Step Aside Ryan Gosling! Tyler Hoechlin Could Be In Line For Batman Role

Zack Snyder announced at last weekend's Comic-Con that the Man of Steel sequel would also include Batman as DC Comics edged closer to its Avengers equivalent: the Justice League of America. Stunned fans were treated to a reading from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns comic book - in which Batman and Superman clash - followed by a projected teaser image that combined the superheroes' logos. Shortly afterwards, writer David S. Goyer revealed that the production team were mulling over names such as Superman vs. Batman or Batman vs. Superman after a similarly titled project failed to get the green light back in 2002, Yahoo! News reports. However, the focus has shifted to who would replace the gravel-voiced Christian Bale as Batman.

Could Teen Wolf Tyler Hoechlin Evolve Into Batman?

Cosmic Book News claims to have been told that "Regarding the new Batman, Tyler Hoechlin is being heavily considered for the part and will be getting a screen test alongside Henry Cavill. Warner Bros. and Snyder are looking at somebody to play the new Batman with a reputation similar to Cavill's, when Cavill was testing for Superman. It's also said that better known actors could also be testing for the role. As filming is expected to begin in early 2014, screen tests should be happening soon."

Whilst You Ponder, Here He Is In A Suit.

CBN didn't speculated upon who the "better known actors" could be but 25 year-old Hoechlin is certainly an intriguing choice. He's tall, dark and handsome - obvious prerequisites for donning that bat-cowl - and what's more got his break in 2002's Road to Perdition alongside Tom Hanks and now stars as werewolf Derek Hale in MTV's Teen Wolf. The Californian-born actor is definitely more wolf than bat in his features but will apparently be screen-testing alongside Henry Cavill as Batman to see how the two actors fare together.

Which Actor Will Go Up Against Henry Cavill's Superman?

The website also claim that their DC source let out a few script secrets too, saying "The sequel is set a year after Man of Steel, and the world is still getting used to having this powerful god on the planet who isn't fully trusted by everybody. Batman certainly doesn't trust Superman. Superman doesn't trust Batman; either of which causes the two to clash when they initially meet. They do however pair up to defeat the villains," with mention of Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash in reference to the eventual JLA movie. Although the villains are unknown at this point in time, it has been speculated that Luthor and Joker could be the baddies teaming up to take on our heroic hunks.

Like all early and suspiciously sourced rumours, get your pinch of salt ready along with your sceptical grimace, but we'll tentatively say that Hoechlin gets our approval if he's next to get behind the wheel of the Batmobile.