10 Actors Almost Cast As Batman (Who Would Have Sucked Way More Than Affleck)

1. Bill Murray

Bill Murray is one of those actors who was at one stage linked to a host of incredible roles: at various times in his career, he has been touted as choices for Bad Santa, Toy Story, Forrest Gump and The Witches Of Eastwick - all of which he would have suited in one way or another. But the Ghostbusters star was also in the running for Tim Burton's first Batman outing, before Michael Keaton got the nod.

Why It Would Have Sucked

This is the ultimate case of a great acting being completely wrong for a role. Pretty much everything Murray has touched has turned to gold, but even his most serious roles have been edged with too much comedy for him to have been a suitable candidate for Batman. It's hard not to imagine that his Bruce Wayne wouldn't have just been another version of his Frank Cross from Scrooged, channeling the same irresistible snark that makes most of his roles so successful, from Groundhog Day to Space Jam.

That might have been entertaining - though many would no doubt balk at the suggestion of a more comic characterisation after Joel Schumacher did his best to prove that side of the property has no place on screen - but the idea of Murray quipping as Batman is just about the most grotesque thing possible. It would have been a strange abomination, like a freakshow exhibit in a jar, enthralling perhaps but not at all pleasant.