10 A-List Stars You Didn't Know Played Batman

Batman has been played by more A-List stars than many might appreciate. While Christian Bale, Michael Keaton, and Adam West are synonymous with the iconic DC role, they’re far from the only stars to don the cowl. Outside DC's live-action blockbusters, an impressive list of A-list actors have portrayed Batman in animated films, television series, and audio dramas.

What makes these performances especially interesting is how many of them come from actors already associated with major franchises. Many of them are famed for prestige television or even other superhero roles. Animation and audio formats allow performers to explore different sides of Bruce Wayne, from grizzled veterans to lighter, more playful interpretations, without the physical constraints of live action.

Keanu Reeves In DC League Of Super-Pets

Keanu Reeves is best known for franchises like The Matrix, John Wick, and Speed, as well as playing DC’s own Constantine in live action. His turn as Batman in DC League of Super-Pets surprised many, especially given the film’s family-friendly tone and comedic focus. Reeves’ Batman leans heavily into deadpan humor, portraying Bruce Wayne as socially awkward and emotionally guarded.

He's hilariously ill-equipped to deal with relationships – especially with Superman. While intentionally exaggerated, the performance still captures Batman’s core traits. Yet what makes Reeves effective is his voice.

Reeves’ calm, restrained, and slightly detached delivery fits a Batman who takes himself very seriously, even when the world around him doesn’t. The contrast between Reeves’ trademark stoicism and the movie’s playful energy makes the character work. He proves Batman can be funny without becoming a parody.

Ethan Hawke In Batwheels

Ethan Hawke is a four-time Academy Award nominee known for Training Day, Boyhood, and The Black Phone. In the comic book realm, he also plays Arthur Harrow in Marvel’s Moon Knight. His casting as Batman in the preschool series Batwheels was unexpected, to say the least.

Despite the show’s young target audience, Hawke doesn’t phone in the performance. His Batman is warm, authoritative, and reassuring, functioning more as a mentor than a brooding vigilante. This version of Bruce Wayne emphasizes responsibility and leadership, teaching lessons rather than delivering vengeance.

Hawke’s calm, grounded voice gives Batman credibility even in a simplified setting. He adapts the character’s seriousness into something accessible for kids, proving that Batman’s moral clarity and discipline translate well across all age levels. It’s a subtle but thoughtful reinterpretation of the Dark Knight.

Ben McKenzie In Batman: Year One

Ben McKenzie rose to fame starring in The O.C. and later played James Gordon in Fox’s Gotham, making him deeply associated with Batman mythology. His voice role as Bruce Wayne in Batman: Year One adds an extra layer of meta significance. Based on Frank Miller’s iconic comic, the animated film focuses on an inexperienced, emotionally raw Bruce Wayne.

McKenzie’s performance captures that vulnerability perfectly. His Batman is determined but uncertain, driven by anger and idealism rather than mastery. His restrained delivery makes the character feel human, emphasizing mistakes and self-doubt instead of confidence.

That grounded approach aligns beautifully with the story’s themes of growth and identity. McKenzie’s familiarity with Gotham’s world also shines through. As a result, his Batman feels authentic and emotionally credible during his earliest days.

Peter Weller In The Dark Knight Returns

Peter Weller is best known as RoboCop, another iconic armored lawman wrestling with morality and authority. That casting symmetry makes his role as Batman in The Dark Knight Returns especially fitting. Weller voices an older, hardened Bruce Wayne who has come out of retirement to reclaim Gotham.

Weller’s gravelly, world-weary voice perfectly conveys a Batman shaped by decades of violence, loss, and regret. This is a Bruce Wayne who no longer seeks approval or redemption, only results. What makes Weller so effective is his intensity.

He sounds exhausted but unbreakable. This perfectly embodies Frank Miller’s brutal vision of Batman as a force of nature. Few performances capture Batman’s rage and resolve as powerfully, making Weller’s take one of the most respected in animated DC history.

David Giuntoli In Batman: Soul of the Dragon & The Doom That Came to Gotham

David Giuntoli is best known for starring in Grimm and A Million Little Things. He brings some real genre credibility and emotional nuance to his roles. His performances as Batman in Soul of the Dragon and The Doom That Came to Gotham showcase his impressive range.

