The upcoming The Brave and the Bold is slated to feature the debut of the DC Universe version of Batman and Robin. As Robert Pattinson's iteration is confirmed to reside in a separate Elseworlds continuity, this Batman must be portrayed by a different actor. Already, fans have gone to work speculating on what actors would be great choices for this new take on the character. But this opening could lead to a second chance for an actor who missed out on The Batman's variant of the Dark Knight.
Nicholas Hoult of Mad Max: Fury Road and X-Men fame was in the running for the part of Batman in Matt Reeves' film but lost out to Pattinson. However, the DCU's take could be an opening for him, and he would be a fitting choice. Since The Brave and the Bold will be a father-son story, Batman requires an actor capable of bringing the character's inner emotions and turmoil to the surface. Fortunately, this is something Hoult has excelled at in his previous work and would carry him far as a Batman mentoring Damian Wayne's Robin.
The Brave and the Bold Requires a Specific Kind of Batman
The Brave and the Bold's premise demands a special type of Batman. The crux of the story announced concerns Bruce Wayne bonding with his son, Damian Wayne. As Damian typically becomes Robin late in Batman's career as the fifth in line, Bruce will likely be played by an older actor. Considering Damian was raised as an assassin from birth and came to blows with his father over his famous no-killing rule, the story will demand some emotion-heavy moments that require a lot from Batman's actor. And this actor must be able to show a range of emotional depth and vulnerability should the film wish to make its central father-son dynamic a success.
As a prior candidate, Hoult ticks the boxes. At 33, he's still young but old enough to be a father to Damian. His younger age gives him a leg up over suggested actors such as Jon Hamm and Jake Gyllenhaal, which would allow longevity. While those actors are perhaps more fitting in age, they would potentially have a shorter stay in what is meant to be a long-term franchise. But most importantly, Hoult has demonstrated over his career that he can play emotionally vulnerable characters.
Nicholas Hoult Has the Chops to Play Batman
Hoult's filmography is filled with roles demonstrating he has what it takes to be Batman. He has already dabbled in the superhero genre with his role as the younger Hank McCoy in the X-Men film series, which means playing another costumed hero would not be a stretch. Furthermore, the young Beast struggles with accepting his mutation in X-Men: First Class and frequently confides in others about his insecurities, showcasing a character with emotional vulnerability. Even in Hoult's larger-than-life turn in Fury Road, he delivers a terrific showcase through Nux's mournful confession of his short life expectancy. And with the action-oriented nature of those films and Hoult's upcoming take on Renfield following a similar trend, the actor has demonstrated he has the physical chops to play Batman.
Nicholas Hoult may have lost out to Robert Pattinson in the race to play the World's Greatest Detective once before, but the DCU offers a perfect second chance. The Brave and the Bold's story demands an emotionally complex Batman who can fight and be capable of opening up to his newly discovered son. Hoult's prior blockbuster film roles show that he excels at playing characters who are open with their emotions and can handle themselves in a fight. The role of Batman will be highly coveted, but Hoult is a standout choice that deserves the opportunity to play the character.