Matt Reeves' a younger Batman could help to revitalize the character.
Reportedly, The Batman has begun to prep for production, and Reeves has met with Jack Huston for the lead role, although the 35-year-old actor is presumably too old to fit the casting description. From all current information, the actor who ends up playing a younger Batman would be 15-20 years Affleck's junior, although there's room within that to go a little older depending on the talent.
Related: Matt Reeves' The Batman Should Introduce the DCEU's Robin
Assuming we're casting a younger version of Ben Affleck's Batman, here's a list of actors who fit the bill. Similar to Alden Ehrenreich as a young Han Solo, we've chosen actors who could headline an excellent action film, rather than physically resembled Affleck.
Evan Peters
Evan Peters is no stranger to superhero films, playing Quicksilver in American Horror Story; he shines over the different seasons whether he plays a cult leader (Cult), serial killer (Hotel), school shooter (Murder House), or circus sweetheart (Freak Show). Peters is ready to helm a movie, and The Batman would give him the opportunity to be a leading man.
Nick Robinson
At twenty-three, Nick Robinson is the youngest potential Batman on the list. However, his youth could be an advantage if Reeves' The Batman is in the very early days of Ben Affleck's character. Just to look at him, Robinson is the ideal "young" Batman. He's got the chops too, having appeared in Gotham, and the many other Batman stories that audiences have already seen.
Liam Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth is Thor in the MCU (and Independence Day: Resurgance have proven that he is an action star. Indeed, Hemsworth's Gale Hawthorne in The Hunger Games is a brooding and morally ambiguous man forced to make violent choices; his performance is practically a prototype for the young Batman.
Related: Why Batman Movies Keep Telling The Same Stories
Harry Styles
While Harry Styles is best known for his music career, his performance in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk was a poignant and understated breakout. His inclusion in the film spoke to his skill as an actor, not a gimmick to appeal to his young fans. Dunkirk should be the beginning of Styles' film career, and the 6'0" actor would make a striking young Bruce Wayne.
That being said, being a pop star could also be an advantageous selling point for casting Harry Styles. He has a robust fanbase who would see The Batman because of him, which along with DCEU fans could break the box office. Whether DC fans would be as keen, however, is unclear.
Brett Dier
Brett Dier has charmed audiences on Jane the Virgin, but since the show is approaching his final season, he will become available for new projects. Dier does not have a great deal of experience leading a film, much less a franchise, but he has shown his immense talents and range as a comedic and dramatic actor on TV. While The Batman would give him a new and different challenge, the 28-year-old actor would certainly rise to the challenge of making Bruce Wayne into a real person, instead of just a mask that Batman wears. In fact, Dier may be able to find some humor in Bruce Wayne's playboy facade, which could add a surprising likability of the character.
Page 2: More Actors Who Could Play A Young Batman
Robbie Amell
Robbie Amell, cousin of Arrow star Stephen Amell, has appeared in television shows including , but he would almost certainly find time in his busy schedule to play the title role in The Batman.
Related: Signs That The DCEU Is Moving Away From The Bat-Family
Ansel Elgort
Before Divergent series. The Edgar Wright chase thriller, however, illustrated just how Elgort has grown into a mature actor capable of compelling dramatic performances. Elgort has been the leading man in prominent films before, and despite his recognition as an actor, he has not yet appeared in either the MCU or DCEU. At 24, he could lead a Batman franchise for years to come.
Blair Redford
At 35, Blair Redford is the oldest actor on our list, but his youthful physicality and energy could still contrast and complement Ben Affleck's older Batman. Redford has largely worked in television, including starring in shows like Switched at Birth and the X-Men-spinoff The Gifted. In fact, his character in The Gifted, like Batman, is a compelling and brooding superhero. Redford has leading man potential, and if Reeves is looking to cast a relative unknown in the role of Bruce Wayne, Redford would be a perfect fit for the role.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Like Evan Peters, Aaron Taylor-Johnson played Quicksilver — just in the MCU, rather than in the X-Men franchise. But that isn't the limit of his talents: he has also appeared in Kick-Ass films. Johnson's wide range of films show the diversity of the roles that he plays and his strengths as a leading man. He is meticulous in developing strong physicality and vocal work for his characters, and he would certainly craft compelling characterizations for both Bruce Wayne and Batman.
Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer was almost Batman once before in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (in which he co-starred with Superman Henry Cavill) show the range beyond that. He has the perfect combination of name recognition and demonstrated acting ability to generate buzz as the leading man of The Batman. Standing tall at 6'5", Hammer also has the necessary strong physical presence as the hero of Gotham city.
