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During the early stages of 'Batman Begins', Heath Ledger tried out for the role of "Bruce Wayne", as noted by 'NME'. However, both Christopher Nolan and Ledger himself didn't feel he fit the part of "Batman". Nevertheless, Nolan remembered Ledger and eventually cast him as the "Joker" in 'The Dark Knight'. Initially, fans weren't thrilled about Ledger playing the "Joker". But Nolan saw an untapped depth in Ledger's talent and believed he would excel as the Clown Prince of Crime, which ultimately proved true.
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'CinemaBlend' reported that before landing the role of "Superman" in Zack Snyder's DCEU, Henry Cavill had auditioned to play "Batman" in Christopher Nolan's films but lost the part to Christian Bale. In Synder's movies, Cavill's Superman got flak for acting more like Batman than the usual hopeful "Superman". He was iffy about using his powers to help and didn't mind killing, which isn't what people expect from Superman.
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According to 'Movie Web', when people weren't sure if Ben Affleck would keep playing "Batman", Jon Hamm wanted to be the new "Batman". People argued a lot when Affleck was chosen as Batman. But in the end, even though fans didn't like the idea at first, Affleck did a really good job, and most people liked his performance.
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After Michael Keaton declined a third 'Batman' film, Warner Bros. needed a new actor for 'Batman Forever'. They approached Ethan Hawke for the role, but he refused, worried about being typecast as the Caped Crusader. 'Collider' reported that Hawke later regretted rejecting the opportunity because portraying "Batman" could have offered him significant career opportunities.
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In the early stages of Tim Burton's first 'Batman' movie, the producers wanted Pierce Brosnan for the role of "Bruce Wayne". However, 'The Guardian' reports that Brosnan wasn't keen on portraying a comic book character, so he declined the role.
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In Christopher Nolan's quest for the ideal "Bruce Wayne", Cillian Murphy was considered for the role. 'Den of Geek' reports that Murphy auditioned for it. However, both Nolan and Murphy agreed that he wasn't the right fit for Bruce Wayne, leading to Murphy's casting as the "Scarecrow" instead.
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When they were casting 'Batman Begins', practically every actor in their late 20s or early 30s had a shot. Many recognizable names nowadays even suited up to audition for "Batman" because of the role's physical demands. Actors like Henry Cavill gave it a shot, but the final decision came down to a tight race between Christian Bale and Jake Gyllenhaal.
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Mel Gibson was offered the part of "Bruce Wayne" in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film, as per E!. However, Gibson had to decline because he was committed to reprise his role as "Martin Riggs" in 'Lethal Weapon 2'.
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As per 'Collider', Josh Brolin from 'No Country for Old Men' was offered the role of "Bruce Wayne" in the DCEU's 'Batman v Superman' before Ben Affleck secured the part.
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When Warner Bros. had to find a new actor for Bruce Wayne following Michael Keaton's decision to step away from a third 'Batman' movie, the studio reportedly extended the role to William Baldwin, as per the L.A. Times.
Batman stands as a globally cherished superhero. A range of actors, spanning from Adam West to Christian Bale and beyond, have embodied the iconic character in movies.
Lots of actors wanted to be Batman, not just the ones who actually played the role. This makes Batman's casting history even more interesting.