In another part of the multiverse, Gotham would have had a Batlin instead of a Batfleck.

Josh Brolin was among the actors in contention to play the Caped Crusader in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, before director Zack Snyder cast Ben Affleck in the role. During an appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Brolin revealed that the idea felt risky, which is exactly what excited him about it.

"Something that is set up to not work at all or to work flyingly, I like those odds," he said. "I like playing with those odds. I'm like, 'Am I the guy who's gonna make it all fail?'"

To his point, Brolin cited George Clooney, who donned the Batsuit to play the part in 1997's Batman & Robin. "I didn't think [he] was bad, but you talk to Clooney and he's still joking about it!" Brolin exclaimed. "And it wasn't his fault. That was all Joel [Schumacher]. He didn't do anything wrong."

Affleck went on to play Batman in 2016's Suicide Squad, 2017's Justice League and 2021's Zack Snyder's Justice League, and was slated to both star in and direct a solo Batman movie, but instead opted to hang up his cape and cowl—at which point Warner Bros. tapped Matt Reeves to direct Robert Pattinson in The Batman. Affleck will reprise his role once more in 2023's The Flash.

Brolin has not been lacking for superhero roles of his own. In the Marvel universe, he starred as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and he made his debut as time-traveling super soldier Cable in 2018's Deadpool 2. Still, he hasn't completely let go of the idea of donning the Batsuit someday.

"Honestly, that would have been a fun deal," Brolin says. "And maybe I'll do it one day when I'm 80!"

RELATED CONTENT:

How to Watch Every Batman Movie

Director Matt Reeves on the Inspirations and Innovations of 'The Batman' (Exclusive)

'The Batman': Breaking Down the Sound and Fury that Brought the Batmobile to Life (Exclusive)