With the role of Batman up for grabs in DCU, Black Panther actor Winston Duke has put his name up for it. Over time, multiple actors have campaigned to play Batman in James Gunn’s DC Universe, including Alan Ritchson, and now, it appears that Winston Duke has also joined the party.
Winston Duke wishes to play Batman in Gunn’s DCU
While promoting The Fall Guy, Winston Duke expressed his enthusiasm for the role of Batman, saying, “I’m all for it.” With The Brave and the Bold currently under development, fans could expect a new Batman to be cast besides Robert Pattinson.
Therefore, while speaking with SlashFilm, MCU’s M’Baku actor let the universe know that he would love to play the Caped Crusader. Duke said:
“Listen, man, can you start that [campaign]? [Laughs] I would say I challenge you to get on all these socials and push for me. Get your community. I would love to. I would love to do that as Batman.”
He further added that he would “love any opportunity to explore new characters,” and “to change narratives around some of these entrenched ideas” to offer a new take on the way such characters look and sound.
Duke could be an interesting choice for the character with his commanding physical presence, acting chops, and unique delivery. But whether the DCU is open to casting an actor of color for Batman remains to be seen.
In the past, James Gunn debunked rumors of Batman’s casting, suggesting that DCU is far from choosing a new Dark Knight. The Brave and the Bold is only in its early development phase and there’s no script yet, he revealed in February 2024. It appears that currently, the major focus lies on Superman’s development.
However, Gunn confirmed in 2023 that Ta-Nehisi Coates and J.J. Abrams’ Superman movie with a Clark Kent of color was in development as an Elseworlds project. If that becomes a reality, the chances of Duke playing Batman could increase.
