7 actors who could star in the new Batman film Jack O'Connell

Despite Affleck’s departure, it does seem likely that Warner Bros won’t be keen to take Batman in too radical of a new direction. It might confuse audiences if we’re suddenly delivered with a sillier George Clooney-type (nevermind the fact Batman & Robin crashed and burned) or, say, even an Adam West-esque iteration. We’ve been with a gritty Batman for too long for him to suddenly get the Thor: Ragnarok treatment. In that light, if the studio wants a direct successor to Affleck, then they can’t go wrong with O’Connell. The 28-year-old is a go-to if you want a leading man with the right level of edge and grit to him, thanks to his roles the likes of ‘71 and Starred Up. He’s yet to be really tempted into the world of franchises, outside of a role in 300: Rise of an Empire, which means he also doesn’t have the baggage of already being associated with a particular character.

Getty Images