Throughout the years, many actors have come forward to take on the hefty responsibility of playing Batman in live-action including Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, George Clooney, and more. While some absolutely nail the role, others do not. Unfortunately, actor Iain Glen falls in the latter category.
Iain Glen played the role of Bruce Wayne in the show Titans, making his first appearance in the second season. His portrayal of the Caped Crusader was met with unfavorable reviews. The veteran actor brought an older version of Bruce to the screen and while there was potential, the execution was not the finest. In fact, some fans would even go as far as to say that Iain Glen is the worst Batman we have seen so far in live-action.
Fans Believe Iain Glen is the Worst Batman of all Time
Remember George Clooney and his infamous nipple suit? Apparently, Iain Glen’s version is worse than that for fans to vote him as the least likable Batman of all time.
First things first, Glen is a great actor. He has been a part of projects like Game of Thrones, Resident Evil, Silent Scream, and more. Unfortunately, though, Titans is not where he shines.
Glen makes his first appearance in season two episode one titled, Trigon. There, Bruce Wayne meets with Dick Grayson aka Robin aka Nightwing, his former vigilante sidekick and adopted son, in an attempt to reestablish the Titans.
While Glen went on to be a part of the show for eleven episodes, the reviews he received for his portrayal, especially from the fans, were not the best. At first glance, many mistook him to be Alfred instead of Bruce and firmly believed that he was a miscast.
Giving Glen tough competition for the worst Batman spot is Gotham’s Batman played by David Mazouz. The actor spent most of the show playing Bruce but then at the very end, a cape and cowl were thrown on him which felt very out of place. While Mazouz did a decent job at portraying Bruce and was Batman for only a few seconds, his version of the Caped Crusader was not appreciated by fans and neither was his suit.
Hear it from the fans themselves:
Agreed. His Bruce was more Alfred than Bruce and we never actually saw his Batman. The only time we saw Batman in Titans was in Dick’s nightmare sequence near the end of season one.
— Miles Mason (@selimnosam) July 15, 2024
I thought he was Alfred when I first watched it😭
— GreenMarvel (@ThomasRamos303) July 15, 2024
Thank God I didn't bother with season 2!
— Viep Bee (@ViepB87708) July 15, 2024
100%, like undeniably the worst
— Dayne Quartero (@Xaeydn) July 15, 2024
The worst portrayal of Batman is in the final episode of Gotham
— Slate Bane (@SlateBane) July 14, 2024
Nahh.. this a close 2nd bc didn't Gotham knights batman die mid suit up 😭😭😭..
— Agent_P_𓃵🏳️🌈 (@Agent_Perri_) July 14, 2024
You really believe the Titans Batman is the worst? What about the Gotham Batman suit? pic.twitter.com/xkAuVR6qf7
— Zack Briggs (@ZackBriggsNews) July 15, 2024
Who do you think is the worst out of the two, though? Or is there another actor you think deserves the spot?
Iain Glen is the Best Batman, According to Titans Showrunner
Contrary to popular opinion, the showrunner of Titans, Greg Walker believes that Glen was the perfect man for the job. Why? Well, it is simply because he was not what the fans expect when they hear “Bruce Wayne.”
Walker agrees that Glen is not one to fit in the perfect mold of Bruce but that is just what made him perfect for the role, well, at least according to the showrunner.
In an interview with Central Illinois’ WMBD-TV, Walker stated,
You look at a guy like Iain, and what I see is a guy who has lived. He’s been through a lot. He doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter or the model that we’ve known in previous Batmans.
Walker went on to add that in the show, Bruce struggles with parenting and that Glen is the right man to bring this side of the character forward.
So much about what we try to do is question, ‘Why am I a superhero?’ This Bruce Wayne is a guy who has transported his tragedy into violence and been an artisan of that. He raised sons doing the same thing, and he’s now realizing that the legacy isn’t quite working out. That there’s a failure in parenting that he’s had.
Iain is the perfect character for that. You can see that struggle. Batman has taken violence to a high art, but he struggles as a father, as many of us do. What’s brilliant about Iain’s performance is that struggle.
Unfortunately, looking at fans’ reviews it is pretty clear that things didn’t quite work out like Walker had hoped they would. Regardless, Glen is a phenomenal actor who was just caught in the wrong role.
Stream Titans and Gotham on Max.
