. Others, however, recognize the unique genius that makes any movie an opportunity for pushing the boundaries of acting on the screen.
All this makes Cage in a cape feel so natural it's surprising it hasn't happened more often to this point. His Kick-Ass character, a well-funded vigilante teamed with his powerful daughter, was reportedly modeled in part after Adam West's Batman, and it shows in his affected cadence and quixotic moral certitude. A Cage version of Batman would likely be a mix of that character, Spider-Noir, and Benjamin Franklin Gates of National Treasure, which sounds pretty amazing.
Zach Woods
In the latest big-screen interpretation of the character, director Matt Reeves and star Robert Pattinson brought neo-noir energy to the fore, calling to mind The Crow and the films of David Fincher. This Bruce Wayne was defined by his ghostly pallor, sharp features, and anti-social tendencies, all things that could easily veer into the comically absurd.
Known best as a scene-stealer in Veep, Woods could stand as a funhouse reflection of Pattinson's emo brooder. The awkward and lanky improv master could bring the ghostly pallor, sharp features, and anti-social tendencies while infusing them with world-class meekness. With Woods under the cowl, Alfred (maybe played by fellow Veep alum Matt Walsh?) would always have to be ready for the nightly pep talk and a blanket.
Bill Hader
As if people needed more evidence of Bill Hader's abilities, his HBO series Barry provides the SNL alum the perfect audition for Bruce Wayne. Arguably the best impressionist Studio 8H has had in recent memory, Hader made a name for himself with his chameleonic voice, wild eyes, and the impish grin that would form just before he was about to break.
But characters like Stefon and Vincent Price couldn't prepare audiences for his work on Barry, both in front of and behind the camera. Hader and his collaborators have to thread the needle beautifully with the dark comedy, imbuing each episode with dread, pathos, and humor in a way that would suit a silly Dark Knight perfectly. No doubt he already has the right voice ready.
Kevin Hart
If Batman is one of the biggest and most recognizable superheroes in the world, it stands to reason to get one of the world's biggest comedians to don the comedic cowl. Kevin Hart, who sells out stadiums regularly and is one of the few funnymen who can lead a comedy to boxing office success, fits this idea to a tee.
The famously diminutive superstar comedian would bring his unique brand of overcompensation to the role. His Caped Crusader would likely hue closer to an Inspector Clouseau or Frank Drebin as a bumbling fool who somehow manages to win in the end, much to the bafflement of his adversaries.
