Actor Who turned Down Batman Possibly Headed to Gotham in New Role

While there have been delays in filming The Batman – Part II, discussions about casting choices for new characters in the Gotham-based sequel to Matt Reeves’ 2022 hit are starting to emerge.

Rumors suggest that Josh Hartnett is being considered for the role of the iconic villain Harvey Dent, potentially joining the franchise in its second installment. Joel Edgerton is also reportedly being considered for the role. These rumors originated from The Hot Mic podcast, with host John Rocha sharing information from a source he vetted. However, Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider believes it is too early for casting decisions, suggesting they will likely start rolling in during the fall.

In the superhero genre, casting choices are often just as important as the characters themselves, leading to rampant speculation in the months leading up to production.

This isn’t the first time Hartnett’s name has been mentioned in these conversations, as he was previously considered for the role of Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy. However, he declined the offer at the time due to concerns about being typecast. Could 2025 be the year when Hartnett finally makes his way to Gotham?

According to Sneider, pre-production for The Batman – Part II is expected to begin at the end of the year. While filming was initially scheduled for November 2023, recent reports suggest it might be delayed until March 2024, potentially due to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike.

Nevertheless, the release date remains unaffected, and audiences can anticipate seeing Robert Pattinson return as the Caped Crusader on October 3, 2025.