Well this is something of a surprise: Ben Affleck, former-heartthrob-turned-legitimate-film-director, will once again don a tight, restrictive outfit as Batman in Zack Snyder‘s “Man of Steel” sequel. The new, currently untitled movie, is scheduled for release by Warner Bros in the jam-packed summer of 2015, will pit the Man of Tomorrow (played once again by Henry Cavill) against the Dark Knight. Affleck previously saved a crime-plagued city as the Man Without Fear in 2003’s underwhelming “Daredevil” and played George Reeves, who starred in the fifties TV show “Adventures of Superman,” in “Hollywoodland.” We wonder if he’s already started working on his gravely Batman voice already (probably, yes).
In a statement, Warner Bros’ Greg Silverman said: “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.” Silverman went on: “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.”
According to director Zack Snyder: “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.”
There are a couple of things that are really interesting about this: first off, are we to believe that Affleck will be the new Batman for a number of new movies? It seemed like the studio and DC Comics were introducing a new Batman so that he could then be spun off into his own, post-Christopher Nolan movies. Does it really seem like Affleck would be up to do this? It seems unlikely, but then again we don’t know the make and model of the dump truck full of money they drove up to Affleck’s house (it was probably so large Jennifer Garner thought it was some kind of hover craft), so he just might. Affleck will star alongside original “Man of Steel” players Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane.
More importantly, we wonder where this leaves Affleck’s next directorial project, an adaptation of Dennis Lehane‘s sprawling historical thriller “Live By Night” (think “L.A. Confidential” but in Boston). Production on that film was supposed to start in early 2014, right after Affleck wrapped his role as the tortured husband in David Fincher’s “Gone Girl” (another adaptation of a best-selling literary smash, this one by Gillian Flynn). The “Man of Steel” sequel, however, would shoot in roughly the same time frame.
Both “Live by Night” and “Man of Steel” are Warner Bros movies so maybe his role in the super-sequel is so minor that he can do his time on that in a very covert way while still starring in and directing “Live by Night,” but that seems like a stretch even for the Academy Award-winning multi-hyphenate.
The “Man of Steel” sequel enters the summer of 2015 gladiatorial games on July 17th.
Outrageous! They will ruin the sequel to the movie I hated!
At least he's tall enough…they'd need someone who is the same height and build and Henry Cahill, but is also famous enough for the role. Can you think of anyone else?
I figure either Snyder wanted a chance to have sex with Affleck or WB was truly desperate. Either way it was a very bad choice. this movie will definitely be the new Batman & Robin
Total missed opportunity not hiring Tom Selleck as a grizzled, old, moustachioed Batman.
They should let him direct this and make it a gritty boston crime drama. That i would watch.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin Smith probably has a hard-on right now thinking that his BFF will invite him on set.
Beside he liked Watchmen (wtf?) and even went as far as saying that the Supes/Bat idea was a well planned idea from Warner (as if it wasn't but a desperate attempt to make anything with more than one caped dude because "that's what kids want").
Next step, the movies will merge with the CW stuff (that was basically implied recently by the CW boss) and the guy from Arrow and the upcoming Flash will join for a justice league movie.
And it will suck so bad.
Not sure how I feel, I think if he's considerably better than he was 10 years ago, than he's passable. I could easily see him donning the cowl, as long as he drops that Bostonian accent. PLEASE.
I wanted him for Lex, oh well. Negators gonna negate.
Maybe Affleck wants to have a good relationship with Warner, so they'll greenlight any film he wants to do. It happened with Kubrick, Clint and Nolan.
1. You can never have enough money once you have enough money. Show it to him.
2. He's doing it because "as a dad of youngsters, he wants to do something they can enjoy; it's for them…." (cue: PR machine)
3. At least WB is not appealing on kickstarter for this one.
4. If it ends up a stinker, it really doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things, does it?
Matt Damon should play Lex Luthor. And then he can vow to destroy Superman because he wants to be Ben Affleck's best friend.
I could see Warner Bros keeping Affleck as Batman as an ensemble player: Superman vs Batman and Justice League but not another series so soon after Nolan's. It lets WB have their Batman but frees Affleck from the huge commitment of carrying these types of movies every 2-3 years.
Should have asked Javier Bardem
Affleck is a fairly decent director. Acting wise, he's passable as long as he stays close to home. But Batman? No. Its hard for me to believe he's even taking this. Isn't he a bit passed this now? It kind of makes me think of when the Coen brothers made BURN AFTER READING. They weren't going to top NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, so make a throwaway movie. Maye this is the thinking with putting in Ben after Bale. Thoughts?
Not that I care or will see the film in a blind fit, but Affleck doesn't strike me as a good choice….too blue collar somehow for Bruce Wayne. You see Affleck and wonder when he's gonna crack open a beer. Doesn't have that God's loneliest man of destiny vibe that Bruce should have.
Lots of hate towards Affleck I think he'll be just fine as Batman, but I'm more interested on the possibility of him directing the solo Bats movie. That would be really cool
IIII DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUTT!!!
LOUUUUUUUUD NOISES!!! -Brick Tamland
You hear that? Sounds like the internet is erupting.
I like the choice but he will forever live in Bale's shadow. I would so much rather have Affleck DIRECT than star in this. He's a great director.
hell no!!
my guess is he's made a deal with them to play batman so that he can direct a project they were otherwise uninterested in financing. or maybe he just wants to growwwl.
Fuck yeah. All hail Affleck.