10 Actors Who Almost Played Robin DC’s ‘Batman Forever’

Joel Schumacher’s star-studded 1995 superhero extravaganza Batman Forever famously featured the talents of Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, and Nicole Kidman, with Val Kilmer taking over the role as the legendary caped crusader and Chris O’Donnell appearing as his trustee sidekick Robin. O’Donnell would go on to reprise his role in the ill-fated follow-up Batman & Robin, which became such a notorious critical and commercial bomb that it effectively destroyed any chance O’Donnell had for his own spin-off and nearly killed the Batman franchise itself.

Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans was initially set to portray former circus acrobat Dick Grayson, whose parents and brother were brutally murdered by Two-Face and eventually becomes the affluent Bruce Wayne’s fierce crime-fighting partner Robin in Batman Forever. After Tim Burton walked away from directing duties and passed the torch to Schumacher, the search for Robin once again resumed with many of Hollywood’s up-and-coming leading men all vying to win the epic role.

10

Marlon Wayans

Marlon Wayans hails from the prominent showbiz family and first got his start alongside his brother Shawn in the 1995 sitcom The Wayans Bros., which ran for five seasons and helped put the comedic performer on the map. He had previously shared the stage with his talented siblings in the trailblazing sketch series In Living Color a few years prior before eventually shifting his focus to film work, going on to notably appear in popular flicks like Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, Requiem for a Dream, and White Chicks.

Change in Directors Leads to Wayans Being Recast

Back in 1992, Wayans was originally considered for the role of Robin in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns before producers decided to ultimately omit the legendary sidekick due to having too many characters already featured. Three years later, the comedian officially signed on to portray Robin and star opposite Billy Dee Williams’ Two-Face before Burton departed the project and was replaced by Joel Schumacher, leading to both parts being recast with Chris O’Donnell replacing Wayans and Tommy Lee Jones Two-Face. Wayans reflected on the experience in 1998 in an interview with the A.V. Club:

“I got paid for almost being Robin. Actually, I was Robin: They paid me, and then they decided they wanted somebody else. I was like, ‘Hey, as long as the check clears, baby.'”

9

Leonardo DiCaprio

During the 1990s, future Academy Award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio was steadily crafting his Hollywood takeover, having skyrocketed to superstardom after he delivered an unparalleled performance as Johnny Depp’s disabled brother Arnie in the 1993 coming-of-age drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. DiCaprio earned both an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for his phenomenal portrayal and unsurprisingly attracted the attention of Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher, who pursued the up-and-comer for the role of Robin.

“Leo-mania” Runs Wild in the ’90s

DiCaprio ended up having one meeting with Schumacher but ultimately decided not to follow through with auditioning for the role, a decision that proved to have no impact on the talented performer’s career trajectory. “Leo-mania” would be in full swing just a few short years later, with the actor famously appearing in the star-crossed epic romances Romeo + Juliet and Titanic, both of which propelled DiCaprio to worldwide fame and establishing him as one of the cinema’s most sought-after leading men. In 2015, Dicaprio revealed to Shortlist:

“I never screen-tested. I had a meeting with Joel Schumacher. It was just one meeting and, no, I didn’t end up doing it. As I recall I took the meeting, but didn’t want to play the role. Joel Schumacher is a very talented director but I don’t think I was ready for anything like that.”

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8

Corey Haim

’80s teen heartthrob Corey Haim became a staple on the silver screen with winning performances in hits like Silver Bullet, Murphy’s Romance, Lucas, and The Lost Boys, emerging as a certified icon alongside close friend and frequent collaborator Corey Feldman and becoming simply known as The Two Coreys in the entertainment industry. By the ensuing decade, Haim was struggling both with maintaining his career and his issues with substance abuse, prompting him to try and land the epic role of Robin.

Haim’s Hollywood Heartbreak

Joel Schumacher had previously directed Ham in the aforementioned vampire classic The Lost Boys, and the actor ended up unsuccessfully auditioning for the part of Dick Grayson A.K.A. Robin. Haim continued to experience difficulties in both his personal and professional life after failing to land the role, starring in a slew of direct-to-video films and alongside Feldman in the 2007 reality series The Two Coreys. The ’80s idol tragically passed away on March 10, 2010 at just 38-years-old from pneumonia.

7

Matt Damon

Before he was winning Oscars with his childhood pal and fellow cinema staple Ben Affleck, Matt Damon was steadily trying to make a name for himself and had appeared in a handful of films including Mystic Pizza, Geronimo: An American Legend and School Ties, the latter of which he worked with Affleck and fellow Hollywood hopefuls Brendan Fraser and Chris O’Donnell. It would be a few more years before Damon would emerge as one of the industry’s most dynamic and talented leading men.

Damon’s Dazzling Cinema Ascent

Like many of his peers at the time, Damon was clamoring for his big break and ended up auditioning for the role of Robin, which ultimately went to his School Ties co-star O’Donnell. Damon didn’t stay down long, as just two years later the acclaimed drama Good Will Hunting landed in theaters and nabbed him an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Original Screenplay along with Affleck. The movie star kept up his dazzling career momentum with epic performances in hits like The Talented Mr. Ripley, Saving Private Ryan, The Departed, and the Bourne franchise (to name just a few).

6

Danny Dyer

English actor and TV presenter Danny Dyer is perhaps best known for his roles in the sports films Mean Machine and The Football Factory and as Mick Carter in the British soap opera EastEnders, a character he portrayed for nearly a decade and for a whopping 1,145 episodes. In 1995, he had appeared in small guest spots in shows like Prime Suspect, The Bill, and Cadfael, but was searching for the performance that would truly put him on the entertainment map.

