We’re now into double figures when it comes to actors who have portrayed Batman in live-action, and while the majority of them have fared well with fans after slipping into the cape and cowl, some (including both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck) were initially met with anger and disappointment. But reactions to those casting choices are likely nothing compared to this recent revelation, which claims that action movie icon Sylvester Stallone came very close to becoming The Dark Knight.
This controversial choice was revealed by X/Twitter user @BatKilmer, who shared images of a model of Stallone’s face sporting a Batman mask alongside the caption, “We nearly lived in a glorious timeline where Sylvester Stallone was Batman with Mark Hamill (actually) playing Joker.” And while that does indeed sound like the kind of cinematic glory that would never be allowed to really happen as its beauty would cause a crack in reality, there will be many DC fans with serious questions about the idea of the Rocky and Rambo star as the beloved superhero.
Admittedly it is difficult to imagine Stallone’s familiar mumbling emanating from beneath the iconic cowl. Still, the idea of him sharing the screen with Batman: The Animated Series actor and Star Wars star Mark Hamill as a live-action Joker is undeniably intriguing. Sadly, this would not have been on the big screen, and would instead have seen Stallone lead the acclaimed short film Batman: Dead End from 2003.
In response to the images and footage, filmmaker, cosmaker, and Threads user Coty Ellis explains that the “story goes that Stallone pulled out of the project because his agent informed him it wouldn’t be a good look to star in a fan film, no matter how big the budget was, and Hamill was only going to do it if Stallone was (allegedly).”
There Is Still a Lot More Batman To Come…
Batman is, of course, now one of the most popular characters in fiction, with countless comics, movies, TV shows, fan films, video games, and everything in between offering different takes on the DC icon. Currently, former Twilight actor Robert Pattinson (who also received backlash when his casting was announced) is our silver screen Batman. Having been introduced in 2022’s critically acclaimed The Batman from director Matt Reeves, Pattinson will reprise the role for the highly anticipated The Batman Part 2, which is now due to land in theaters on October 2, 2026.
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Alongside Pattinson, another version of Batman is all set to be introduced as part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DCU. While we do not yet know who will play the part, and thus exist in the same universe as David Corenswet’s Superman, the likes of Reacher star Alan Ritchson and Black Panther’s Winston Duke have expressed interest in suiting up for Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
While he may never play Batman, Sylvester Stallone now has his own superhero franchise to lead in Samaritan, with a sequel now in the works at Amazon MGM Studios.