Superhero fans will recognize Jensen Ackles for his role as Soldier Boy in “The Boys,” but there’s another comic book character he’s been linked to for the longest time. Heck, if it were up to the Ackles Army, he would have been cast as Batman the moment Peter Safran and James Gunn announced the DC Universe, a fresh start for DC films after the DC Extended Universe struggled to make an impact. And for those wondering what Ackles might look like as the Dark Knight, artist Captain Raccoon has you covered.

The response to these artistic renditions has been overwhelmingly positive, with fans rallying around the idea. One enthused commenter expressed, “We need this. And Jensen would kill in the role,” while others tagged Gunn in hopes of gaining his attention.

The enthusiasm of the Ackles Army for their hero to step into Batman’s shoes is palpable. Yet, the pivotal question remains: does Ackles himself aspire to this legendary role? If presented with the opportunity, would he embrace it? Despite several actors previously declining major DC roles, Ackles seems unlikely to refuse, should the offer be made.

This statement certainly fuels the hopes of fans dreaming of Ackles as the next Batman. This isn’t Ackles’ first expression of interest in the role. Back at San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, he sported a Batman t-shirt and told E! News that playing Batman would be a “dream come true” for any actor.

Ackles has more than just fan support in his favor; he has already voiced Batman in several acclaimed animated DC films. His performances as the Dark Knight in “Batman: The Long Halloween,” “Legion of Super-Heroes,” “Justice League Warworld,” and the 2024 hit trilogy “Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths” showcase his ability to bring the character to life, potentially making him an ideal candidate for the live-action role.

This certainly bodes well for those holding out hope that this fancast will come true. This isn’t the first time that Ackles has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Warner Bros. and DC, either. At San Diego Comic-Con in 2013, the actor proudly wore a Batman t-shirt and was asked by E! News about potentially playing the role on the big screen. “Any guy in his right mind would die to play Batman,” he said. “It would be a dream come true.”

One thing going in Ackles’ favor when it comes to potentially being considered as the next live-action Batman is that he’s played the character several times in animated DC projects. The Dallas native voiced the Caped Crusader in the critically acclaimed two-part film “Batman: The Long Halloween” in 2021, and he’s also played Batman in “Legion of Super-Heroes,” “Justice League Warworld,” and, most recently, in the trilogy “Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths,” which were among the best animated movies of 2024.

His role in “Batman: The Long Halloween” stands out in particular, since it’s an outstanding adaptation of one of the best Batman comics of all time and Ackles unleashes a masterclass as the Dark Knight. Many reviews singled out his performance for special mention: IGN wrote that his version of Batman is “scary while still having a youthful aura about him.” If that isn’t enough to whet the appetite for Jensen Knight, lest we forget that he dressed up as Batman for Halloween in 2019 and had a professional photo shoot done that he shared on Instagram.

That’s commitment right there. Honestly, what more does this man need to do to convince the powers that be that he’s serious about this role? James Gunn, maybe it’s time to give Ackles a call and see if he’s busy.