Flashback to 2007. In the midst of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, WB and DC were about to beat Marvel Studios to the punch. Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller had signed on to direct a Justice League film written by husband and wife duo Michele and Kieran Mulroney, subtitled Mortal.
Intended to be the start of a new franchise, the pic had even finalized its cast. D.J. Cotrona (Superman), Megan Gale (Wonder Woman), Common (John Stewart AKA Green Lantern), Adam Brody (Flash), Santiago Cabrera (Aquaman), Hugh Keays-Byrne (Martian Manhunter) and Armie Hammer (Batman) were all set to star, with production scheduled to take place in Australia.
Unfortunately, however, Miller’s superhero epic never made it to Sydney. The 2007-08 Writers Guild of America Strike and other troubles behind the scenes forced WB to abandon Justice League: Mortal and the rest, as they say, is history.
Over a decade later though and fans are still reeling from the film’s cancellation. With Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy firmly cemented in comic book lore, the cinematic superhero landscape has a drastically different look, one shaped by Marvel Studios’ complete domination of the genre.
Still, it’s fun to dwell on the past and with that in mind, one has to wonder what if Mortal had successfully made it into theaters during the summer of 2009? Would Armie Hammer still be our Batman? Well, had things gone a little differently, the piece of fan art below could very well have been a reality – though we imagine the actor would have worn a different suit in Miller’s film.
Hammer’s name has persistently popped up in debates over who should don the cowl following Ben Affleck’s seemingly inevitable departure, and judging by the Photoshopped image above, that wouldn’t be such a bad decision. At least, not in our opinion.
What do you think, though? Could Armie Hammer one day suit up as the DCEU’s next Batman when Affleck eventually leaves the role? Sound off with your thoughts in the usual place.
