Warner Bros. and Matt Reeves' The Batman is rumored to be eying Jack O'Connell as either a replacement for Ben Affleck's Batman or another member of the Bat-family. When Warner Bros. launched their DC Comics cinematic universe, it was with the intention of one day releasing a solo Batman movie starring Ben Affleck, which the actor was also signed on to write and direct. Now years later, those plans have changed, and Reeves is attached to write and direct The Batman. As for whether Affleck will still star, that's been the subject of many rumors and debate among fans.
Officially, Affleck has not exited The Batman or the larger DC movie universe, but rumors have indicated Reeves' script may star a younger version of Bruce Wayne, indicating Warner Bros. may cast someone younger and new to the franchise to replace Affleck. Big Hollywood names including Jake Gyllenhaal, Kit Harington and Oscar Isaac - even Netflix's breakout star Noah Centineo - have been the subject of casting rumors for The Batman. Now, another name can be added to the list of potential new Caped Crusaders for Reeves' take on the DC Comics hero.
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That Hashtag Show reports English actor Jack O'Connell is the latest performer in contention for the lead role in The Batman. According to THS, O'Connell could be up for either Batman or another member of the Bat-family, though the report doesn't specify which Batman-related character. Further, O'Connell's representatives have neither confirmed nor denied whether the actor has met with Warner Bros, but THS reports the studio has expressed interest in him and may have had a meeting with him and Affleck.
Many may remember O'Connell from UK teen drama Skins, but the actor broke out in Hollywood thanks to Angelina Jolie's Unbroken in 2014. Since then, the actor has starred in Jodie Foster's Money Monster, Justin Chadwick's Tulip Fever and Netflix's Western drama TV show Godless. Considering the variety of roles under O'Connell's belt, the actor clearly has plenty of experience and could bring something particularly interesting to the role of Batman - or another member of the Bat-family.
Of course, whether O'Connell will actually be cast in The Batman is unclear at this point since his name is only one of many that's been floated for film - and it's possible there have been a number of other actors considered for the movie whose names haven't been made public. For now, Warner Bros. being interested in O'Connell for a role in The Batman remains a rumor until either the actors reps or the studio release a statement. Still, with The Batman reportedly starting filming next summer, casting news may arrive before the end of the year, or early next year. So, while there's very little concrete information about The Batman, the Dark Knight's latest cinematic endeavor may become clearer in the coming months.
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Source: That Hashtag Show
