Armie Hammer opens up about losing 'Batman' role: ‘It was really heartbreaking’

Actor Armie Hammer went Running Wild With Bear Grylls on the latest episode of the survival show. Between eating a rotten fish eyeball and drinking goat milk directly from the teat, Hammer talked about being cast as Batman in a blockbuster film that never happened.

Hammer’s breakout role came from the 2010 hit The Social Network, in which he played twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. But in 2007 he was supposed to breakout as Batman in George Miller’s Justice League: Mortal film.

Unfortunately for Hammer, the timing could not have been worse because the Writers Guild went on strike, bringing the film industry to a halt. At the time the film was in pre production and Hammer, along with an ensemble cast with featured Adam Brody (The Flash), Common (Green Lantern), DJ Cotrona (Superman), Megan Gale (Wonder Woman), Hugh Keays-Byrne (Martian Manhunter), and Santiago Cabrera (Aquaman) were rehearsing for the film in Australia.

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Between the strike delay, the success of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, and various creative issues, the film was cancelled.

“It was, like, really heartbreaking,” said Hammer, “Especially because I was 19 years old, it was like the first big success I'd ever had.”

While heartbreaking, Hammer credits the experience of auditioning for the role with making him a better actor. He said, “I worked harder on that than anything I have ever worked on in my entire life.” And he referred to the experience as a “metamorphosis by fire.”

Hammer was prematurely linked with the role of Batman again when Ben Affleck announced he wouldn’t be donning the cowl and cape again after 2017’s Justice League.

However, Robert Pattinson landed the gig and he’ll star in Matt Reeves’ The Batman which is currently in pre-production for release in 2021.