Is Tom Cruise Playing Batman in 'The Brave and the Bold'? Here's Everything We Know

These days, Tom Cruise is dubbed “the last movie star” — and rightly so. The success of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, which grossed $1.496 billion worldwide, “saved the entire theatrical industry” during the post-pandemic era (Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg even said so).

But that’s not the only reason. Cruise is well known for pouring energy, passion, blood, sweat, and tears into projects like the Mission: Impossible films, which have become infamous for his signature death-defying stunts. From scaling the Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol (2011) to the motorcycle jump in Dead Reckoning Part One (2023), Cruise has performed some of the most breath-taking, nail-biting action sequences ever put to film.

His decades-long career has spanned many genres; however, he’s yet to make his mark on any superhero franchise. Now, you might argue that superspy Ethan Hunt is, more or less, a superhero (and you’d be right), but we’re talking masks, spandex, capes, that sort of thing.

But we’re talking about a very specific superhero: Batman.

Related: James Gunn’s DCU Falls Apart as Zack Snyder Confirms That Henry Cavill Is Still Superman

Should Tom Cruise Play Batman?

There are likely always going to be opportunities for Tom Cruise to play Bruce Wayne/Batman, who has been reimagined every few years since Tim Burton’s 1989 film starring Michael Keaton. Since then, we’ve had Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck, and Robert Pattinson in the role of the Dark Knight on the big screen.

For now, the next major live-action project is the upcoming DC Universe film reboot The Brave and the Bold, which is being directed by Andy Muschietti (2023’s The Flash) and is based on the popular DC comic book storyline of the same name. Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) is getting a sequel in 2027, but Robert Pattinson will be reprising his role in that film.

While there’s no talk whatsoever of Tom Cruise playing Batman in the DCU reboot, there have been a few fan-castings on Reddit in recent years.

He was also rumored to be suiting up as a Multiversal version of Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at one point, which obviously never happened.

Related: Robert Pattinson’s ‘The Batman’ Sequel Officially Canceled, James Gunn Confirms

Why He’s Perfect for Batman

However, the Top Gun star is perfect for Bruce Wayne/Batman. Who better to play a character who braves heights and other incredible dangers on a daily basis than an actor who has performed some of the most memorable and dangerous stunts on the big screen?

And if not in the DCU’s The Brave and the Bold, then Hollywood should consider him to play the Caped Crusader in another Batman project — one that could be highly stunt-oriented like the Mission: Impossible films. From leaping off skyscrapers to fighting enemies atop speeding trains, it’s fair to say that Tom Cruise and Batman have plenty in common.

With the Mission: Impossible now in the rearview following the epic conclusion The Final Reckoning last year, could Batman become the next mega-stunt franchise?

Taking Cruise’s action abilities out of the equation for a moment, dual identities shouldn’t be a problem for him, either. From his comedic performances in films such as Risky Business (1983) and Tropic Thunder (2008) to his terrifying villains in the likes of Interview with the Vampire (1994) and Collateral (2004), he’s as versatile as they come.

It’s also worth noting that Cruise is no stranger to major blockbuster franchises. Not only has he played IMF agent Ethan Hunt since the first Mission: Impossible was released in 1996, but recently, it was reported that he has filmed a lightsaber duel in Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, which stars Ryan Gosling in the lead and is due out in theaters in May, 2027.

For now, The Brave and the Bold is without a Dark Knight, although many names have been thrown around in recent years, such as Alan Ritchson (Jack Reacher) and Josh Brolin (Avengers: Endgame). Recently, James Gunn said that it will be some time before we get an update on that film, so don’t expect to find out the new Batman’s identity any time soon.

Next up on the DCU’s slate is Supergirl starring Milly Alcock. That film arrives this June, and will be followed by Clayface in September.

In July next year, David Corenswet will return as the Last Son of Krypton in Superman: Man of Tomorrow, with DC Studios’ co-CEO James Gunn returning to write and direct.

Could Tom Cruise end up being part of that superhero lineup? Here’s hoping the mission is his, should he choose to accept it.

Would you like to see Tom Cruise play Bruce Wayne/Batman? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below!