Todd McFarlane is a big name in comics, and he has weighed in on who he thinks could play the DCU
‘s Batman, and I have to say, I think it’s a stroke of genius.Todd McFarlane is perhaps best known as the creator of Spawn, and for his time as the artist working on The Amazing Spider-Man comics, however, McFarlane has been working in the comic’s industry for decades. Early on, he got his first big break with DC, where McFarlane did artwork for various comics, and most notably a brief stint working on Batman’s label, Detective Comics.
As such, McFarlane is absolutely qualified as a serious thinker on the topics of these heroes, and has spent a considerable amount of time getting inside their minds. And with that, McFarlane has offered up his opinion on who he thinks should play Batman in James Gunn’s DCU. Admittedly, this actor was not a name that jumped to mind initially, but after some thought, I think it makes a lot of sense.
Todd McFarlane Has Suggested Zachary Quinto Would Be The Perfect DCU Batman Casting
Todd McFarlane Presents His Take On What Batman Is All About
In a conversation with the artist, Screen Rant learned that Todd McFarlane’s top pick to play Batman is none other than Zachary Quinto. If that name sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because despite Quinto not tackling many major leading roles, he has played an important part in several major franchises. In his numerous roles, Quinto has often been cast as a villain who is intense, somber, and dark, but as McFarlane points out, these are all qualities that Batman possesses.
I’m not great at Hollywood names, but there’s an actor I like. He might be too old, but he was Spock in the Star Trek movies, and he was in Margin Call. [Zachary Quinto], that’s the name. I’ve seen him in shows where he can be somber – and I’m not talking Spock somber, I’m talking about how there’s a seriousness to a lot of characters he’s done. I think Batman needs that personality because Batman, to me, is a guy that’s so focused.
Here’s who Batman is to me, which why I like him and think he’s the coolest: he comes home to all his money, but he doesn’t give a s–t about the money. It’s like, “What do you care about?” He just goes home, sits there, and then at 2 o’clock in the morning, he gets out the black costume.
I oddly get that guy. He just doesn’t like bullies, and I have no patience in my life for bullies. And he’s just going, “I’m not going to be afraid. I’m going to get them to be afraid of me.” I like that. Superman and Spider-Man just want to win the day, but I get a sense that on his best day, Batman goes, “I want to win, and I want them to be afraid.”
And I’ll be Old Man Batman!
In fact, it’s this ability to tune into such dark and intense aspects of a character that McFarlane believes would make Quinto an ideal candidate to tackle Gotham’s Dark Avenger. Quinto is also no stranger to appearing in large franchises, and his body of work makes him a solid choice to tackle such a complex role as the wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne, alongside his brutal and terrifying alter ego, Batman.
Why Zachary Quinto Would Be The Perfect DC Universe Batman Casting
The DCU Needs A New Batman That Can Fit The Justice League
Zachary Quinto’s body of work immediately highlights how capable he is as an actor, and his versatility. From his stint as the overarching nemesis, Sylar, in Heroes, to his appearance in the Star Trek reboot movies as the somber and supremely logical Spock, Quinto embodies his characters. This would serve him well in playing a character as complex as Batman, especially in a franchise like the DCU where characters like Superman are positioned as extremely positive and hopeful. Batman should be a contrasting character, though he does not need to be aggressively dark and gritty as that is already being shown in the DCU Elseworlds version starring Robert Pattinson.
The DCU will need to stand apart from other projects, especially those featuring the same character, which could lead to fans favoring one version of the hero significantly more than another. Quinto has the ability to lean into comedy and light-hearted moments, or something darker, which would be a large benefit to playing a character like Bruce Wayne in the DCU. Also, Zachary Quinto also has a charm and a mysterious nature to him that makes him an extremely magnetic and intriguing performer, another way that he aligns with Bruce Wayne.
Casting Zachary Quinto As Batman Would Match The DC Universe’s Superman Casting
The Tone Of The DC Universe Is Already Beginning To Take Shape
Looking at the track record for the DCU’s casting so far, it also appears that Zachary Quinto aligns with the other performers already attached to major roles. For most of these actors, such as David Corenswet, who will be Superman, Milly Alcock, who is playing Supergirl, and even Xolo Maridueña who is expected to return as Blue Beetle, the actors have had a relative degree of success. They have all appeared in prominent roles in popular shows and films. However, none of them has really been placed in the central leading role that has launched their fame to the next level.
Quinto is in the same situation, with plenty of experience, numerous notable roles, and the talent to deliver an outstanding performance, but he has yet to be put fully to the test as a leading man in a major franchise. Potentially his biggest outing to date was as Spock in the Star Trek films, but both due to the comparisons to Leonard Nimoy, who was the original Spock, and Chris Pine’s role as Captain Kirk, Quinto was not the main focus. Todd McFarlane has evidently seen something special in the actor, and from his time working on the character of Batman, he feels confidently ᴀssured that Zachary Quinto is the right man for the job.
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Superman
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July 11, 2025
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June 26, 2026
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The Batman Part II
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October 1, 2027
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