With many still wrapping their heads around Ben Affleck taking on the role of the Dark Knight in "Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice," the actor also thought that, at least age wise, he was over the hill to be playing the iconic superhero…until he learned what the approach would be.
"Initially I thought, ‘I’m older, it doesn’t seem like the right sort of fit for me,’" he told Empire (print edition; via Comic Book Movie). "Then Zack [Snyder] pitched me his concept for this older, more broken, kind of f**ked up Batman. It was something we haven’t seen. We have seen that Batman is willing to cross the line to protect people. That vigilantism has been a part of his character all along, and we are tapping into that mentality when faced by something as potentially deadly as Superman."
READ MORE: Watch: Explore The Cinematic Evolution Of Batman In This 11-Minute Video
Indeed, the arrival of a seemingly unstoppable force in the shape of Superman shakes Batman, with Snyder explaining how the Man Of Steel changes everything for The Dark Knight.
"We want to assume that Batman has reached this point in his life and career as a superhero, and Superman represents a sort of philosophical change. He is a paradigm shift for Batman: ‘I’ve been fighting criminals all my life, trying to find justice, and now I am confronted with a concept that is transcendent to me.’ In the face of Superman, a man robbing a bank doesn’t matter," the director said.
And that’s certainly an interesting notion to play with thematically — that Batman’s concerns go from local to global overnight — and it seems it will cause a few sleepless nights for the hero. "He’s having a crisis of conscience. ‘Am I really just a vigilante who stalks the alleys of Gotham?’ It is rich stuff that he deals with. Ben does an amazing job," Snyder said.
Empire also reveals that Batman will have a history with The Joker, Harley Quinn and more of the baddies who appear in "Suicide Squad." But though he’ll be broken, Batman is far from defeated.
"Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice" opens on March 25, 2016.
No way in hell do I EVER see an Affleck Batman movie. What the hell were you thinking…He\’s a pus
I have the bad feeling this one is gonna destroy my youth heroes… T_T
This is a major interesting article that\’s definitely some Comiccon suit material.
@DAVE – Michael Caine cries in Get Carter. Remember?
Go to your local post office and ask for Batman stamps. My post office has them. There isn\’t a cooler way to send mail. Hopefully other heroes are added someday.
I\’ve waited 50 plus years for this movie. I\’am very excited.
The movie looks alright but I don\’t understand how Superman, the strongest superhero ever couldn\’t just kill Batman and be done with it. And the Batman suit…It just looks so…Stupid. The Dark Knight suit was much more realistic for a masked man running around fighting crime. idk, I\’m not really interested in this and I know for sure that I won\’t be paying to see it IF I do see it at all.
Awsome! I will definately check this movie out with my boy SHAH!
*yawn* Call me when Snyder stops butchering characters.
Screw the haters…..this is what we have waited decades for
Even better, david goyer only has story input that\’s it. I blame goyer for mos…
I have truely been turned around. I actually signed a petition to remove Affleck as Batman. I was so freaked out that I wondered how I could explain it to my baby son as he got older. Add to the fact that Snyder\’s work has always been hit or miss with me…… I can\’t lie though, the couple of trailers for this movie have me excited in a way I havn\’t been in awhile. Even Scuicide Squad seems to exceed the low expectations I had. Maybe we\’ll finally have the DC universe that\’s been waited on, and good timing since the Marvel universe is starting to feel watered down imho. Looking forward to seeing how this goes…. Oh one last thing. Anybody on the fence about Ben Affleck as Bats should watch " the Town".
Anyone who says they will not see this movie is lying!
Thanks. I\’ll stick ti pre-New 52 DC Animated Movies.
Looking forward to this, but still hard to wrap your head around Batman not being able to beat a mortal in Baine but can take on Superman.
Its gonna be a massive hit .Aflek looks great as batman.
Looks like it\’s going to be good. I just wish they hadn\’t made the Batsuit look so…FAT. It\’s not even Affleck, it\’s the suit. It makes Batman look like a fat drunk.
No one is talking about Jeremy Irons as Alfred. What an inspired choice. also, I will never forgive Nolan for the worst cinematic experience of my life in Batman 3: you don\’t film the man who played Get Carter in tears. You just don\’t.
ZIP, you come across as someone who is on Marvel\’s payroll with your comments.
So excited about this after seeing the trailer. Ben looks great as Batman and I really like the angle that Zack to going with this version – older, disallussioned and bitter at the world. That\’s always been a really interesting take on the character. Also, Wonder Woman looks AMAZING!!! Can\’t wait!!
CAN\’T WAIT FOR THIS MOVIE TO COME OOUUUTTTTT!!!!!!!! TAKE MY MONEY NOW AND I WILL SEE YOU IN LESS THEN 9 MTH\’S!!!!!
I can\’t wait for this to come out.
No way I watch a stupid movie that pits bad against bad.