Gary Oldman Reveals Who He Would Like To See Play Batman If Ben Affleck Drops Out

The Dark Knight trilogy star Gary Oldman has named three-time Academy Award nominee Joaquin Phoenix as his pick for the next Batman, should Ben Affleck drop out of the DC Extended Universe.

“I would like to see someone like Joaquin Phoenix play it,” Oldman told TooFab during the 7th Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts International Awards.

Oldman explained the quality of the film lies with the filmmaker behind the camera, not the actor donning the cowl.

“This is no disrespect to Ben Affleck,” he added. “I think it really depends on who is at the wheel that lifts it.”

Oldman admitted he’s yet to see any of the newer DC Comics movies, but praised J.K. Simmons, the latest actor to step into the role of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon, in an exclusive interview with ComicBook.com.

“He’s a wonderful actor,” Oldman said in March. “Gordon was very good to me so I wish him a lot of luck. I’m excited for him.”

Affleck, who succeeded Christian Bale in the iconic role of Bruce Wayne-slash-Batman, stepped into the cape and cowl for 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, reprising the role briefly in Suicide Squad.

Affleck starred in and executive produced Justice League, which ultimately proved a critical and commercial disappointment for studio Warner Bros.

The actor and director is already considering his DCEU exit, and recent speculation has pointed to The Batman director Matt Reeves as wanting Academy Award winner Jake Gyllenhaal to replace Affleck, who has long been tentatively attached to the project since stepping down as director in January.

Acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, once attached to tackle a Batman: Year One-inspired take on the Dark Knight, previously said he “always wanted” Phoenix to play his R-rated Batman.

Phoenix, once in talks to star in Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange, elected not to take the role because he couldn’t see himself fitting into the superhero blockbuster machine.

Oldman won an AACTA award and a Golden Globe this past weekend for his performance as a chain-smoking Winston Churchill in biopic Darkest Hour.