Hoffman distances himself from Penguin

Rex Features

Phillip Seymour Hoffman has put himself out of the running to star in the next Batman film.

The actor was rumoured to be playing Gotham City villain the Penguin in the follow-up to The Dark Knight, but has distanced himself from the part.

"To be quite honest, I don't know whether I would be a good Penguin. I think I'm more interested in seeing someone else do it," he said.

Other stars to have played the Penguin include Danny DeVito in 1992's Batman Returns and Burgess Meredith in the 1960s Batman television series.