5 reasons why Jake Gyllenhaal is perfect for James Gunn’s Batman

“The Batman” director Matt Reeves has chosen to keep his version of Gotham City, in which Robert Pattinson plays Bruce Wayne, separate from the larger DC Universe — meaning the DCU’s Wayne Manor still needs an occupant. Director Andy Muschietti The upcoming live-action film “The Brave and the Bold” will see the Dark Knight in a way we’ve never seen him on the big screen before: as a father. Confirmed during Gunn’s first announcement for the DC rosterIn this world, Batman will take his estranged son, Damian Wayne, under his mantle and fight the criminals of Gotham as a heroic father and son team.

It’s still early days for The Brave and the Bold, which has yet to have a release date and has not yet cast Batman. Plenty of actors have been chosen for the role, or suggested by fans, over the years – and one name that often gets bandied about is Jake Gyllenhaal. Although it may be hard to imagine now, Gyllenhaal has an interesting body of work that would make him a perfect fit for the role. In fact, there was a time when one of Hollywood’s most respected directors was considering playing Gotham’s protector.

Before Christian Bale was snorting throat lozenges by the truckload after taking up the mantle of the fearsome vigilante, Jake Gyllenhaal was among the list of possibilities being considered for Christopher Nolan’s take on Batman. Just like Cillian Murphy was the final candidate for Bruce Wayne Before becoming the Scarecrow, Gyllenhaal was looked up to by the director, but he ended up receiving a respectful phone call from the director who revealed the bad news. During his appearance on The Howard Stern ShowGyllenhaal explained how he took the news, like any call like this, in his stride:

“I remember getting a phone call from Christopher Nolan and thinking: ‘I just got a personal call from Christopher Nolan. This is very cool. You’ve come a long way. I’ve gone from them not being sure (about me) to calling and saying they’re really thinking of you for this movie, so okay, I have to keep going.

Over the years, many actors have approached, and after a second pass were able to get the gig they were seeking. Henry Cavill tried but failed to get into “Superman Returns” before he got “Man of Steel,” so could the same be possible for Gyllenhaal? (He’d better not make the first attempt anyway, especially since his love interest was through his sister Maggie Gyllenhaal. Last time we checked Batman was Bruce Wayne, not Jaime Lannister.)

At this point, Jake Gyllenhaal has a lot of credits under his belt that prove he can replace it with one of the various types. Batman has to be sharp, smart, and more than anything scary, and in 2013 he checks all those boxes with one of these. Denis Villeneuve’s best films“Prisoners.”

Gyllenhaal played Detective Loki, a cop tasked with tracking down two missing girls – one of whom is the daughter of Hugh Jackman’s tortured father, and who takes matters into his own hands. But while Jackman is breaking sinks and chasing suspects, Gyllenhaal is equally struggling to do his job and control himself. Loki is the kind of hero who fights by his own rules that Batman has always been portrayed as having. Gyllenhaal’s character is always determined to keep his feet behind a line he never wants to cross, but there’s one scene from “Prisoners” in particular that shows what Gyllenhaal’s potential Dark Knight could look like if he crossed the line.

During a home visit to speak with Bob Taylor, played by David Dastmalchian, Loki interrogates the suspect from his doorstep. It’s an intense situation, not so much because of Taylor’s flustered reaction (which certainly adds to the drama) but Loki’s unwavering focus now that he believes he’s got his man. Gyllenhaal’s film as this detective gives a glimpse of just how badass Batman can be – taking down Gotham’s criminals while hanging upside down.

The Dark Knight’s true skill is the way he hides himself behind Gotham’s poster child and billionaire playboy, Bruce Wayne. Through many iterations of Batman, finding the balance in playing both has been a skill few have mastered. But in a few of Gyllenhaal’s previous films, he’s proven he can fool the world.

For the charming, sociable smooth talker that Bruce Wayne sometimes must be, just look to his performance as Jimmy in “Love and Other Drugs” (in which he coincidentally starred opposite Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Nolan’s Anne Hathaway). The film sees Gyllenhaal playing a womanizer who believes that winning the hearts of women is as easy as selling to pharmaceutical companies. It’s proof positive that he can create a smooth Bruce double when the need arises.

Then there’s the Apple TV+ series “Presumed Innocent,” which shows the confident, career-savvy Gyllenhaal living a double life when a woman he was having an affair with is found dead. It’s an alarmingly good performance from Gyllenhaal as a flawed person who is loved by the right people. This is what Bruce Wayne’s Batman should be: noticeable enough to attract attention, but not enough to keep them there when he needs to dive into the Batmobile parked out back. As for the action, Gyllenhaal has proven that he can handle himself there.

When Jake Gyllenhaal is asked to deliver a punch on screen, he always makes sure to put in the work to ensure it works. The likes of “Southpaw” and more recently “Roadhouse” (as the original was serious) have showcased Gyllenhaal as an absolute unit. Both films require the kind of hard work that would be mandatory when playing Batman, and they were both brought to the big screen recently.

When Robert Pattinson first declared himself vindictive in the trailer for “The Batman,” we believed him simply because we’d just seen him slap a criminal around like a freshly caught herring. This is something Gyllenhaal certainly seems like he could do, but there’s more to it than that. In an all-black outfit and pointed ears, Gyllenhaal can project an imposing presence, which will be needed when the Caped Crusader in “The Brave and the Bold” eventually stands alongside David Corenswet’s Man of Steel.

There is no confirmation when New Superman He’ll be sharing the screen with the DCU’s Bats, but whoever fills the party needs to fill the screen as much as his super-powered rival. This is the kind of presence Gyllenhaal can certainly muster when the absolute best in the world come together. More importantly, it’s an offer the actor has already said he’ll accept if the call comes.

While it’s nice to consider whether Jake Gyllenhaal would be a good Batman, the important thing to address is whether he would actually take on the job. Stepping into the shoes of one of DC’s most beloved heroes comes with a lot of baggage and a legacy that stretches back decades. In an interview with Screen screaming As for “Road House,” Gyllenhaal said he has great respect for Batman and everyone who has taken over over the years.

“Oh man. This is a classic. It’s such an honor,” he announced. “I’m going to be playing Iago in Othello with Denzel Washington, and I think about the history of actors who have played that role all the time, and I’m in awe of that. So this is the first level.” However, just like everyone who has taken on the role over the years, Gyllenhaal’s bat fan wasn’t shy about the possibility. “It will always be an honor. Those kinds of things and those roles are classic.”

They certainly are, and there’s enough evidence to make sure that when it comes to making a list of potential Batman actors for the digital console, Jake Gyllenhaal should definitely be in the conversation.