Jake Gyllenhaal Says Playing Batman Would Be an Honor After Losing Out on the Role in BATMAN BEGINS

It’s been almost two decades since Christopher Nolan’s incredible Batman trilogy kicked off with the 2005 film Batman Begins, and while Christian Bale was incredible in the role, there were some other heavy hitters who contended for the part of the Dark Knight. Jake Gyllenhaal was among them, and during press for his upcoming remake of Road House, the actor was asked by Screen Rant if he was still interested in playing Batman. He responded:

“Oh, man. That’s a classic [role]. It’s an honor. Speaking of playing roles that other incredible actors have played in the past … When I think about it, I’m going to play Iago in ‘Othello’ with Denzel Washington, and I think about like the history of actors that have played that role throughout time, and I’m intimidated by that. So that’s the first level. That’s what I’m working on right now. But of course. It would be an honor always. Those types of things and those roles are classics.”

While Robert Pattinson currently plays Batman on the big screen (Warner Bros. recently moved the release date for The Batman Part II to Oct. 2, 2026), a new Batman actor will soon be found to star in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. That film is being directed by The Flash and It helmer Andy Muschietti and will officially bring Batman into the new universe that is being created by DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran. Pattinson’s Batman remains a standalone. Might Gyllenhaal be this new Batman? It sounds like he’d certainly be open to the idea.

What would you think of seeing Gyllenhaal take on the role? I actually think he’d be great in it! Just as long as they don’t recast his sister as Rachel!