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.'”

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, 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]