The Batman: Is THIS actor lined up to play the Dark Knight? ‘He’s met with Ben Affleck’

A new report suggests that former Skins star Jack O’Connell is in line to play the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’ new film.

The Hashtag Show reports that, although the whispers are totally unconfirmed, O’Connell is thought to have had a meeting with Ben Affleck – who is the reigning Batman and remains one of the film’s producers.

It’s stressed that O’Connell may not have even had a meeting about the main role – he could have been seen in relation to searches for actors to play Dick Grayson, Tim Drake or another member of the Bat-family.

Whether or not Affleck will continue to play Batman still remains to be seen – rumours that he will step down have continued to circulate, especially amid his ongoing personal struggles.

O’Connell would certainly be a qualified choice of actor to lead a movie this big: he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award after appearing in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken in 2014, and was also gripping in Money Monster alongside George Clooney and Julia Roberts in 2016.

His other credits include Dive, United, Starred Up and ’71; following his debut in This Is England.

But it’s Skins for which he is perhaps still best known: he played James Cook on the show from 2009-10, to huge acclaim.

The 28-year-old Derby native will soon be seen in Against All Enemies alongside Kristen Stewart and Anthony Mackie; and Jungleland with Charlie Hunnam.

The first draft of The Batman’s script has reportedly been sent to the studio, and Matt Reeves recently spoke out on speculation that it takes its cues from the Year One comic book.

“Year One is one of the many comic books that I love. We are definitely not doing Year One,” Comicbook.com quotes him as saying.

“It’s just exciting to be focused very specifically on a tale that is defining for him and very personal to him.

“Obviously, we’re not doing an origin tale or anything like that. We’re doing a story that is definitively Batman though, and trying to tell a story that’s emotional and yet is really about him being the world’s greatest detective and all the things that for me since I was a kid, made me love Batman.”

The DCEU is in an interesting and tricky position at the moment, after several films failed to resonate with audiences.

To date Wonder Woman is the only entry that’s managed to ignite the box office and please critics, and Gal Gadot is currently hard at work on its sequel.

Other upcoming movies from the studio include Aquaman and Shazam.

The Batman does not currently have a release date.