The new trailer forThe Batmangave us a better look at what to expect fromRobert Pattinson’s Batman. However, asTitansSeason 3 just ended, we’ve learnt that Bruce Wayne, the man behind the Bat, can be just as interesting as the Dark Knight.
Bruce is often forgotten as people talk about his alter ego, Batman. But we’ve come to the point where DC Comics properties don’t need the cape and cowl to hold the audience’s attention. A billionaire in a sharp suit, debonair attitude, and a heavy dose of pathos can be just as gripping to watch. In honor of the emergence of more actors who’ve played Bruce Wayne versus those who’ve donned the Batsuit, we rank all the live-action versions of Bruce Wayne.
13. Lewis Wilson (The Batman1943 serials)
Lewis Wilsonwas the first actor to bring Bruce Wayne and Batman to the screen, so it seems a bit of a shame to place him literally at the bottom of our ranking. Unlike every other actor on this list, Wilson didn’t have a pre-existing template to work off, so his version of Bruce Wayne was much like the comic books of the time—a little inconsistent. He see-sawed too rapidly between being a prankster and a detective, and he wasn’t particularly serious at being either. The biggest problem is that Wilson was a veteran actor by the time he starred inThe Batman1943 serials, so his take on the character wasn’t all that different from portrayals of other generic male protagonists of the era.
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12. Robert Pattinson (The Batman)
The line between Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) and Batman is virtually invisible inThe Batman, because Bruce doesn’t have a life—he’s Batman first, Bruce Wayne, almost never. While Pattinson puts in a stellar performance as a tortured vigilante, this version of Bruce is callous and surprisingly mean. His disrespect for Alfred Pennyworth (Andy Serkis), the man who seemingly raised him in the absence of Bruce’s parents, comes across as petulant, even contemptuous. It’s a theme that’s carried by the character throughout the film. Strangely, Bruce is also at his most vivacious when he’s working with others, though his emotions tend to pivot on a dime. It’s a compelling performance, though uneven. The lack of screen time for the man behind the cowl is also another reason why Pattinson is second last on this list.
11. Warren Christie (Batwoman)
InWarren Christie’s defense, he has had very little screen time to play Bruce Wayne, and none of it was as the real version of the world’s greatest detective. In the threeBatwomanepisodes Christie appeared in, he was actually playing Tommy Elliot/Hush disguised as Bruce, and then he was in a dream speaking to Luke Fox (Carmus Johnson). As Hush, he was convincingly duplicitous but far too evil to ever be Bruce. But in Luke’s hallucination, Christie brought the charisma and kindness that we would expect from the hero. Unfortunately, his brief role was not memorable enough for us to want to see Christie return to The CWVerse with a larger presence.
10. Robert Lowery (Batman and Robin1949 serials)
When you seeRobert LoweryasBruce Wayne, he looks like he stepped right off the comic book page. His portrayal of the character in theBatman and Robin1949 serials relies heavily on Bruce’s detective skills and high intellect—perhaps a little too much. This iteration of Bruce has almost as much screen time and development as Batman. This Bruce is so smart that he’s miles ahead of everyone else, especially his sidekick Dick Grayson/Robin (Johnny Duncan). Lowery effortlessly carries Bruce’s years of experience under his beleaguered façade. He’s charming as well, but there’s always a hint of a smile on his face that adds to the mystery, and confusion, to Lowery’s take on the character.
9. Ben Affleck (DCEU)
Ben Affleck’s position on this ranking would be controversial irrespective of where he placed. His spin on Bruce Wayne fit in with the DC Extended Universe’s grittier and edgier storytelling and style. Affleck debuted inBatman V Superman: Dawn Of Justiceas a character dedicated to vengeance…against Superman, of all people. He was just too angry, broody and one-dimensional for a character that is known for having more nuance. Affleck has since appeared in two versions ofJustice Leaguewhich means we have two versions of his Bruce Wayne in our minds, which hasn’t helped boost his status as the character. He marginally beat out Lowery for this spot because Affleck’s chemistry withHenry Cavillas Clark Kent/Superman sold their brotherly bond despite the characters’ limited screentime together.
8. George Clooney (Batman & Robin)
If you’re wondering howGeorge Clooneybeat out Affleck’s performance as Bruce Wayne, it’s because Clooney brought a very different kind of Bruce to our screens. In the much-reviledBatman & Robin, Clooney played Bruce as a man who no longer built walls around his heart. He had settled into his life as Gotham’s protector, as a son to Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough) and as a father figure to rambunctious Dick Grayson (Chris O’Donnell). Clooney brought his quintessential mannerisms to the role, but he added vulnerability and empathy to the character. It was refreshing to see Bruce Wayne as a man who, despite still living with his grief, was no longer defined by it.
7. Kevin Conroy (Batwoman)
After decades of voicing the Caped Crusader and inadvertently becoming the only voice we hear in our heads when readingBatmancomics,Kevin Conroyfinally stepped in front of the camera to play Bruce Wayne/Batman. He appeared onBatwoman, in “Crisis on Infinite Earths, Part 2”, which aired as part of the CWVerse crossover event. As an aged Bruce Wayne on Earth-99, Conroy was able to perfectly blur the lines between where Bruce Wayne ended and Batman began. He played the character as an understandably angry, bitter old man. This Bruce had killed villains and friends, and he was struggling with pain management as a result of his years as a vigilante. Conroy was impeccable at playing an evil version of Bruce—he brought out the dark in the Dark Knight. We would never want to cross paths with this Bruce Wayne!
6. Adam West (Batman1960s)
Adam Westwill betheBatman for many a generation, but his Bruce Wayne took some time to come to the fore. Due to the episodic and procedural nature of the 1960sBatmanseries, Bruce hardly got much screen time—and whenever he did, it was often for a romantic storyline. That’s not to say West didn’t bring a certain panache to the character. His performance as Bruce was cavalier and whimsical, and since the show was so vibrant, West’s Bruce lacked any of the pathos that has come to overwhelm the character in recent years. Bruce on the show was a believable mentor and father figure to Dick Grayson (Burt Ward), while bringing his A-game as a ladies’ man.
5. Iain Glen (Titans)
Iain Glenis the latest actor to play Bruce Wayne with no indication that he will don the cowl. Glen’s version of Bruce onTitansis far removed from the others on this list—he’s much older, kinder, calmer and generally seems uninterested in being Batman. We are to intuit that he does fight crime, but this Bruce looks like he’d make a greater difference with his words and actions, not his fists. The writing of the role has knocked Glen down several positions on this list. Before Glen was cast, Bruce Wayne was written as an untamed killer and cruel mentor, but since his arrival in Season 2, Bruce’s past was swiftly forgiven. Glen embodies aRoger Moore-esque charm, and acts like a doting, if imperfect, father to Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) and Jason Todd (Curran Walters). In many ways, his Bruce Wayne feels like an extension of Adam West’s. We love this Bruce, but he’s not right for this story.
4. Michael Keaton (BatmanandBatman Returns)
Michael Keatonwill be back as the Big Bad Bat inThe Flashfilm, but will we also see his Bruce Wayne? Keaton’s Bruce inTim Burton’s Batman films was always so restrained, it’s almost as if Keaton was afraid to lean into his comedic side. On the rare occasion he did, Keaton lit up the screen (we mean the dinner scene at Wayne Manor). What Keaton had a ton of was charm—he continues to win fans over with it. Keaton also carried Bruce’s mistrust brilliantly even though it made Bruce that much harder to connect with. But the fact that Bruce Wayne, in both films, was defined by his romantic feelings for Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), and then Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer), hampered Keaton’s ability to flesh Bruce’s characterization out even better.