Dyer’s Future Acting Success

Dyer was one of many hungry hopefuls vying to portray Robin opposite Val Kilmer’s Batman, but it was not in the cards for the project and his rise to prominence would instead come in the form of Moff in 1999’s Human Traffic, a cult classic dramedy that helped establish Dyer as a “hard man” and bad boy in the cinema. He would later appear in movies such as Adulthood, Dead Man Running, and Vendetta, and hosted the game show The Wall, with his most recent screen credit being the black comedy series Rivals. Dyer reflected on losing out on Robin in a 2012 interview with Digital Spy:

“I auditioned for Robin in Batman & Robin with Joel Schumacher. It’s strange really because for every one part you get, you lose out on 20 – rejection, you get used to that pretty early, but you still want to know why, you want to know details.”

5

Scott Speedman

Scott Speedman caused audiences all across the world to swoon when he famously romanced Keri Russell in the ’90s juggernaut Felicity, winningly portraying Ben Covington in the buzzed-about drama for all four seasons. When Speedman auditioned for Robin, he was still an unknown actor and model who had yet to make his screen debut in either television or film, having studied his craft at both the University of Toronto and York University. On a whim, Speedman decided to try and read for the famous sidekick.

Speedman’s Audition Leads to Crucial Exposure

Speedman would later call the experience auditioning “hilarious” when talking with Men’s Journal in 2017, adding that “it was a very stereotypical thing” in which he competed alongside 100 other actors and did an improv scene with revered casting director Mali Flynn. Though he was not cast, the audition helped Speedman gain much-needed exposure and he quickly landed an agent after the read which helped lead to major TV and film opportunities like roles in Felicity as well as in the Underworld franchise, The Strangers, and The Vow, and in the crime drama Animal Kingdom and horror series Teacup.

4

Mark Wahlberg

Hoping to shed his “Marky Mark” rap image and establish himself as a serious actor, Mark Wahlberg was another performer who thought that the role of Robin in Batman Forever would be his saving grace when it came to getting his foot in Hollywood’s door. Wahlberg had only appeared in Penny Marshall’s 1994 comedy Renaissance Man alongside Danny DeVito and James Remar and in an episode of The Ben Stiller Show when he decided to throw his hat in the ring and audition for the superhero flick.

Wahlberg Has Zero Regrets

Wahlberg ended up meeting with Schumacher multiple times and discussed the project with the director but never ended up receiving an official offer. The Oscar-nominated star does not seem to have any regrets missing out on portraying Dick Grayson and stated in 2024 that he never even put on the suit before publicly declaring “I’m glad I didn’t get that offer.” Wahlberg nonetheless paved his own way in the world of film and went on to deliver knockout performances in movies like Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Fighter, and Ted.

3

Toby Stephens

Toby Stephens is a decorated British actor who has crafted an impressive film and television resume for himself over the course of his thirty-plus years career. Stephens had trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and starred in a slew of stage productions throughout the ’90s such as Antony and Cleaopatra, All’s Well That Ends Well, and A Streetcar Named Desire, and like the rest of the decorated actors on this list dreamed of making it on the big screen.

A Talented Stage & Screen Star

Stephens might not have landed the part in Batman Forever but he did find major success shortly thereafter, going on to star as the diabolical Bond villain Gustav Graves in 2002’s Die Another Day, for which he garnered a Saturn Award nomination. His other silver screen credits include The Machine, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, and The Journey, while also captivating audiences as James McGraw/Flint in Black Sails, John Robinson in Lost in Space, and Poseidon in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

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2

Ewan McGregor

Yet another Hollywood mega-star who vied to play the iconic character is none other than Golden Globe-winner Ewan McGregor, who began his stellar career with a headlining role in the 1993 British serial Lipstick on Your Collar and drama series Scarlet and Black alongside Rachel Weisz, while also studying drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. McGregor also made his cinematic film debut when he starred opposite Robin Williams and John Turturro in the 1994 dramedy Being Human.

McGregor’s Bounces Back with Star Wars

McGregor was on the ever-growing list of aspiring actors hoping to work with Schumacher and Kilmer, and despite not being chosen he did go on to join another legendary franchise: Star Wars. He brilliantly portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy between 1999 and 2005. He continued demonstrating his sensational range as in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! in addition to Black Hawk Down, The Ghost Writer, Big Fish, and Doctor Sleep, while also appearing in Fargo, Halston, and the Disney+ original series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

1

Michael Worth

Actor, director, and writer extraordinaire Michael Worth got the filmmaking bug at a young age, buying a super 8mm camera with his allowance and directing his first movie The Tire at just 11 years old. After Worth moved to Los Angeles to pursue his aspirations, he spent six months living in his truck with his dog and eventually landed his first leading role in the 1992 action flick Final Impact. He also began working as a martial arts trainer for George Lazenby, which would prove to be very beneficial for the young actor.

Worth’s Batman Forever Cameo

After auditioning for Batman Forever, Worth ended up being one of the front-runners for the character of Robin but Chris O’Donnell was selected, yet he was still able to make an appearance in the big budget extravaganza; Worth had a cameo alongside O’Donnell in one of the exciting fight scenes featured in the superhero film. He would go on to direct and act in movies including Dual, Broken Memories, and The Butterfly Guard, and had supporting roles in shows like The Closer, The Unit, Desperate Housewives, and CSI: NY.