The Curious Case of Benjamin Affleck and The Batman

IMAGE VIA CLAY ENOS/ WARNER BROS

Ben Affleck’s career as Batman has been an interesting one, to say the least.

When Warner Bros announced the casting of Affleck as Batman in Batman v Superman four years ago it was met with “Really? Ben Affleck?” from plenty of people. Even I was against the casting, but also thought he’d direct a kick-ass Batman movie.

Granted we all were still on a high from Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s incredible portrayal of the Caped Crusader in Dark Knight Trilogy.

However, when images and trailers for Batman v Superman came out, I was getting more excited to see Affleck in this role because you could see they were doing. I think the moment I thought WB and Zack Snyder made the perfect choice when the BvS Comic-Con trailer was released.



When BvS came out, even though I think it’s a good movie that gets better with every watch, it still to this day split comic book and film fans. However, the one thing everyone seemingly agrees was/is Affleck is a good Batman and there plenty of people who think he’s the greatest Batman we've had on screen.

It still didn’t stop the sad Affleck, which the 44-year-old joked about in an interview with BBC Radio 1.



Then 2017 came along and you can see something change, you could see him get more and more pissed off mainly because film reporters were more interested in asking about The Batman than his actual movie he just directed, Live By Night.

Afterwards, after saying he was still directing The Batman, two weeks later he stood down. This led to many film bloggers and reporters suggesting he may not even be Batman after Justice League.

He was later replaced by the perfect person, War For The Planet Of The Apes helmer Matt Reeves.

Then the sad was revealed by Affleck himself, he just spent some time in rehab.

We then heard nothing for months until an incredibly poorly timed news story from The Hollywood Reporter. I’m not suggesting Kim Masters did anything wrong, she didn’t, it’s very well written piece. It’s just the timing wasn’t the best as it was the day before the Warner Bros Hall H panel at San Diego Comic Con.

Unless Warner Bros wanted that story to come out so we could hear from the man himself respond to these reports head on. Check out the video below.



During the Entertainment Weekly Comic Con party, Affleck went into more detail and it sounds he’s contracted to do one more film as the Dark Knight and it could be in Reeves’ Batman.

IMAGE VIA EW/ ALBERT L. ORTEGA/ GETTY IMAGES

“My status remains what it always is. I’ve done two movies. I’ve always intended on doing a third if Warners wants to make it. Certainly, if the Batphone rings, I will answer.”

He described his scenes in Suicide Squad as a “walk-on” so it doesn’t affect his contract.

As for the role itself, “I’d love to do it as long as they’ll have me” he responded.

He does admit his time will come to an end, but it does sound he has a fight and passion for the role.
“Eventually somebody else, and I’m sure they’ll get somebody great. But while I’m doing it, I’m going to do the best job I can, I really appreciate how lucky I am” he added.

Affleck also explained why he stood down as director and blames some of the reports on his decision.

“It’s such a big job, in terms of the stunts and the suit and the action and the action. Trying to do that, and direct, would probably be too much. Something would be compromised. I think it came off, optically, to the broader world, like lack of interest and passion or enthusiasm. When I fact I love this character.”

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The Oscar winner went on the praise Warner Bros choice to pick Reeves to direct The Batman.

“I think getting Matt Reeves to come in and do it is a really, really exciting.”

It’s still unknown what exactly the Apes helmer has in mind for his Batman, but rumours have been suggesting it’ll be his own trilogy. Affleck adds “Matt hasn’t unveiled his full vision yet. He wanted to wait until Apes came out, and he was obviously consumed with that. So I’m looking forward to hearing what his story is.”

Finally, Affleck went on to praise the studio he has been working with since his acclaimed crime thriller The Town. By the sound of things, WB is moving in the right direction when it comes to their DCEU (even though I didn’t think it needed work).

“Warners has been working on it, making sure we’re getting it right. That’s the partnership you definitely want. With Wonder Woman, they really hit a home run. With [Justice League], I think we’ve found the tone, and the flavour of it.”

IMAGE VIA CLAY ENOS/ WARNER BROS

These comments make me super excited to see Affleck as Batman in Reeves’ movie and as well as seeing him in Justice League.

However, I do think because he’s a veteran Bats in the DCEU we could see a younger Wayne in a Year One-esque trilogy, which would be cool to see a 20-year-old Batman because we never actually seen that before.

Alternatively, we could see Affleck’s Batman in the first Reeves film then pass the cowl on to Dick Grayson and we see Dick Grayson as Batman, which could be really interesting and different.

IMAGE VIA DC COMICS

I want to strongly state, I want Ben in the role for as long as possible and direct a DCEU film and in the future direct a Batman film.

Finally, whatever Affleck decides to do, I hope it’s for the best for both himself and the studio because we know the actor has been struggling with his health (though he looked great on Saturday) and at the end of the day it’s the most important thing.