Superheroes dominate the entertainment landscape of the modern era, and there is no hero more profitable in film than Batman. The caped crusader has had a long history in the comics that filmmakers managed to draw from for their films. From The Killing Joke to The Dark Knight Returns to The Long Halloween, many elements of the comics have influenced Batman in film. One element the films have often been lacking is Batman's supporting cast.

While the films tend to focus on Batman as a solo hero and a dark brooding figure of the night, his comic book counterpart has a whole host of allies that protect the streets of Gotham. This group of supporting characters is often called the Bat Family and consists of characters like Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, and many more.

Updated February 8th, 2023: This article has been updated to reflect the latest news regarding the DCU, including the Bat Family making an appearance in the upcoming film The Brave and the Bold.

A fan-favorite character in the Batman franchise is Jason Todd aka The Red Hood. Originally the second Robin, the character was killed by the Joker in the pages of DC Comics in the 1988 comic Death in the Family before being brought back in 2005 as The Red Hood. The Red Hood was originally a villain, but has since transitioned into an anti-hero, and has been on a road to redemption, and has become a full member of the Bat Family.

With the recent news that the DCU Batman film titled The Brave and the Bold will introduce Damian Wayne as Robin and open the door for the Bat Family, many expect to see Jason Todd join the franchise. Right now, Red Hood has yet to be cast, but here are seven actors we believe have great potential to play the iconic DC character.

Curran Walters

Curran Walters as Red Hood in Titans
Warner Bros. Television

Curran Walters already plays Jason Todd in DC's Titans. In the series' third season, Jason leaves the Titans to become Red Hood. Walters' performance as Jason Todd is a major highlight of Titans. He is clearly passionate about the role and portrays all of Jason's emotional complexity.

The strength and determination, as well as the character's fear and insecurity, are all on full display. Since the announcement of The Brave and the Bold the actor has taken to social media to campaign for the part of Jason Todd, and due to the upcoming The Flash resetting the DC Universe actors from other incarnations of the DC franchise could be carried over.

Taron Egerton

Taron Egerton in a promo for Robin Hood (2018)
Summit Entertainment

Taron Egerton is one of the most popular fan-castings for Red Hood. Many comic book fans want Egerton to play Wolverine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, if that never comes to fruition, Egerton could play Jason Todd for DC. He is a phenomenal actor appearing in films such as Kingsman: The Secret Service and Rocketman.

Related: Batman: 6 Actors to Replace Affleck and Pattinson in James Gunn's New DCU

The actor is still relatively young and has already previously worked with Warner Bros. His character in the Kingsman franchise, Eggsy, starts off as a trouble-making street kid. The character's cockiness and rebellious traits would transfer over to the role of Red Hood. Neither Eggsy nor Red Hood are characters that sit back trusting authority figures to carry out justice.

Nicholas Hamilton

Nicholas Hamilton is at the perfect age to play Red Hood for the DC universe, and continue to grow while playing the role.
Quiver Distribution

Best known for playing Henry Bowers, the bully in IT and IT Chapter Two, Nicholas Hamilton is a rising actor to look out for. IT already proves that Hamilton can play an intense character and intimidating antagonist very well, something needed for Jason Todd who does begin out as an antagonist under the Red Hood persona.

Hamilton has also shown a much softer side, portraying a young man madly in love in Endless. Hamilton's performances across film and television show lots of promise and stepping into the role of Red Hood might take his career to the next level.

Kyle Allen

Spencer Stevenson, Kaitlyn Dever, Kyle Allen, and Henry Hunter Hall in Rosaline.
20th Century Studios
Hulu

Kyle Allen is certainly making himself a star to watch, having appeared in a wide variety of high-profile films. In 2021, he was the lead in the romantic comedy The Map of Tiny Perfect Things and then was one of the Jets in Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-nominated remake of West Side Story. Most recently the actor can be seen as Romeo in Rosaline, and the actor's wide array of work in different genres shows he has what it takes to tackle a role like Jason Todd and the Red Hood.

Tanner Buchanan

Robby Keene - Cobra Kai
Sony Pictures Television

Warner Bros. has already looked toward the cast of Cobra Kai for the DCU as Xolo Maridueña is set to be the lead in Blue Beetle, so why not look at another young actor from the series to play another major DC character? Tanner Buchanan plays Robbie on Cobra Kai, and much like Jason Todd the character is another fighter with a troubled past who finds a sense of purpose by being taken in by a wise mentor figure.

Related: Here’s Why a Batman and Robin Team-Up Is Necessary for the New DCU

There are even more parallels to Robbie from Cobra Kai and Jason Todd. Buchanan's character is the estranged son of an older Johnny Lawrence from The Karate Kid. Similarly, the character of Red Hood also experiences fractured relationships with other members of the Bat Family including Batman. Although Buchanan has expressed interest in playing Nightwing, the role of Red Hood may also be a great fit.

Kofi Siriboe

Kofi Siriboe
HBO

An incredibly talented and charismatic actor, Kofi Siriboe is a star to watch out for. Siriboe plays a young man facing many challenges after being released from prison in Ava DuVernay's drama series Queen Sugar. Siriboe also makes an appearance in HBO's comedy-drama series Insecure, and even the music video for Doja Cat's "Streets."

While Siriboe is currently not part of any blockbuster film franchise, an actor who is less recognizable may be for the better when casting a major new character in the DC universe. The effortless charm Siriboe brings is perfectly suited for Red Hood. Especially when an edgier, morally conflicted character needs to be likable.

Dacre Montgomery

dacre montgomery in stranger things
Netflix

Stranger Things' Billy Hargrove commands the screen during his two seasons on the show. Billy is a charming but aggressive teenager who hides a lot of personal conflict within. He does his best to avoid dealing with it, which manifests in rage-filled behavior towards his stepsister Max and her friends. But there is also light in Billy; there is a heroic side. The show killed off Billy in the third season, allowing actor Dacre Montgomery to soon tackle another franchise.

Additionally, Montgomery plays the Red Ranger in the 2017 Power Rangers film. He already plays a character associated with the color red in the world of superheroes. Both Red Hood and the Red Ranger are characters that make major mistakes and have a bit of a temper. But both are leaders and strong characters with very big ambitions.

Keean Johnson

Keean Johnson-1
20th Century Pictures

Appearing in Alita: Battle Angel, Euphoria, and Spooksville, Keean Johnson is a talented young actor in Hollywood. Johnson plays a lead romantic interest in Alita, portraying a character that is very flawed and experiencing conflict surrounding his morals. However, he still cares strongly for other people, including Alita.

These struggles, the balance between light and dark, are central to the character of Red Hood. Johnson has proven that he has the acting chops. He is also entering his mid-twenties, which is the perfect age for Jason. There is a lot of charm and talent in this young actor that can be utilized.

Colton Ryan

Colton Ryan in Dear Evan Hansen
Universal Pictures

Colton Ryan is a young actor who seems to be ideally suited for the role of Jason Todd. Originally a theater performer, he played the role of Connor Murphy in the film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. In 2022, he played the role of Conrad Roy in the Hulu series The Girl from Plainville which was based on a true story.

He recently appeared in an episode of the Peacock series Poker Face as a troubled young man. Ryan has a silent intensity in many of his performances, always as if he is holding something back that nobody can anticipate which is needed for the violent but also sympathetic characters like Jason Todd and the Red Hood.