In Soul of the Dragon, Giuntoli plays a younger, martial-arts-trained Bruce Wayne navigating a 1970s-inspired world. His Batman is disciplined, philosophical, and spiritually grounded. In contrast, The Doom That Came to Gotham presents a Lovecraftian take, requiring a more haunted and obsessive performance.

Giuntoli adapts seamlessly to both tones, grounding even the strangest concepts in sincerity. His controlled intensity and emotional restraint make these unconventional Batmen feel authentic, proving the character works even further outside traditional Gotham crime stories.

Winston Duke In Batman Unburied

Winston Duke broke out as M’Baku in Marvel’s Black Panther films and gained acclaim for Us and Nine Days. His role in the Spotify podcast Batman Unburied offered a radically different take on Bruce Wayne. In this audio drama, Duke plays a Batman stripped of his wealth, memory, and status.

This forces the character to confront Gotham’s darkness without his usual advantages. Duke’s deep, resonant voice brings emotional weight and vulnerability to the role. Despite his trepidation that comic fans wouldn’t welcome a Black actor in the role of Bruce Wayne, Duke received widespread praise for his performance.

What makes Duke effective is his humanity. His Batman feels frightened, angry, and determined in equal measure. Without visuals, his vocal performance carries the entire story, creating an intimate and unsettling portrayal that redefines Batman as a psychological survivor rather than a symbol.

Jensen Ackles In The Long Halloween

Jensen Ackles is best known for Supernatural and for voicing Red Hood in Batman: Under the Red Hood. His turn as Batman in The Long Halloween felt like a natural evolution. Ackles’ Batman is controlled, methodical, and emotionally guarded, fitting the noir tone of the story.

His performance emphasizes Bruce Wayne’s intelligence and patience as much as his physical presence, aligning perfectly with a mystery-driven narrative. He captures Batman’s authority without losing warmth, especially in scenes with Gordon and Dent.

Ackles familiarity with DC characters gives the performance confidence. It makes his Batman feel seasoned, capable, and quietly compelling throughout the two-part adaptation. To the point that many have called for Ackles to be cast to play the role in a live-action adaptation.

Luke Wilson In Merry Little Batman

Luke Wilson is known for comedies like Old School, Legally Blonde, and The Royal Tenenbaums. His casting as Batman in Merry Little Batman signals a deliberate tonal shift. This version of Batman is softer, more emotionally open, and intentionally playful.

Wilson leans into a dad-friendly Bruce Wayne who is still competent but far less intimidating. Rather than undermining the character, this approach highlights Batman’s adaptability. Wilson’s relaxed, approachable voice makes Bruce Wayne feel human and caring, which suits the film’s holiday-themed, family-oriented story.

It’s a reminder that Batman doesn’t always need to be grim to be effective. Sometimes sincerity is just as powerful as intimidation. Though Wilson’s role was fairly brief, he offered a distinctly paternal rendition of the Caped Crusader.

Anson Mount In Injustice

Anson Mount is best known for Hell on Wheels and playing Blackbolt in Marvel’s Inhumans and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He’s also known for portraying Captain Pike in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. His role as Batman in Injustice demanded gravitas and moral clarity.

Set in a dystopian world ruled by Superman, Batman becomes the ideological anchor of the story. Mount’s performance is calm, measured, and resolute, emphasizing Bruce Wayne’s unshakable ethical code. Mount’s authoritative voice sells Batman as a leader capable of standing toe-to-toe with gods.

He conveys quiet defiance rather than rage. This makes his Batman feel principled and unyielding. In a world gone wrong, Mount’s performance reinforces why Batman remains humanity’s conscience.

Jeffrey Wright In Batman: The Audio Adventures

Jeffrey Wright is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner known for Westworld, American Fiction, and portraying Commissioner Gordon in The Batman. His turn as Batman in Batman: The Audio Adventures exemplifies his remarkable versatility. This also makes him the second person on this list to have played both Commissioner Gordon and the Dark Knight.

Wright’s Batman leans into classic radio drama. He blends noir narration with dry wit and intellectual confidence. His performance emphasizes Bruce Wayne’s intelligence and investigative skills over brute force.

What makes Wright especially effective is how distinct this Batman feels from his Gordon. His smooth, authoritative delivery commands attention, creating a version of Batman who feels cerebral, composed, and quietly intimidating. It’s a sophisticated take that fits perfectly with the Batman series’ retro-inspired tone.