10 Actors You Didn’t Realise Played Batman

1. Peter Weller - The Dark Knight Returns

Michael C Hall
Orion Pictures/Warner Bros. Entertainment

The words "Robocop portrays Batman" may sound like fan-fiction. I mean... it sounds awesome... but fan-fiction nonetheless.

Even though such a scenario seems too good to be possible, Peter Weller did indeed play the caped crusader in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. The Frank Miller adaptation centres around an elderly Bruce Wayne who has retired from superheroics for a decade. But after Gotham becomes ransacked by a mob of mutants, Bruce is forced to don the cowl and cape once more.

Because Miller's saga is arguably the most influential Batman comic ever, it's easy to see why it has served as the inspiration for many adaptations, especially Zack's Snyder's Batman V Superman. However, many people believe this animated feature encapsulates the story's style and tone more accurately. And this was achieved, by no small part, by the lead star, Peter Weller.

Even though the final battle between Batman and Superman is epic, brutal, and innovative, it's Weller's commanding voice and calm rage that sells the confrontation. When you hear him perform the iconic "I'm the one man who beat you" monologue, he doesn't sound like Weller - he sounds like Batman.

Contributor

James Egan has been with Whatculture for five years and prominently works on Horror, Film, and Video Games. He's written over 80 books including 1000 Facts about Horror Movies Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about The Greatest Films Ever Made Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts about Video Games Vol. 1-3 1000 Facts About James Bond 1000 Facts About TV Shows