Jensen Ackles is ready to return to the DC Universe as the Supernatural star expresses interest in wanting to portray Batman on The CW's Gotham Knights. If everything goes according to plan, The CW will have another DC property as part of their slate for the 2022-2023 TV season. With pilot season underway, The CW is currently working on the Gotham Knights pilot, from Batwoman writers/producers Chad Fiveash, James Stoteraux, and Natalie Abrams. Despite the creative team's involvement with Batwoman, Gotham Knights will not be a spinoff from the Arrowverse drama. It will also have no connectivity with Warner Bros.'s upcoming game of the same title.
Gotham Knights will follow the adventures of Bruce Wayne's adoptive son who forms a team of unexpected heroes that are all children of Batman's enemies. After the Dark Knight's mysterious death, Bruce's son and his team are all framed for murdering Batman. Not only will they have to clear their names, but it will result in them becoming Gotham City's next generation of heroes. The Gotham Knights pilot, which is being directed by Gotham and Pennyworth's Danny Cannon, is currently in production in Toronto, Canada, and is expected to run for a few more weeks.
Even though Batman will be established as dead in the Gotham Knights continuity, Ackles wants to suit up as the Caped Crusader. At the recent Supernatural NJ Con 2022 (via Rhiannon Nymph,) Ackles and his Supernatural co-star Misha Collins were present as they had a panel together with longtime fans of The CW drama. When asked who he would want to play in the Batman universe, Ackles instantly said the Dark Knight. With Ackles having already voiced the hero in the two-parter Batman: The Long Halloween, the actor is now ready to do it in live-action, specifically on Gotham Knights, stating the following;
“Batman. Let’s be clear about that. I have gotten to do the voice, why not get to play the Bat? Maybe someone at Gotham Knights can put in a good word for me if that role ever comes up.”
Ackles hoping someone on Gotham Knights will put in a good word for him was a clever nod to Collins, who is set to play Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face in the DC drama. Collins, who starred alongside Ackles on Supernatural for over a decade, will not turn into Two-Face for at least one season. Batman isn't the only DC role that Ackles has done previously as he also played Jason Todd, a.k.a. the Red Hood, in Batman: Under the Red Hood, which has become one of his most popular performances amongst viewers. Ackles also starred in the Superman prequel series Smallville during season 4 as Jason Teague, so the Supernatural talent is more than familiar with the DC Universe.
If Gotham Knights were to tap Ackles as their version of Batman, viewers would likely see him mostly through flashbacks, which would still be pretty amazing. It would also allow the series to show pivotal moments between Gotham Knights' Bruce Wayne and his son Turner Hayes (Oscar Morgan.) For Supernatural fans, it could also stage a reunion between Collins and Ackles, given that Harvey and Bruce were friends in the comics prior to the former becoming a super-villain. Once the Gotham Knights pilot finishes filming, The CW, after seeing a cut, will make their decision if the show goes to series or not. With The CW Upfronts scheduled for May 19, perhaps it will be known by then if Gotham Knights will join the next TV season.
Source: Jensen Ackles (via Rhiannon Nymph)