At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Zack Snyder shocked the world by revealing that the Last Son of Krypton and the Dark Knight would be sharing the screen in the sequel to this summer’s ‘Man of Steel’. Since the announcement, much speculation began to circulate about this new Batman. Rumor had it that WB was eyeing an older actor to step into the role of Bruce Wayne and his vigilante counterpart, and this was seemingly backed by Snyder having Harry Lennix read from legendary graphic novel ‘The Dark Knight Returns’, which features a retired Caped Crusader going toe to toe with Superman. However, the production might have just gone in a completely different direction as the studio has just announced the actor they chose to don the mantle of the World’s Greatest Detective.
According to a press release on Deadline, Ben Affleck has been tapped to play Batman alongside Henry Cavill’s Superman. Previously, the actor had been rumored to be connected to the Justice League movie. However, after denying those claims time and time again, it turns out that he’d rather be in front of the camera for DC and WB instead. After all, if he’s busy directing, then he may not have the time to jump into the Batmobile for some action. Also, he’s no stranger to life of crime fighting as he once portrayed Marvel’s Daredevil for 20th Century Fox. But now, he’s the latest actor to jump from one of the Big Two to the other.
President of Creative Development and Worldwide Production at Warner Bros. Pictures had this to say about Affleck’s casting in this highly anticipated film:
“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”
Director Snyder weighed in as well by saying that Affleck’s Batman brings a certain balance to Cavill’s Superman:
“Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him.”
It’s interesting that Snyder labels Affleck as “older and wiser” because that’s the one thing that I don’t see the actor bringing to this new version of the classic character. In my opinion, he’s too young to have that vibe about him. If anything, I could see him as Bruce Wayne to be the equal of this universe’s Clark Kent. If I had a say in this, I would have cast John Hamm, since something about him says that he has more of that experience as an established superhero aura that Snyder seems to be looking for.
Of course, I did doubt the casting of Heath Ledger as the Joker at first, so there is a chance that I could be wrong. Affleck is a great actor, but I just don’t see Batman in him. I see ‘Chasing Amy’, ‘Armageddon’, ‘Dazed and Confused’, and ‘Dogma’ when I look at him, but not Batman or Bruce Wayne, let alone an older version of either one.
This news is sure to have everyone talking right now, so what do you say about Ben Affleck donning the cape and cowl as Batman in Snyder’s upcoming film? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
The currently untitled Batman/Superman movie starring Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne, and Diane Lane will be released on July 17, 2015.
