Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale and yes, even Ben Affleck. What do they all have in common? They’ve all been selected to don the cowl and play the role of the Caped Crusader in a major motion picture.
Affleck has been deemed by Warner Bros to be the next Batman in the yet to be titled sequel to Man of Steel. It’s news that has made waves on the internet -- or at least the dorkiest sections of it -- over the last 12 hours. It is an announcement that has caused many, including our own Ben York, to react as if Mario Elie conveniently walked by and blew them the kiss of death.
It’s understandable. The one time the Boston native played a superhero it was met with mixed results (see: Daredevil). That is, if you don’t count his bearded performance in Argo, where he saved captives as a superhero. So since most comic and Dark Knight fans alike are unhappy with the selection, I’m here to provide an alternative. One that comes from a group of guys I’ve gotten to know pretty well over the last three months.
That’s right, it’s time to play the game sweeping the nation -- or the inside of my twisted brain -- “What if the New Batman Were a Member of the Suns?”
There are many things to take into consideration when selecting a new heir to the Wayne fortune and pressures (which apparently Warner Bros forgot about). You have to ask yourself whether or not the guy can play both the suave and humorous playboy billionaire and the gritty, grizzled and haunted hero? Does he have the physique to be believable as both? Is he charismatic enough to carry the duality of the role? And most importantly, is he able to connect with the audience and make them believe he has had a past that could lead him to want to do good.
The first thought that comes to mind is Channing Frye. That’s mostly because he’s a comic and superhero fan. Could he pull off the role? Certainly he could make a convincing Bruce Wayne, as he is funny, charming and has the kind of smile you’d expect from a smart and powerful businessman. The problem is, it’d be tough to believe he has a super dark side based on his image.
Suns newcomer Eric Bledsoe has the strength of a superhero and the build, but he’s too young to carry the complexity of the role. Goran Dragic is too nice to believe he’d be as brooding as you’d need the Dark Knight to be, although, his boyish looks and demeanor would make him a perfect Robin (or at least better than Chris O’Donnell’s version).
P.J. Tucker is a real contender. On the court he is tough and intelligent like Batman on the streets of Gotham. Off the court he has a sense for fashion and humor like Bruce Wayne. The only hang up is, whether or not he has the charm to pull off the role.
Which brings us to the best choice of the bunch, Caron Butler. He has the looks, charm and charisma of Wayne. Just watch his introductory press conference where he won the city over with his smile and humor. He’s proven on the court he has the athleticism and physical ability to be believable in the role. Not to mention, he has the same kind of dedication to basketball as Wayne does to Gotham City, as he fought his way back from a devastating knee injury -- minus the help of the magical brace shown in The Dark Knight Rises -- as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. He also is old enough for the role and has the life experience to draw from. After a rough upbringing, he turned his life around and now focuses on helping the underserved youth of whatever city he is calling home, which is very Wayne-esque.
Maybe Affleck works out and maybe he doesn’t. If he fails though, we have the perfect replacement here in the desert. Now, we will just have to wait and see if Butler can play the role of hero on the court, as well.
Your Turn: Which Sun would you choose to play Batman?