LOVE STORY Star Paul Anthony Kelly Rumored To Be In Line For DCU Role; Could He Play Batman?

LOVE STORY Star Paul Anthony Kelly Rumored To Be In Line For DCU Role; Could He Play Batman?

Love Story star Paul Anthony Kelly is reportedly in line for a role in the DCU, and fan speculation is already pointing to him suiting up as The Brave and the Bold's Batman.

By JoshWilding - Feb 15, 2026 10:02 AM EST
Filed Under: The Brave and the Bold

Paul Anthony Kelly isn't a name many of you are likely familiar with. However, his performance as John F. Kennedy Jr. in FX's Love Story, the latest TV series from American Horror Story's Ryan Murphy, has been getting a lot of attention online.

The Canadian model, who appears in his breakout role alongside Sarah Pidgeon and Naomi Watts, has made quite the splash, and there's already chatter on social media about him joining the DCU.

That comes from celebrity gossip site Deuxmoi (via @EverythingDCU_) and is best taken with a pinch of salt. However, a quick search of Kelly's name across several social media platforms makes it clear that he was emerging as a fan-favourite choice to play the DCU's Batman shortly after Love Story first aired. Now, that's intensified.

It's certainly not outside the realm of possibility that a relative unknown would be hired to play Bruce Wayne. After all, that was exactly what happened with David Corenswet and Superman.

However, DC Studios appears a long way off from casting Batman, even with Clayface and Man of Tomorrow on the way. Instead, the focus appears to be on Wonder Woman; so, even though Kelly might be of interest for any number of DCU roles, he's likely a long way off from donning the cape and cowl, if indeed it ever happens.

We recently learned that Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey and The Flash writer Christina Hodson is now working on the script for The Brave and the Bold. The news received a mixed response from fans, especially as her last DC movie, Batgirl, was deemed "unwatchable" and scrapped.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn—who hailed Hodson and Andy Muschietti's The Flash as "probably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made"—soon chimed in on social media, writing, "The universe is rife with incorrect information about the Brave and the Bold on every level."

"I will only say anyone maligning Christina Hodson's screenwriting skills has almost certainly never read an actual screenplay by Christina Hodson - she's one of the writers who was with us early in the DCU planning stages," he later added. "I don't think you can judge my writing based on films others directed, as massive liberties are sometimes taken."

Hodson did deliver a solid take on Michael Keaton's Caped Crusader in the latter movie and put a fun spin on Black Mask in Birds of Prey

Last year, Gunn said that he likes where The Brave and the Bold's script is, but cautioned that "some things have changed" and that "plenty of things are in flux on what his situation is with his parentage and all that stuff." When he was pushed on that comment and asked if Damian is still in the movie, he replied, "I think you have to wait to see exactly what's happening."

The Brave and the Bold doesn't have a confirmed release date.

About The Author:
JoshWilding
Member Since 3/13/2009
Comic Book Reader. Film Lover. WWE and F1 Fan. Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and ComicBookMovie.com's #1 contributor.
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Monkeyballs2
Monkeyballs2 - 2/15/2026, 10:51 AM
Never heard of him
Pathogen
Pathogen - 2/15/2026, 10:52 AM
@Monkeyballs2 - Because he's Batman.
Repian
Repian - 2/15/2026, 10:57 AM
People are so predictable...A new dark-haired actor who looks similar to Bruce Wayne emerges and...Oh, wow, rumor has it he'll be Batman!🤣
Repian
Repian - 2/15/2026, 11:12 AM
@Repian - Also, if you want him to look like Bruce Wayne, here's the picture:
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dragon316
dragon316 - 2/15/2026, 12:29 PM
@Repian - not people it’s fans fan casting crap
DocSpock
DocSpock - 2/15/2026, 11:02 AM


A Canadian???? YUCK!! That's almost as bad as being british.

