10 Last-Minute Replacements If Ben Affleck Quits The Batman

An actor used to sporting a cumbersome costume on the set of a studio blockbuster after playing Thorin Oakenshield in the Hobbit trilogy, Richard Armitage is also no stranger to big-budget, greenscreen-heavy features thanks to appearances in The Phantom Menace, Captain America: The First Avenger, Alice Through the Looking Glass and... The Vicar of Dibley.

The 45 year-old was under consideration for the role of Batman during the casting process for Batman v Superman and even met with Zack Snyder, but was ultimately unsuccessful as the director opted for Ben Affleck, who is only one year younger than Armitage. Still, he remains a solid candidate should the part become available once again in the near future.

Its not easy for a 6'2" man under a pile of prosthetics to convince as a dwarf, but the versatile Armitage did just that in the Hobbit movies and imbued Thorin with a sense of stoicism, dedication and internal conflict, traits that are pivotal to the duality of Bruce Wayne and Batman. His critically-acclaimed work in Hannibal also proved he has no trouble playing an out-and-out psychopath either, which Batman may or may not be depending on who you listen to.

And of course there is Armitage's commanding baritone voice, which would lend itself well to a black-clad vigilante lurking in the shadows of Gotham, giving his take on the Dark Knight an instant sense of intimidation, while also serving as the polar opposite of Christian Bale's gargled Nick Nolte impression.