Ben Affleck, known for his role as the Caped Crusader in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, has candidly shared his "excruciating" journey playing Batman for DC. In a recent GQ interview, Affleck reflected on his decade-long stint with the character, describing his time within the Snyder-verse as profoundly challenging. He attributed his disillusionment not only to the superhero genre but also to a complex interplay of factors with DC, leading him to lose interest in similar roles.
"There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience," Affleck admitted. He clarified that his reluctance to revisit the superhero genre stemmed from more than just his negative experience, citing a loss of passion for what initially drew him to the role. "I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that," he added, indicating a firm stance on avoiding similar projects in the future.
Affleck has previously discussed his struggles with the role, but this interview shed new light on the root causes of his dissatisfaction. He pinpointed a "misalignment of agendas, understandings, and expectations" as a significant issue, acknowledging his own contributions to the problems. "I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either," he confessed, reflecting on his personal shortcomings.
Elaborating further, Affleck admitted that his own unhappiness affected his performance and the overall work environment. "I mean, my failings as an actor, you can watch the various movies and judge. But more of my failings, in terms of why I had a bad experience, part of it is that what I was bringing to work every day was a lot of unhappiness," he explained. He emphasized the importance of bringing more than just professionalism to the set, stating, "I didn’t cause problems, but I came in and I did my job and I went home. But you’ve got to do a little bit better than that."
Affleck's journey with DC began when he joined forces with Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman. His tenure included numerous cameos and a canceled standalone Batman project. Fans will recall his appearances in team-up films like Justice League (both the 2017 version and the 2021 Snyder Cut), The Flash, and even a brief role in Suicide Squad in 2016.
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The specifics of the canceled Batman movie remain shrouded in mystery, though rumors suggest it would have delved into 80 years of the Dark Knight's history, potentially exploring Arkham Asylum and featuring Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.
Affleck credited his longtime collaborator Matt Damon for helping him decide to step away from the role, but he also revealed that his own son played a crucial role in his decision. "But what happened was it started to skew too old for a big part of the audience. Like even my own son at the time was too scared to watch (Batman v. Superman). And so when I saw that I was like, 'Oh shit, we have a problem,'" he explained. This feedback highlighted a disconnect between the film's direction and audience expectations, further complicated by conflicting visions between the filmmaker and the studio, aiming to recapture a younger demographic.
As DC navigates its future, it is branching its narratives into distinct paths: the grittier tales will continue with The Batman 2 in 2027, while more lighthearted stories will take center stage with James Gunn’s DCU, starting with Superman this July. Affleck has made it clear that he won't be returning to direct within Gunn's new universe, marking a definitive end to his chapter with DC.
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