Batman is getting a fresh face once again! Warner Bros., the film studio that has produced all the versions of the Batman movie franchise to date, announced that a new stand-alone film for the Caped Crusader is on the horizon. The Batman will fly into theatres in 2021 [1] — but without Ben Affleck [2], who has played the role since 2016's Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and through the fledgling DC Cinematic Universe. Affleck confirmed that he's hanging up the cowl [3], so who's next?
The new director, Matt Reeves, is reportedly looking to cast a younger actor [4] to focus on the earlier years of Bruce Wayne/Batman. For a broody action hero who has no problem pulling off some major heroics, who else springs to mind but Kit Harington, currently starring as Game of Thrones's ultimate hero, Jon Snow. If you aren't quite convinced, we've put together some of the top reasons why Harington would be the perfect pick for a new era of Batman.
He's Already Got the Brooding Look Down
You can't have Batman without some serious smouldering broodiness — you'd be broody too if you were an angsty orphan raised without a real last name (please note that this is a storyline on Game of Thrones and not an actual incident from Kit Harington's life). Harington has proven he can brood stoically [5] with the best of them, especially over the course of his years playing Jon Snow.
He'd Be a Fresh Face For the Franchise
In the past, Batman has typically been cast [6] with an existing A-lister who has an established personality and identity on their own: Michael Keaton, George Clooney [7], Christian Bale [8], Ben Affleck [9], etc. To really put a stamp on a new Batman, wouldn't it be great to bring someone in who doesn't have the same long-term superstar baggage? Instead, a Harington Batman could focus more on the character and less on the actor.
He Can Blend in Like a Normal Guy
Bruce Wayne doesn't have to disappear quite as much as other superheroes' secret identities, given that he's a world-famous billionaire. He's more of a Tony Stark than a Peter Parker, to be sure. But when the occasion calls for him to seem like just a non-super guy, he's got to be believable — and Harington can nail the casual look [10] just as well.
He's Already Played One Iconic Hero
Harington is clearly no stranger to playing an already-existing, iconic role. Jon Snow [11] was already one of the breakout heroes of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series, then became even more of a pop-culture institution over the course of several seasons on HBO's Game of Thrones. He's already proven he can tackle a role that everyone already has ideas about, and he can handle the public attention too.
He Can Pull Off the All-Black Look
There are two things that every Batman, regardless of era or reboot variation, has: dead parents and a wardrobe with a lot of black. Harington is clearly used to the monochrome look,both on and off the screen [12]!
He'll Be Available
After playing Jon Snow for eight years, Harington is headed into the home stretch, as the last season [13] of Game of Thrones is set to air this Spring [14]. Filming has already finished, and Harington has yet to announce his next project. Maybe the timing would work out perfectly for him to slip into Batman's iconic cape?