Ben Affleck’s most recent updates on his Batman future sadly bring a close to the tragedy of his experience with in the DCEU. Although Affleck is slated for one (maybe two) more appearances as Bruce Wayne, his recent comments have candidly confirmed he’ll be finished with DC movies going forward, both in front and behind the camera. Despite past reports that new DC Studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran had been having positive conversations with Affleck about directing, Affleck himself has said otherwise.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck was asked about his Justice League experiences and time as Batman. The actor and director was very honest about his challenging past playing the Dark Knight as originally envisioned by Zack Snyder, his upcoming return as Batman in The Flash, as well as the possibilities of his future with DC Studios and its imminent franchise reset. Although Affleck makes it clear that his time with DC is nearly over, it will likely end with some high notes despite the difficult past.
Ben Affleck Won’t Direct A Movie For James Gunn’s DC Universe
Although Gunn recently claimed he and Safran were planning to have Affleck direct one of their new DCU movies such as Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Ben Affleck has confirmed the opposite is true in regard to his working with DC Studios in the future:
“I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not. I have nothing against James Gunn. Nice guy, sure he’s going to do a great job. I just wouldn’t want to go in and direct in the way they’re doing that. I’m not interested in that.”
Following his 2016 debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Bruce Wayne which was followed by the ever-controversial Justice League in 2017, the original plan for Affleck was to direct and star in his own Batman film. However, Affleck eventually walked away from the project which eventually evolved into the now separate The Batman starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Matt Reeves.
Affleck himself has confirmed his experiences on the tumultuous production of Justice League very much soured his relationship with DC and Warner Bros., so much so that it seems he has very little interest in continuing despite the new era and leadership changes. Likewise, the same interview saw Affleck claiming that the reshoots for 2017’s Justice League amid Snyder’s personal tragedy and executives’ lack of faith in his vision left “the most monstrous taste” in the actor’s mouth. According to Affleck, “You could teach a seminar on all the reasons why this is how not to do it.”
Ben Affleck’s DC Tenure Is Officially Ended
Although it would have been exciting to see Affleck finally directing a DC project that very well could have been a Batman-related project, these new comments are fairly black and white. Following his upcoming appearance alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman in The Flash and perhaps another Batman cameo in Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom (if it hasn’t been cut), it does seem as though Ben Affleck’s tenure as Batman has officially ended. Going forward, it’s unlikely that Affleck will be working with DC Studios in any capacity, either as Batman or as one of their directors.
How Ben Affleck’s Attitude Toward DC Changed
What makes Ben Affleck’s Batman journey so tragic is how positive it all started out. From the very beginning when he was cast for Snyder’s Batman v. Superman, Affleck has always said he took on the role for his three children, wanting to play a character they would be excited about and would love to watch (particularly his youngest son). Likewise, the initial promise of directing his own Batman solo film had to have been something that would have initially been seen as a bonus.
Likewise, Snyder’s version of the Dark Knight was one Affleck found to be rather compelling given the key inspirations from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Rather than an origin story in Batman vs. Superman, Snyder’s vision for Affleck’s Batman saw him as a vigilante who’d been operating in Gotham for 20 years by the time Superman reveals himself to the world, having lost loved ones and becoming jaded, cynical, and more aggressive over time just like Miller’s Dark Knight. However, Warner Bros.’ aforementioned lack of faith in Justice League and their intervention effectively tanked the film and the entire course of DC films for years to come.
Unfortunately, Affleck confirmed the handling of Justice League was so negative and problematic that it led to new struggles with his alcoholism, an ongoing battle he’s bravely fought for years. As such, his decision to step away from directing and starring in his own Batman film largely came from a desire to become healthier both mentally and physically. Thankfully, Affleck was also supported by longtime friends such as Matt Damon who encouraged him to explore new directions for his career.
Why Ben Affleck Not Directing A DC Movie Is For The Best
Ultimately, it’s good that Affleck has decided to leave this challenging chapter of his life in the rearview. Although he’s been a fan-favorite Dark Knight, it’s going to be better for Affleck personally to move on from the cape and cowl as well as directing. He now has more creative freedom and time to develop other projects he’s more passionate about, as keeping his distance from DC Studios will be much healthier and far less stressful.
Thankfully, Ben Affleck’s time as Batman on-screen will likely be ending on some great high notes. Following the overwhelmingly positive reactions to Zack Snyder’s Justice League which restored the director’s original vision on HBO Max (Affleck’s highest-rated film on IMDB), Affleck recently confirmed the enjoyment he experienced returning as Batman in The Flash and how much fun he had compared to the past. Although Ben Affleck’s journey as Batman is largely tragic and massively unfortunate, it’s nice to see that he’s closing the door on his own terms after actually having a good time as the Dark Knight in the DCEU (which is what it always should have been).
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