10 Actors Who Could Play Red Hood In The Batman

Surprisingly, Warner Bros. still hasn't dated the long rumoured Batman movie starring and directed by Ben Affleck. It could be that both parties are waiting to see how well Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice does before committing to anything (Affleck doesn't want another Daredevil after all), but rumours are already pointing to it being an adaptation of the classic "Under the Hood" storyline. That comic featured the return of former Robin, Jason Todd, as a vigilante named the Red Hood, a name and look inspired by The Joker's moniker before he was transformed into the Clown Prince of Crime. Jason was actually murdered by the villain, but returned years later hungry for vengeance against both him and Batman. The fact that the character's defaced costume is going to be in Batman V Superman proves that Warner Bros. are looking to set the story up, and while there are countless villains and arcs the studio could turn to for inspiration with Batman's next solo outing, the Red Hood is most deserving of the big screen treatment (as well as being someone fans are desperate to see). As it's still such early days for the movie, which is reportedly titled The Batman, we obviously still have no clue who will play Jason, but there are a lot of actors who most definitely fit the bill. Here, you will find ten film and television stars who all have traits which make them perfect for the role, and while some are better than others, the studio would certainly be wise to snatch any one of them up before Marvel does... 10) Kit Harington Outside of Game of Thrones, Kit Harington hasn't had a lot of luck. Both Pompeii and MI:5 were met with a tepid critical and commercial response, and as a result, his leading man status in the realm of film has taken a major knock. That's why a supporting role as the Red Hood in The Batman could work out well for him; providing there's enough interest in the character (and if he's written well, there really should be), Harington could also have the opportunity to star in his own solo spinoff, helping him get back on track once his time in Westeros wraps up. His shorter stature also goes in his favour in this instance, and the brooding we've seen from him as Jon Snow points to the actor being a great choice to play Batman's damaged former sidekick. 9) Tom Felton Best known for playing the hateful Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, it's about time Tom Felton does something to change how he's perceived as an actor. While Jason Todd is something of a villain, he's also a sympathetic character in many ways, so this definitely wouldn't just be a case of more of the same for Felton. However, it's the darkness which the British actor could bring to the character which is most exciting, as the kind of hatred Draco had for Harry really isn't all that different from the way the former Robin feels towards Batman. So, if nothing else, we already know he'd nail that aspect of the Red Hood. Felton could also no doubt accurately show off the arrogance and cockiness Jason had as a youngster if this movie features any flashbacks. 8) Liam Hemsworth Why hasn't Liam Hemsworth landed a comic book movie role yet? While some fans remain convinced that Marvel will draft him in to replace older brother Chris when he decides to move on from playing Thor, there are far more interesting things the actor could be doing in the superhero genre than following in those particular footsteps. A role as juicy as this in the DC Films Universe fits the bill in that respect, and after gaining a following thanks to The Hunger Games franchise, Liam could be a real asset to this Batman movie (the Caped Crusader hardly needs help at the box office, but it would still be good to cast a familiar face as the Red Hood). The Expendables 2 already proved that Liam is capable of playing a badass, too, which is definitely a big requirement for this role. 7) Aaron Taylor-Johnson Actors have been known to jump between Marvel and DC Comics movies before now, so there's really no reason to think that Aaron Taylor-Johnson would say no to the role of the Red Hood after playing Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron last year. After all, that film wrapped up his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a very definitive fashion, and it's unlikely he has a sequel option looming over him which would cause a problem here. The versatile British actor has a string of great performances behind him, and after getting super jacked for Kick-Ass 2 a few years back, he most definitely has the right look for a Jason Todd who returns to Gotham to take out Batman. That being said, I suppose there's still a risk here that Marvel has some plans for him down the road. 6) Taylor Kitsch In all honesty, Taylor Kitsch might be a little old to play this former Robin, but there are a couple of factors to take into account here. For starters, we have no idea how old Jason Todd was when The Joker killed him (that costume certainly didn't look like it was for a child), and with Affleck's Batman having been operating in Gotham for decades, it could have been a good ten or fifteen years since Robin fell in the line of duty. Having an older Red Hood would make him feel more on par with Bruce when they come to blows, and Kitsch's impressive stint in the divisive second season of True Detective showed off that he's more than capable of playing a complex and haunted character like this one. Plus, he definitely deserves another chance after X-Men Origins: Wolverine, don't you think? 5) Zac Efron Having made a name for himself away in those horrible High School Musical movies, Zac Efron has gone from being an actor fans once dreaded being cast in a comic book movie to someone they hope to see suit up in the near future. Taking on a complex character like the Red Hood and being directed by a filmmaker like Ben Affleck would arguably do him wonders, and hopefully help Efron to move away from some of the crappy comedies (see: Bad Grandpa) he's gravitated towards in recent years. Seeing the actor embrace a character like Jason Todd would actually be fascinating, especially if he portrayed him as a little unhinged, a trait Efron has shown in some of his quirkier roles like Liberal Arts. Oh, and he most definitely has the right look and build, too. 4) Dave Franco Seeing as he's almost exclusive starred in comedies up until this point, Dave Franco (the younger brother of James) may seem like an unconventional choice, but there's a very good reason that Disney is currently considering him for the role of the young Han Solo in one of their upcoming Star Wars spinoffs. He's a talented guy, and making the leap into an action blockbuster like The Batman would be a smart move for him. Now, there's no doubting the fact that the majority of fans would be unsure of him from the second he was cast because of his acting background, but chances are that Franco would really impress if given the chance to do so here. Jason's Robin was always a rough around the edges wise ass, and that's something this actor would absolutely nail. 3) Michael B. Jordan Who ever said that Robin had to be white? It's already clear from the inclusion of Cyborg in Justice League and the fact that they've cast actors like Jason Momoa and Gal Gadot that Warner Bros. want to bring some diversity to the DC Films Universe, so there's absolutely nothing to say that Jason Todd couldn't be black. The former sidekick's background is one which lends itself to any race, and after the abysmal Fantastic Four reboot, Michael B. Jordan deserves a comic book movie role which gives him the chance to really shine. His performance in Creed was outstanding, and it's easy to picture Jordan taking the Red Hood on the same kind of emotional journey that his character went on there. In all honesty, there's no reason to think he wouldn't impress here. 2) Aaron Paul Like Kit Harington, Aaron Paul also hasn't had a huge amount of luck away from the TV show which saw him make a name for himself. While Need for Speed was certainly enjoyable, it was far from a hit, while the same can be said for pretty much everything else he's lent his name to so far. The Red Hood could be the redemption he's looking for then, but that aside, and the talented Breaking Bad alum has all the necessary requirements to take Jason Todd and do something really interesting with him on the big screen. While some might argue that the whole mentor/mentee thing is a little similar to the dynamic between Walt and Jesse, the relationship between Batman and this Robin is perhaps even more complex, giving Paul plenty to sink his teeth into. 1) Jensen Ackles A fan-favourite choice to star as Jason Todd, Jensen Ackles actually as some history with the Red Hood after voicing him in the popular animated movie which adapted the "Under the Hood" storyline. That aside though, and it's easy to see why so many people want to see him reprise the role on the big screen. Constantly impressive in Supernatural, a starring turn in a movie feels long overdue for Ackles, as does a comic book adaptation of this scale (he was also wanted by fans for Captain America before Chris Evans landed the part). You need only watch that CW series for proof that he would do great here, and of all the great talents listed in this article, Ackles arguably stands out as the one who it's easiest to picture going toe to toe in battle with Affleck's Batman!