I don’t envy Ben Affleck. A terrific actor to take up the mantle of the bat, it’s been a role that nobody believed that he’d be capable of accurately portraying when he was first announced as the latest caped crusader for Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. The number of naysayers present who flung any verbal excrement possible at the actor (and who completely forgot that he was the bomb in Phantoms yo), bordered on the ridiculous.
Fast forward two and a half years later, and Affleck’s Batman was a massive departure from what had been seen on the big screen so far. An absolutely hulking specimen of a vigilante who had clearly endured far too much after two decades spent wiping up all manner of crime in Gotham, Affleck’s Batman was a force of nature who came dangerously close to killing the Man of Steel.
A role that Affleck has played in not only the maligned (And superior in its extended cut version) Batman V Superman, but also briefly in Suicide Squad and the upcoming Justice League. And it looks like Affleck may be ready to throw in the towel. So sayeth rumour-monger John Campea over at Collider, who claimed that a trio of sources had informed him that Affleck was ready to move on from Batman and was negotiating a release.
Having recently dropped out of the director’s chair for The Batman solo movie, a role which Matt “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” Reeves could be taking over, Affleck is allegedly ready to leave the DC Cinematic Extended Universe behind thanks to a hectic workload. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give, Affleck still said several weeks ago in a statement announcing his departure from the director’s chair.
It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require.
Honestly, I don’t blame Affleck if he wants to leave. It’s a role that has had unfair amounts of hate heaped on him despite having knocked the role out of the park. Combined with the physical requirements, his own directorial efforts and a very vocal fanbase and I’d also be ragged after several years of this. The DCEU would no doubt take a massive blow if Affleck left, but then again this is all hearsay for now.
I really, really hope it is.
Last Updated: February 14, 2017
Lu
February 14, 2017 at 15:15
That would suck. Battfleck was the reason I started looking forward to DC films again.
Admiral Chief
February 14, 2017 at 15:15
Sad news, if true. He was a magnificent Bat
Allykhat
February 14, 2017 at 15:15
Batman is getting the Spiderman treatment.
Reboots galore!
PurplePariah
February 14, 2017 at 15:30
What do you mean getting? Batman has already had more reboots than any other superhero franchise.
Allykhat
February 14, 2017 at 15:54
Regardless of that fact, my message stays the same no matter which way you look at it lol.
DC have just gotten off the ground and now they are losing their newest Batman?
Original Heretic
February 14, 2017 at 15:27
I said from day one that he’d be good in the role! Loved him as Batguy.
I really hope this decision isn’t based on criticisms from stupid people. Don’t leave us, Benny!
Craig "CrAiGiSh" Dodd
February 14, 2017 at 15:43
I thought he played it very good tbh.
He brings his own version of Batman and it suites him.
Don’t go Bats …
Filmmaker
February 14, 2017 at 16:07
I’ll believe this when I see this. For now, still in favour of Batfleck
Peet Luckhoff
February 14, 2017 at 16:27
I liked him as batman
Jac7
February 14, 2017 at 16:36
He was a good Bat, but Warner Brothers is absolutely batshit crazy with their constant interference with all the DC films.
Captain JJ
February 14, 2017 at 16:41
I love him as Batman.
But, if he does leave, I hope they just leave the franchise rather than re-cast and continue with that ridiculous Joker as well.
cloudzn
February 14, 2017 at 21:36
They need to get rid of snyder
Captain JJ
February 15, 2017 at 07:21
They need to get rid of a LOT of bad design choices they made for the Batman franchise.
Banana Jim's Final Form!
February 14, 2017 at 17:54
Bring back Christian Bale!