Former Batman Actor Reveals His Hopes to Return as The Dark Knight

It’s been almost ten years since Will Arnett last played Batman, but he’s now expressed interest in returning to the role. As DC Studios begins developing its new Batman universe, fans are remembering the actors who’ve previously portrayed the character. Arnett, a well-known comedian, was a particularly memorable choice for the part.

Will Arnett famously voiced Batman in the popular animated films The LEGO Movie and The LEGO Batman Movie. While The LEGO Batman Movie was a critical and commercial success, earning positive reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes) and grossing $312 million worldwide, a sequel has just been announced. LEGO also plans to release new Batman-themed building sets in 2026.

Despite previous challenges, Will Arnett still hopes to reprise his role as LEGO Batman. In a recent Variety interview, he expressed his strong desire to revisit the character if the chance arises.

Arnett praised directors Christopher Lord and Phil Miller, saying, “Those guys are the best.” He also fondly remembered working with them, adding, “That was a really fun time in my life.”

There were plans for a follow-up to The LEGO Batman Movie, but they were cancelled. This happened because Universal bought the rights to LEGO in April 2020, while Warner Bros. still owned the rights to Batman and other DC Comics characters.

Other DC Actors Hoping For Their Return

Zachary Levi

Since James Gunn and Peter Safran began leading DC Studios and ended the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU), Zachary Levi, who played Shazam, has been actively hoping to reprise his role.

In a November 2025 interview with Feature First, Levi reaffirmed his enjoyment of playing Shazam and stated he’d be willing to return if the project was compelling enough.

I really enjoyed playing Shazam! It was an amazing experience because, growing up, I loved Christopher Reeve as Superman and Tom Hanks in ‘Big,’ and this role let me embody aspects of both. The character is just a lot of fun to play. I’m always looking for projects that offer something fresh and unique—a character or story that feels new, different, or unexplored.

Even after several years of the new DC Universe initiative, Zachary Levi’s role as the character is still uncertain. When James Gunn and Peter Safran first announced their plans in 2022, Levi stated he was unsure about his future with the project, and that situation hasn’t changed.

Tyler Hoechlin

Tyler Hoechlin played Superman on The CW for eight years, from 2016 to 2024. He starred in his own show, Superman & Lois, and also appeared as Superman in other CW series like Supergirl. Now that his time as the Man of Steel is over, he’s looking to take on a different DC superhero role.

As a huge DC fan, I was really excited to hear that Tyler Hoechlin is hoping to be the Batman we see in James Gunn’s DCU! He was at Fan Expo Canada and jokingly said he doesn’t want Robert Pattinson’s Batman to join the new universe—and honestly, who can blame him? He admitted, and I totally get it, that he really wants the chance to play the Dark Knight himself. It’s great to hear an actor so passionate about a role, and I’d love to see his take on the character!

To be honest, I’d prefer not to reprise the role of Batman because I still enjoy playing the character. I think Robert Pattinson did an amazing job, and the work Matt Reeves is doing is great too. I’m happy for them to continue, and I’d like to keep the possibility of returning open for the future.

Ever since DC Studios revealed their new Batman movie, Brave and the Bold, people have been speculating about an older Batman appearing in the DC Universe. Tyler Hoechlin, at 38 years old, would be a good fit for that role.

Jai Courtney

Jai Courtney has played Captain Boomerang in two DC movies, one of which was directed by James Gunn, who now heads DC Studios. Although some parts of those older films are being included in the new DC Universe, Courtney’s character isn’t currently planned to be part of it.

Despite this, Courtney has expressed interest in returning. In June 2025, he told Screen Rant he’d be happy to reprise the role if there was still potential for the story to continue.

I’m definitely open to discussing it. I really enjoyed playing that character, and it was hard to let go of the role. If there’s any possibility of revisiting it, I’d be happy to be involved.

With John Cena’s Peacemaker and Joel Kinnaman’s Rick Flag joining the new DC Universe after appearing in the Suicide Squad films, there’s a possibility Courtney’s Captain Boomerang could also appear in a future DCU project.

Pierce Brosnan

Pierce Brosnan’s portrayal of Doctor Fate was one of the final new characters added to the DC Extended Universe before James Gunn and Peter Safran became the heads of the franchise. This left the leader of the Justice Society of America in a precarious position, almost immediately facing the possibility of being removed after just being introduced.

According to Deadline, Pierce Brosnan has expressed interest in potentially reprising the role if James Gunn and the DC Studios team were to ask him.

I really liked the character’s outlook and would absolutely consider exploring that perspective further.

Since the Justice Society exists within the DC Universe (established by the Hall of Justice mural in Superman), it’s likely we could see Pierce Brosnan reprise his role as Doctor Fate in the future.

Stephen Amell

Stephen Amell is well-known for his portrayal of the DC hero Green Arrow (Oliver Queen). He played the character from 2012 to 2020, not only in the Arrow TV series but also as part of the larger CW Arrowverse.

Even though he played the popular TV hero for almost ten years, the actor still feels strongly about the character. “I love playing the Green Arrow,” he told Screen Rant when discussing a possible return to the role.

I really enjoy playing the Green Arrow and Oliver Queen. But what I love even more is the impact the show has on people. Every day, someone brings up Arrow and shares how it resonated with them personally – maybe it helped them connect with a family member or friend, or just provided a meaningful experience. It’s amazing to see how the series has touched their lives.

To this point, there have been no Green Arrow-associated projects announced at DC Studios.

David Dastmalchian

Like Jai Courtney, David Dastmalchian could return to the DC universe. He famously played Polka-Dot Man in James Gunn’s 2021 film, The Suicide Squad.

In a July 2025 interview with Screen Rant, Dastmalchian said he hadn’t been contacted about returning for another project, but remains eager to do so. He also mentioned that he communicates with James Gunn frequently.

James and I are really close – he’s one of my best friends. I’m always prepared to jump in and help with anything he needs, ready to go at a moment’s notice. If he called me today asking me to work with him, I’d be there instantly. I truly hope I get the opportunity to work on one of his film sets again sometime, because it was such a fantastic experience – one of the best I’ve ever had.

James Gunn has repeatedly suggested that once an actor joins the DC Universe ‘family,’ they’re likely to stick around. Because of this, Michael Dastmalchian – whether playing Polka-Dot Man or another character – seems a strong possibility for future roles in the DCU.

Aldis Hodge

Everyone is currently talking about Hawkgirl, but some people are still praising Aldis Hodge’s work as Hawkman.

Aldis Hodge hasn’t ruled out returning as Hawkman, stating he’d be interested if offered the role again. He’s a fan of superhero movies and, according to Screen Rant, would consider reprising the character if the story and timing were right.

I’ve always loved graphic novels and superheroes, so when 9B Collective started designing them, it felt like a natural fit. But honestly, I’m perfectly happy just being a fan too. We actually got sidetracked on the way to work – we ended up on the wrong floor and I saw a ton of anime! I almost left because I remembered I had things to do. I blame Samantha – she got distracted by the smell of popcorn and made us stop!

Noah Hodge played the role of the winged hero in the 2022 film Black Adam, alongside Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who played the main character.

2025-12-16 11:12