Culture

Before Batfleck: A History of Batman's Best and Worst Incarnations

Now that Ben Affleck has been named the new Batman, it only seems fitting to put him in context. Here's our rundown of every actor to play the Caped Crusader -- from radio, to television, to the movies.
Before Batfleck A History of Batman's Best and Worst Incarnations
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Lewis Wilson
Last week, Warner Bros. announced that Ben Affleck would be the next big-screen Batman, teaming up with Henry Cavill's Superman in the upcoming Man of Steel sequel, and everyone had an opinion — most of them snarky and rife with Daredevil jokes (see: #Batfleck). In light of the announcement — and the mixed reception it received from fans — we've decided to put Affleck in context, with a rundown of every actor to play the Caped Crusader in an ongoing serial or feature film, from radio, to television, to the movies. Affleck may not be everyone's top pick for Batman, but in the character's long tenure more than one less-likely choice has risen to the challenge — and more than one shoo-in has fallen flat. Above:

Lewis Wilson

Title: Batman Era: Golden Age Medium: Theatrical Serial Lewis Wilson was the first on-screen Batman. Wilson starred in Batman, a 15-part serial that made its debut in 1943 (with all the attendant patriotism and xenophobia de rigeur for a wartime release), and introduced some key elements of the Bat mythos, including the Bat Cave. Wilson remains the youngest actor to play Batman on screen—he was only 23 when he took on the role, which also marked his screen debut.