Jake Gyllenhaal, caped crusader?
It’s certainly not out of the question, as the 37-year-old star, who is perhaps best known for Donnie Darko, Nightcrawler and Brokeback Mountain, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, has come into contention as a potential replacement for Ben Affleck.
The Batman actor is said to be eyeing the exit door as Warner Bros. shuffles its deck in preparation for a world beyond Justice League, and though it’s yet to be confirmed outright, Gyllenhaal (or Mad Men alum Jon Hamm, perhaps?) has been tipped to succeed Affleck as Gotham’s Dark Knight.
This ongoing saga has led to a great deal of excitement and trepidation within the DC community, with some believing that Ben Affleck still has more to offer the DCEU – either behind the lens, or in front. Elsewhere, the mooted addition of Jake Gyllenhaal has spawned some truly incredible fan art, and you’ll be able to scan your eyes over the latest offerings down below, courtesy of Messtonio Panderas, Sprinter Qelock, John Regan, Rahul Chatterjee, megamike75.
Also, for what it’s worth, Jake Gyllenhaal could totally pass as a young Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), whose Thomas Wayne is expected to feature quite heavily in Flashpoint, Barry Allen’s solo movie that has since tapped John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Spider-Man: Homecoming) to direct.
Incidentally, Ben Affleck was offered the chance to helm the Scarlett Speedster’s troubled spinoff. He declined, of course, which only leads us to believe that he’s closer to the exit door than initially thought. Chalk that up as innocent conjecture for now, as Warner Bros. is yet to offer a status update on Affleck’s future within the DC Extended Universe – or lack thereof.
The Batman, meanwhile, is due to begin filming sometime this year ahead of a potential release in 2019.
