Every Batman movie has been indicative of the times that it was released in. Adam West BIFFED and POWED his way through the swingin’ sixties, Michael Keaton reflected the dark times of the late 1980s and Christian Bale’s caped crusader was an example of a more psychological age. But Ben Affleck’s Batman? He’s more than just a symbol, but rather a dark idea of how cynicism can lead to redemption. Sort of, it’s kind of complicated.
Anyway, Affleck’s Batman is easily the most physical version to date, even with only a few minutes of screentime. More Eastern-European ass was kicked in one warehouse scene than it was in the entirety of the Bale trilogy of Batman movies, and that’s something that you can look forward to seeing more of when a solo Batman movie arrives.
So says Deathstroke himself, as Joe Manganiello teased a more physical and unique take on the dark knight when he appeared on a Mark Madden podcast (via CBM):
When I met Ben we sat down and we talked about, you know, the role. We talked about the movie. His take is a fresh take but I think the audience is going to be surprised. Because it’s a road that no one’s really gone down that’s completely integral to, you know, who Batman is. And I think it’s gonna be refreshing but at the same time completely familiar. But it’s going to take this franchise in a direction that I think a lot of people are going to be really happy about.
It’s going to be gritty and action packed and cerebral and all of those elements that people love about Batman.
Affleck has proven that he’s rather bloody good behind the camera, thanks to films such as the Oscar-winning Argo and The Town. And according to Manganiello, it’s that talent combined with a partnership with DC Comic’s chief creative officer Geoff Johns that will give birth to something special:
Ben’s a great director, man. I mean the last movie that man directed won best picture. He’s got an Oscar for writing. Like, this is all the components to go down as a… everything is lined up for a really really really great movie. Not only a superhero movie but just a great great movie.
Filming on The Batman only kicks off next year, so there’s still a ton of pre-production work that needs to be done. But I’m damn excited to see what Affleck is capable of with his first superhero movie, now that DC and Warner Bros. have retooled their plans for their shared universe of movies. After all, Affleck was the bomb in Batman V Superman yo.
Last Updated: November 10, 2016
