Ben Affleck Discusses How His Batman Is Different From The Christian Bale Version

Batman has taken many forms in his over 70 year history, from comic books to TV and TV to movies, every actor has played the caped crusader in his own way. Among the most memorable actors who’ve played Batman are Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and now, Ben Affleck. Some Batman movies and TV shows fans praise, and some they wish they could forget. Batman V Superman is mere months away, and it is natural to compare, contrast, and wonder where the influence comes from or what another new Batman would be like. According to Cinema Blend, Ben Affleck says he isn’t looking for inspiration from past TV or movie Batman incarnations, while also noting that Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan’s Batman was far more finite in its story.

“I don’t want to compete with other incarnations, nor do I want to emulate them. Those versions belong in another universe. Christopher Nolan used his Batman to tell a finite story.”

Ben Affleck’s Batman would appear to be its own animal, unlike Christian Bale’s that obviously drew inspirations from Michael Keaton’s performance. Though, where Tim Burton and Michael Keaton’s Batman films were always perfectly in line with the DC Comics, Bale’s Batman held much firmer to the book. Affleck’s Batman not only intends on sticking to the comic book universe, but as reports have previously indicated, will setup a larger universe for upcoming DC Comics films.

“My version is different, but remains faithful to the Batman mythology and all the themes associated with it. The other difference is that Nolan’s Batman isn’t part of a universe where other superheroes exist as well. Here – because we’re working towards the Justice League – there’s Superman, and it’s a world populated with super beings. This situation generates an altogether new reality.”

Batman’s civilian alter ego Bruce Wayne is often described and played as a rich playboy who lives his life extravagantly, mostly in part, to hide his vigilante life as Batman. Christian Bale’s Batman understood this, and though Affleck’s Batman will also be portraying this persona, Comicbook reports that he is in a very different emotional and mental state than previous Dark Knights.

“We also play a bit more with the billionaire playboy side of the character. He lives that life at full tilt. He courts many women, owns many cars, and parties a lot. He does that as a way to fill the void in his soul. Moreover, past incarnations dealt with a straightforward search for justice. This time, Batman’s reasoning is clouded by frustration, bitterness and anger.”

Though one could say that there were moments where both Bale and Keaton’s Batman had experienced this, it was usually from a villain, and not a fellow DC Comics hero. Affleck also points out who is favorite character in Batman V. Superman is, and it might not be who you’d expect. Also, it is not Superman, or any other superhero. It is Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor.

“Luthor is, for me, the most interesting character in the film. He’s radically different from what we’ve seen so far. He’s grounded in reality, and he’s extraordinary. This type of film is only as good as its villain. That’s why The Dark Knight was so brilliant, because of Heath Ledger’s Joker. Jesse improves the film with each scene he’s in. He’s not your usual one-dimensional villain, there’s a whole psychology behind him.”

To any long time Batman fan, this should not come across as unusual. Many critics highlighted in Michael Keaton’s Batman films, that the villains often had more screen time and far more focus than Batman himself. Which might beg the question of whether or not Batman will be center stage, or will once again be off to the side and overshadowed.

[Image under CC BY-SA 2.0/3.0 Wikimedia Commons| Courtesy Of Andrea Cangioli/Aphrodite in NYC| Resized|Cropped|Merged]