Skip to main content

Josh Brolin Admits He Was In The Running To Play Batman, Sympathizes With Ben Affleck

Holy Rusted Metal Batman!

Leading up to the revelation of Ben Affleck landing the role of Batman in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel sequel, several other names were floated around. Josh Brolin was one of them and while we don’t always learn the behind-the-scenes dealings in Hollywood, in this case, the actor admitted the rumor was true. He had a chance to be Batman.

Recommended Videos

Speaking to The Huffington Post, Brolin said yes, the possibility of him playing opposite Henry Cavill was true. Conversations were had.

“We did. I didn’t have conversations about it, but Zack, that was part of his idea. It just didn’t turn out,” he said. “It’s OK. It is OK. You know, another scenario might have worked better, but I’m happy for Ben.”

The discussion also touched on the intense reaction Affleck’s casting received, particularly online:

“I’ve never seen such a global reaction in my life,” Brolin said. “I feel for him, truly. I would not want to be him right now. The reaction becomes so personal,” Brolin said. “It’s like, ‘Fuck this guy, I wish he was dead.’ And you’re like, ‘What? Dude, seriously? This guy is just working like you are. He’s doing the same thing you are. He’s trying to make the best choices he can.'”

Still, Brolin wouldn’t go so far as to say he’s glad Affleck is in the hot seat rather than him. “I think I might have said that like 15 years ago, but now, because of the Internet, man, I just feel for anybody who gets lambasted at that level. I want him to kick ass and I want everyone to love it and kind of eat their words.”

We’ve still got quite a while to go before seeing Affleck’s take on the role but it’s nice to see Brolin offer support even though he might have wanted it instead.

(via Empire)

Are you following The Mary Sue on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, & Google +?

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

Author
Jill Pantozzi
Jill Pantozzi is a pop-culture journalist and host who writes about all things nerdy and beyond! She’s Editor in Chief of the geek girl culture site The Mary Sue (Abrams Media Network), and hosts her own blog “Has Boobs, Reads Comics” (TheNerdyBird.com). She co-hosts the Crazy Sexy Geeks podcast along with superhero historian Alan Kistler, contributed to a book of essays titled “Chicks Read Comics,” (Mad Norwegian Press) and had her first comic book story in the IDW anthology, “Womanthology.” In 2012, she was featured on National Geographic’s "Comic Store Heroes," a documentary on the lives of comic book fans and the following year she was one of many Batman fans profiled in the documentary, "Legends of the Knight."

Filed Under:

Follow The Mary Sue: