The Batman Casting That Almost Happened—And Why Harrison Ford Almost Became the Dark Knight

In the glamorous, ever-competitive world of Hollywood, few stories are as intriguing as those of the actors who almost landed iconic roles but never did. While many stars can be proud of their legendary careers, there are moments when an actor’s fate takes an unexpected turn. One such near-miss occurred in the late 1980s when Harrison Ford, an actor already firmly established as an action hero, learned that he was on the shortlist to play one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history—Batman.

Fast forward to 2025, when Ford, now a seasoned veteran in Hollywood, finally dipped his toes into the world of comic book superheroes with a role in Captain America: Brave New World. Ford, known for his legendary roles as Indiana Jones and Han Solo, was stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross. His typically sardonic humor was on full display during interviews for the movie, especially when he downplayed his understanding of the “Red Hulk” and comic book lore in general. But it was a particular moment during a chat with Josh Horowitz that stunned audiences and provided a rare glimpse into an alternate universe where Ford could’ve been Batman.

When Horowitz asked Ford if he had any knowledge of being considered for the role of Batman in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), Ford’s response was priceless. “Oh shit!” he exclaimed, his face contorted in mock shock and horror. “I could’ve had a career!” His quip left the room in fits of laughter, but Ford quickly got serious, revealing that the possibility of him donning the Batsuit never actually reached him. This led to the revelation that other big names, including Dennis Quaid, Charlie Sheen, Kevin Costner, Mel Gibson, and Tom Selleck, were also considered for the role of Gotham’s protector.

The casting process for Batman was full of surprising twists. Before Michael Keaton signed on and set the stage for the film’s success, other actors like Pierce Brosnan had been considered. In fact, Brosnan met with Tim Burton to discuss the role. However, he couldn’t get behind Burton’s dark and gothic vision for the character, particularly struggling to take Batman seriously in a time when superhero films had a more lighthearted tone, largely shaped by the campy 1960s Batman TV series.

“I just couldn’t really take it seriously,” Brosnan confessed in 2014. “Any man who wears his underpants outside his pants just cannot be taken seriously. That was my foolish take on it. It was a joke, I thought. But how wrong was I?”

Brosnan’s remarks serve as a fascinating window into the mindset of actors at the time. The idea of a “serious” Batman was a tough sell in an era where the only major superhero film successes were Superman: The Movie (1978) and its sequels, which presented a much more optimistic view of the genre.

Ironically, Brosnan and Ford would later find themselves in superhero roles in a roundabout way. Brosnan eventually joined the comic book world by portraying the obscure character Dr. Fate in the 2022 film Black Adam, while Ford took on the role of the Red Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World—both roles marking their belated entry into the world of capes and tights. Their transitions mirrored the broader trend in Hollywood of established stars dipping into superhero franchises, a stark contrast to their earlier reluctance.

Ford, known for his iconic characters and action-packed legacy, was never in need of superhero roles to solidify his career. He had already cemented his place in Hollywood history. But as the landscape of modern cinema has evolved, it’s no surprise that even Ford, much like Brosnan, eventually succumbed to the irresistible allure of comic book characters. Still, when Ford discovered he was once linked to the Batman role, it was a moment of bittersweet reflection—an acknowledgment of how things could have turned out differently.

The casting of Batman in the late ‘80s was an unpredictable journey, with the studio considering a variety of actors, many of whom went on to become household names. But as we now know, the mantle eventually fell to Michael Keaton, whose portrayal of the Dark Knight changed the superhero film genre forever, paving the way for the modern comic book film landscape we know today. Looking back at the potential casting choices and the careers of those involved, one can’t help but wonder what the world would have looked like if Harrison Ford had indeed stepped into the Batsuit. As Ford himself so humorously put it, he “could’ve had a career”—and a very different one at that.