harryba11zack
harryba11zack - 2/15/2026, 11:03 AM
never herad of him, hes probably AI
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 2/15/2026, 11:05 AM
I like how every time a male is rumored for the DCU, everyone assumes it's for Batman, and every female rumor for Wonder Woman. There 100s of other DC characters these people could be playing.
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 2/15/2026, 11:05 AM
NEVER GET ALL THAT HAIR UNDER THE COWL.
Forthas
Forthas - 2/15/2026, 11:10 AM
Good grief! It seems like there is a flavor of the month every time you turn around. There was Brandon Sklenar...then...Alan Ritchson...and even calls to use the current Batman, Robert Pattinson. Hopefully, this too shall pass!
epc1122
epc1122 - 2/15/2026, 11:15 AM
@Forthas - is this guy not a good actor?
Forthas
Forthas - 2/15/2026, 11:17 AM
@epc1122 - There is nothing to suggest he is on the level of Christian Bale, which is my bar.
epc1122
epc1122 - 2/15/2026, 11:36 AM
@Forthas - there’s also nothing to suggest really that he’s bad. I for one haven’t heard of this actor, he’s pretty much an unknown. At one point Bale was in newsies 🤷‍♂️
Forthas
Forthas - 2/15/2026, 11:56 AM
@epc1122 - That is a fair point!
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 2/15/2026, 12:05 PM
@Forthas - All that speculation for a movie that will likely never happen.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/15/2026, 11:33 AM
He certainly looks the part atleast…

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I have seen clips of him in Love Story & he seems to be doing well in that role so perhaps he could pull off Bruce Wayne atleast but not sure about Batman.

Anyway , I would be wiling to give him a shot though if Brandon Sklenar doesn’t get it…;)!!.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/15/2026, 11:36 AM
What is the obsession with Batman?!
We've gotten tons of him for years now.

With so many hundreds of other interesting DC characters, why not explore more of them? Plus, there's still Reeve's Batman.
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 2/15/2026, 12:07 PM
@lazlodaytona -

"What is the obsession with Batman?! We've gotten tons of him for years now."

There was only Keaton, Kilmar, he who shall not be named, Bale, Affleck, and Pattinson. That's only 6 Batmen over the years, 7 if you count Conroy.
EskimoJ
EskimoJ - 2/15/2026, 7:30 PM
@TheJok3r - And how many movies?
captainwalker
captainwalker - 2/15/2026, 10:40 PM
@TheJok3r - Agree, Ritchson would be interesting though.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/16/2026, 11:04 AM
@TheJok3r - what about the countless animated series and movie?
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/16/2026, 11:04 AM
@TheJok3r - and you forgot the kid from GOTHAM
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 2/16/2026, 11:15 AM
@lazlodaytona - And now I have to try to forget about it all over again; thanks.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/15/2026, 11:54 AM
Robert Pattinson should be Batman.

Hollup... he IS Batman. Instant win.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 2/15/2026, 12:15 PM
@ObserverIO - he'd have to be playing a completly different version to fit in with Gunn's tone.... his superfriends vision would be better served with someone like Nicholas Galatzine, muscley and lighthearted
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/15/2026, 2:17 PM
@ProfessorWhy - No, no, Gunn's tone will have to be completely different to fit in with Battinson. That way around.

But seriously, tones change. The MCU has a variety of tones from Daredevil to Love and Thunder and Gunn's already stated that the DCU will have a variety of tones too. Lanterns and Clayface will be much more in keeping with things like The Batman and The Penguin.
ProfessorWhy
ProfessorWhy - 2/15/2026, 2:50 PM
@ObserverIO - we'll see, I suppose. I don't think that's what they're after
dragon316
dragon316 - 2/15/2026, 12:30 PM
Has he been in anything ?
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 2/15/2026, 12:40 PM
John krazinsky is the only choice.
Astroman
Astroman - 2/15/2026, 12:47 PM
@Nonameforme - surely you jest? Krazinsky is a goofy looking dude. Not charismatic, not charming, and it remains hard to believe he could beat up anyone other than Rainn Wilson. Sorry Rainn.
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 2/15/2026, 6:13 PM
@Astroman - I'm 100% serious.
Astroman
Astroman - 2/15/2026, 7:04 PM
@Nonameforme - Fair enough.
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 2/15/2026, 7:33 PM
@Astroman - hes carasmatic as hell. Funny, jacked, and could 100% pull off Wayne.
Astroman
Astroman - 2/16/2026, 9:21 AM
@Nonameforme - We will have to agree to disagree. For me, I see no charisma and despite any working out he may do he just isn’t convincing as ass kicker.
Nonameforme
Nonameforme - 2/16/2026, 11:23 AM
@Astroman Michael Keaton wasn't until he was
hue66
hue66 - 2/15/2026, 4:07 PM
Why not. Some comic stories have seen Bruce Wayne disguise himself as Clark Kent to help him and this guy looks like Superman.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 2/15/2026, 4:39 PM
He might be up for the role of Superman.

Since already having one doesn't seem to matter to DC.
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