For years, Jonathan Bailey has been on a steady climb through Hollywood, charming audiences with his charisma and range by playing everything from romantic leads to complex dramatic characters. Hence, when he recently talked about potentially becoming the coveted Batman, excitement surged among his fans as they envisioned him as the Caped Crusader. However, not everyone was thrilled, as some X users turned the conversation dark.

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, Jonathan Bailey almost said yes to playing Batman when the host brought up calls for him to don the cape. “I grew up with Val Kilmer, George Clooney, obviously Christian Bale, and Robert Pattinson. It is a legacy, and I think James Gunn is amazing. Who knows,” the Bridgerton sensation asserted. But once the clip went viral on X, not everyone was convinced, dismissing his hopes with a wave of backlash.

The actor, notably, was on Jimmy Fallon’s show to promote Wicked: For Good, set to release later this month. The appearance also marked a celebratory moment as he was crowned People’s Sexiest Man Alive for the year. Yet, amid the excitement, the X outrage struck a contrasting note. With his new title placing him in the global spotlight, it is perhaps even harder for Jonathan Bailey to face social media’s divided opinions on his potential as Gotham’s brooding vigilante.

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From debating his height to recasting him entirely, X made it clear that Jonathan Bailey is not their choice for Batman.

The Elon Musk-owned microblogging platform was quick and cutting with its response to Jonathan Bailey's Batman remarks on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. While some cited his “5'11” height” as a reason he would not fit the Dark Knight’s imposing image, others simply said they "love" him but seeing him fly through Gotham would be a stretch. Still, the debate was not all negative, as X floated other DCU roles like Mr. Miracle or Constantine for him and even suggested he would suit Marvel’s Bruce Banner if the role is ever recast after Secret Wars.

The suggestions for anything but Batman did not stop there for Jonathan Bailey, as one said the actor mostly exudes a James Bond vibe while pushing Nate Mann or Henry Cavill, who, for the record, is also in contention to play 007, for the role on Bailey’s mind.

Ultimately, whether or not Jonathan Bailey ever gets to wear the cape, the conversation around him shows just how invested audiences are in his next move. From romance to drama, he has proven his range time and again. Therefore, Gotham perhaps is not the only world he is destined to conquer. As Wicked: For Good nears release, Bailey’s star clearly continues to rise even if, for now, it is shining a little outside Batman’s shadow.

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What do you think of X dismissing Jonathan Bailey for Batman? Let us know in the comments.