Willem Dafoe has reportedly admitted that he was nearly cast as Batman. Dafor was rumoured to have been a contender for the role of The Joker (played by Jack Nicholson) in Tim Burton’s 1989 movie adaptation.

However, the 54-year-old told MTV that he was actually approached about portraying the titular superhero, before Michael Keaton took on the part for two films.

He said:

“Very early, they talked to me about playing Batman. I hate to spread these things because unless you remember it well, you’re stoking the fires of bulls**t.

“But I remember [it]. I’ve had my brush with these things.”

Dafoe eventually appeared in a superhero movie as Norman Osborn and his villainous alter ego The Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man.