Ben Affleck is our new Batman, and, while this casting choice has caused more division than an American political election, we’re just kind of confused as to why he’d say “yes” in the first place.
Let me just say right away that I heart Ben Affleck. I think he’s a great actor and an even better director. Heck, I’m even willing to reserve my criticism at least until I see the new Bat-suit.
But what puzzles me about Ben Affleck playing Batman is that not too long ago, he said that he’d never play another superhero, and that wearing a costume was a “humiliation.”
“By playing a superhero in Daredevil , I have inoculated myself from ever playing another superhero,” Affleck said to the press at the premiere of his 2006 film Hollywoodland .
“Wearing a costume was a source of humiliation for me and something I wouldn’t want to do again soon.”
In context, that quote is in response to then-questions of a possible sequel to the 2003 film Daredevil . Now, Daredevil was pretty mediocre, even though it was a modest box office success.
And Daredevil ‘s faults aren’t really Ben Affleck’s. They reflect writer/director Mark Steven Johnson’s weaknesses. Don’t believe me? He’s also responsible for 2007’s Ghost Rider. Screenplay and all.
But the point is that Daredevil was such a bad experience for Ben Affleck that he swore off playing superheroes ever again.
Furthermore, he has actually kept the current DC Superman franchise at arm’s length , as well. While Man of Steel was still in production, Affleck was offered the director’s chair (we like to imagine buddy Kevin Smith screaming “DO EET, DO EET!”).
Holy shit… BEN AFFLECK IS THE NEW BATMAN!!! http://t.co/acivqxFl0U Do you know what this means? It means that I’ve seen Batman naked!!!
— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) August 23, 2013
But Affleck turned it down because he’s not a “big special effects movie” kind of guy.
“I’ve love to do something like Blade Runner, but a lesson I’ve learned is to not look at movies based on budget, how much they’ll spend on effects, or where they will shoot. Story is what’s important. Also, there are a lot of guys ahead of me on the list to do epic effects movies.”
So in conclusion, I guess it’s fine that Ben Affleck is Batman, but I kind of want to know why he’d even be interested in the part. What do you think? Will Affleck do okay? Leave us your suggestions for a “better” Batman below.
