Ben Affleck Teases Batman Return: Will DC Bring Him Back?

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Dawn of Justice, Justice League, and his brief cameo in The Flash. Many, including Affleck himself, considered this cameo as a closing chapter for his Batman era. However, his recent openness arises during the development of the new DC Universe led by James Gunn and Peter Safran, a universe that’s already managing the intricacies of multiple Batmans.

Ben Affleck expressed optimism when the discussion turned to him playing Batman again, contrasting his earlier statements. Initially, Affleck agreed not only to star but also to co-write and direct a standalone Batman movie. However, in January 2017, he relinquished the director role due to the need to concentrate solely on delivering an excellent performance as Batman, while still planning to star and produce. Nevertheless, rumors emerged later that year suggesting Warner Bros. was considering alternatives for his portrayal. Affleck refuted these speculations at San Diego Comic-Con 2017, expressing eagerness to collaborate with the incoming director Matt Reeves. However, by early 2019, Affleck announced he wouldn’t be part of Reeves’ film, stating, “I couldn’t develop a satisfactory version [of the script], so I thought it was time for someone else to give it a try.

In addition to facing these creative hurdles, his work on “Justice League” also posed significant challenges. Affleck himself has described the filming process as “painful,” citing issues like disagreements between the studio and the original director’s creative vision, Zack Snyder’s departure due to personal tragedy, and the ensuing turmoil as key factors. These troubles reportedly played a significant role in his decision to step away from the project, with Affleck stating that he had lost his initial excitement for it and felt it was time to move on. Despite making brief appearances in “The Flash,” he has shown little interest in the superhero genre since then and seems unwilling to repeat past unpleasant experiences. This recent comment about being open to anything, therefore, has taken fans by surprise as they follow his career progression.

The DCU Already Has Two Batmen

The evolution of the Batman universe took a significant turn with Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” released in 2022. Starring Robert Pattinson, this film depicted a younger Bruce Wayne in a gritty, corrupt Gotham City, emphasizing the detective aspects of the character. The movie was both critically and commercially successful, receiving acclaim for its realistic tone and Pattinson’s performance. In August 2022, Warner Bros. signed a significant first-look deal with Reeves, which guarantees his continued development of this particular Batman universe, with plans for sequels and spin-offs like “The Penguin” already underway, even before the new DC Studios leadership took office.

Subsequently, a significant change occurred: In October 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran were made joint CEOs of the freshly established DC Studios, with their mission being to create a unified, interconnected DC Universe encompassing film, television, and animation. As part of their first project announcement titled “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters,” they disclosed plans for the movie “The Brave and the Bold“. This upcoming production will present the main DC Universe, distinctly separate from the Batman portrayed by Pattinson.

The approach for two distinct Batman stories was set by Gunn and Safran using the “Elseworlds” label. This tag lets Reeves’ “The Batman” universe evolve independently, maintaining its exclusive feel without having to adhere to the main DC Universe timeline. However, production on “The Batman 2” has faced challenges; its release date has been delayed until October 1, 2027, and Safran recently mentioned that Reeves hasn’t finished the full script yet, although progress is promising. On the other hand, “The Brave and the Bold” is also facing difficulties. No actor has been chosen for the DCU’s Batman role, Gunn is collaborating with an undisclosed writer on the script, and Muschietti’s level of involvement appears unclear based on recent comments indicating he’s waiting for the script to be completed.

In this situation, it’s highly improbable that Ben Affleck will reappear as Batman. Bringing him back could lead to a perplexing predicament with three active live-action Batmans. His “anything can happen” remark signifies a personal transformation, but it contradicts the definite blueprints for Batman’s future in the DC Universe and its Elseworlds branches as outlined by Gunn and Safran.

James Gunn’s fresh take on the DC Universe hits the big screen first with “Superman”, set to premiere on July 11th. Tentatively, “The Batman — Part II” is planned for October 1st, 2027. Meanwhile, “The Accountant 2” can be seen in cinemas now.

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2025-05-05 12:11