After the Justice League, Ben Affleck may not return to the rapidly expanding DC Universe. News from this year’s Comic-Con, currently in progress, suggests that DC is looking for a way to transition to another actor. Affleck deflected any direct indication about what his future will bring.
There has already been five different primary Batman actors in movies. In comics, characters other than Bruce Wayne have taken on the role of Batman. In real life, actors age faster than those in superhero universes do. But there was a growing acceptance of Ben Affleck in the coveted role. His battle-weary, grisly interpretation worked. He managed to crush doubts, doubts that ridiculed him once his name was announced in connection with the character—a character considered sacrosanct to comic fans. Those doubts were forgotten once “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” came out in theaters.
Affleck was a standout in the role. He had a leadership sensibility about him ideal for his duty as Justice League founder. He also altered his bubbly, nice guy image—at least the one that comic book fans knew—into a serious business criminal catcher. Although critics panned the movie, few spoke, could speak ill of Affleck’s performance.
A Hollywood Reporter article suggests it is because of Affleck’s age, and that a new Matt-Reeves-directed Batman trilogy would put the action star on screen in his mid-50s by the time all three movies were made. The article said that Ben Affleck may not have the ability to keep up with the physical intensity of the role in the same way that Robert Downey Jr. has done in his Iron Man portrayals. Downey is now 52. Affleck will soon turn 45.
Although Affleck already stated at a Comic-Con panel on July 22 that he loves playing Batman and that he is eager to join the Matt Reeves directed movie trio, he wasn’t straightforward about whether or at what point he would depart the role.
There are a lot of choices DC could make. They could even transition to one of the Batman family characters that comics readers are familiar with. In any case, Joss Whedon is working on a Batgirl movie that he will produce, write, and direct, while Chris McKay, the director of “Lego Batman,” is in talks to direct a Nightwing movie. For non-comics fans, Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the original Robin, who left Batman and became a solo character. He has also taken on the Batman identity at times, and even shared the role with Bruce Wayne.
Since Ben Affleck and the entire Justice League movie camp is at Comic-Con now, meeting fans and answering questions, a more concrete blueprint of Ben Affleck’s DC movie future could soon be revealed.
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