The DC live-action universe has had its share of peaks and valleys, as projects are announced, delayed, and often cancelled as a result of negotiations. And while Justice League arrived only just last year, both Henry Cavill's Superman and Ben Affleck's Batman have been heavily rumored to be departed the shared universe in the near future. If that's the case, then new actor will likely need to be cast-- as Warner Bros. won't want to abandon iconic characters like the Man of Steel and Dark Knight. Affleck has been rumored to be departing the role soon, and his current stay in rehab is only adding fuel to the fire. A new rumor indicated that Game of Thrones star Kit Harington may be up to take on the mantle of The Bat, but now that's being refuted.
This clarification is coming to us from EW's James Hibberd, who reached out to Kit Harington's reps in the wake of the Batman rumors. No one from Jon Snow's camp had reportedly heard anything. As such, it appears that Harington isn't currently a major contender to play Batman. But considering how his schedule is opening in the wake of Game of Thrones' conclusion, it seems like just about anything is possible for the current King of the North.
The rumor about Kit Harington's possible Batman role likely comes from the bevy of press he's done recently, which included weighing in on the state of the superhero genre. With Ben Affleck's Batman situation looking more precarious by the day, plenty of fans have given their two cents about which actor should take on the mantle of the Dark Knight. Harington is insanely popular due to his HBO tenure, leading to this rumor making the rounds.
If Kit Harington were to become the next Batman, it would be in stark (pun intended) juxtaposition to the Ben Affleck's current characterization. Affleck has been praised for playing a battle worn and jaded version of Bruce Wayne, who had already lost so much to his career in crime fighting. Harington would be significantly younger, which would likely make way for a traditional origin story.
It should be interesting to see if/how DC eventually changes the guard with its heroes like Batman and Superman. Will they be recast silently a la James Bond, or done through an exciting narrative twist? The slowly developing Flashpoint movie seems like a possibility, as Ezra Miller's Barry Allen could use time travel to create a new world, and therefore new version of his Justice League buddies. Flashpoint isn't filming anytime soon, so it's all a mystery. And DC fans are used to the unknown.
CinemaBlend will keep you updated DC and Game of Thrones. The next installment in the DCEU is James Wan's Aquaman on December 21st. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
