Avengers star Winston Duke wants to be DC’s first live-action black Batman

Actor Winston Duke previously voiced Batman in "Batman Unburied" (2022) and played M'Baku in MCU's "Black Panther."

Black Panther actor Winston Duke has expressed interest in playing Batman in the DC Universe, citing his preparation from previous MCU roles.

James Gunn's vision for the initial phase of the DC Universe involves Andy Muschietti's Batman film, "The Brave and the Bold," which will debut a fresh live-action portrayal of Batman in the DCU.

In an interview with SlashFilm, actor Winston Duke from "Black Panther" expressed his interest in playing Batman in the DC Universe. 

During promotion for "The Fall Guy," Duke expressed his desire to actively campaign for the role of the Dark Knight: "Listen, man, can you start that [campaign]? I would say I challenge you to get on all these socials and push for me. Get your community. I would love to. I would love to do that as Batman. I'd love any opportunity to explore new characters, to change narratives around some of these entrenched ideas of how these characters are supposed to look, sound, and perform. I'm all for it."

Tim Fox was the first person of colour to portray Batman in the animated series "Future State: The Next Batman." 

If Winston Duke were to get the role, he would be the first person of colour to play Batman in a live-action adaptation.

The main casting for "The Brave and the Bold" is yet to be decided. 

Various actors, such as Jake Gyllenhaal, known for "Spider-Man: Far From Home," Jensen Ackles from "The Boys," and Alan Ritchson, a former "Titans" cast member, have all discussed the prospect of portraying Batman.

Duke had also voiced Batman in the 2022 audio drama podcast "Batman Unburied."

Duke's acting portfolio features notable roles such as M'Baku in the MCU's "Black Panther," "Avengers: Infinity War," "Avengers: Endgame," and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Additionally, he has appeared in "Person of Interest," Jordan Peele's "Us," and David Leitch's "The Fall Guy" (2024), portraying the action-centric stunt coordinator

Playing Batman could offer Winston Duke the opportunity to play another comic book character with greater depth in James Gunn's DC Universe.