Milo Ventimiglia really wanted to be Batman. The "This Is Us" star told Variety that he threw his name in ring for the coveted role.

“Do I see myself in a cape and cowl?” Ventimiglia asked. He did, but adds, "Warner Brothers didn’t. "They said, ‘Ventimiglia, you’re too old.'”

The studio announced in May that the new Batman will be 33-year-old Robert Pattinson. Ventimiglia, who  -- doublechecks notes -- is now 42, says he's fine with that.

“It’s okay. It doesn’t matter,” Ventimiglia added. “By the way, I’m kind of busy.”

He's nominated again for "This is Us" and he's out promoting his new film, "The Art of Racing in the Rain," which opens August 9. (Will this dog movie make you cry more than "This is Us"? Chances are very, very good.)

For what it's worth, Ben Affleck had just turned 41 when he was cast as Batman back in 2013, but Zack Snyder was looking for an older Bruce Wayne. Michael Keaton was 38 when the first "Batman" film hit theaters. And Christian Bale was 31 when "Batman Begins" came out.

Looks like the former "Heroes" star would have had a better shot after Bale hung up the cowl in 2012.

[Via Variety]