Ben Affleck Hated ‘Horrendous’ Batman Costumes

Ben Affleck hated his “horrendous” Batsuit.

In 2016, the 52-year-old actor donned the cape of Batman in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and followed up with the role in “Justice League” the next year. He revisited the character in 2023’s “The Flash,” and Affleck openly expressed his dislike for wearing the iconic Batsuit, finding it unbearably hot and sweat-inducing.

In a video interview with GQ, Affleck candidly shared his dislike for the Batsuits: “I found them unbearable to wear. They’re sweltering hot, and they don’t allow air circulation. They’re designed to look good aesthetically, but there’s no consideration given to the person wearing them.

He explained: “You’ll immediately start perspiring. I’m already sweating, you understand? I get heated. So, when using that gear, you would essentially be pouring water since it’s covered. Wearing the suit is one thing, but once your head is also covered, that seems to be where most of your heat escapes and you really feel it.

As a film enthusiast, I can attest to the fact that even the most skilled stunt workers found donning the costume a challenge. The risk of heatstroke was ever-present, as these athletic individuals could only perform for approximately 45-50 minutes before overheating. Consequently, it was necessary to take regular breaks to avoid heat-related issues.

Affleck shared that the costume used during filming caused challenges as it made him feel persistently fatigued, and the sweating only added to the difficulties due to various issues.

He mentioned that filming the movie was challenging due to extreme heat. Additionally, he felt it was hard to portray a heroic image since the intense heat left him quickly tired, drenched in sweat, and attempting to conceal perspiration streaming down his face.

Instead of saying ‘Yes, we can do it again, I’m okay, I’m great.’ It might look something like – ‘Eyeblack is racing,’ meaning the tension or excitement is building.

Affleck ended up saying that actors like Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson seemed more adept at handling the sweaty suit, while he personally found donning the Batman costume to be the least enjoyable aspect of portraying the superhero.

After the film star openly confessed that he’s stepping away from portraying any more superheroes in the years to come, as his passion for these roles has waned.

He shared with GQ magazine that playing Batman was an extremely challenging ordeal for several reasons, not only due to the general aspects of being in a superhero film. Specifically, he has no intention of venturing into that specific genre again, not because of the bad experience, but simply because his initial fascination with it has waned.

25 Actors Who Turned Down Huge Movie Roles

Halle Berry – Speed’s Annie

Halle Berry candidly admitted in 2019 that she regretfully declined the role of heroic bus passenger (later heroic bus driver) Annie in the movie Speed, which eventually went to Sandra Bullock. At the time, Bullock was relatively unknown with only a few roles under her belt. The film became a massive success and catapulted Bullock into stardom. Defending her decision, Berry mentioned that in the script she read, “the bus didn’t leave the parking lot,” suggesting a less action-packed version of the movie.

Emily Blunt – Black Widow

Emily Blunt appears ideally suited for Marvel films with her charm, knack for light humor, and background in action movies. It’s hard to believe she hasn’t been cast in a Marvel production before, but it wasn’t due to lack of opportunities. Her first offer came from Iron Man 2 when she was given the role of Black Widow. However, Blunt had to decline because she was already bound by contract to star in Gulliver’s Travels at the same time. As Blunt put it, “It was quite disappointing for me.” Scarlett Johansson eventually took on the role of Natasha Romanoff and has played the Avenger in eight Marvel movies so far.

Jessica Chastain – Maya Hansen

After the releases of “The Tree of Life” and “Zero Dark Thirty”, numerous studios in Hollywood approached Jessica Chastain for various roles, among them Marvel Studios. They wanted her to portray Maya Hansen, the pivotal scientist in “Iron Man 3”. However, Chastain was intrigued but eventually declined the offer. She stated on her Facebook that her schedule was already full and there was no room for additional commitments. She also expressed disappointment that the media announced her involvement before any official decisions were made. Chastain later appeared in a Marvel film, albeit not with Marvel Studios; it was Fox’s “Dark Phoenix”, where she played Vuk. Rebecca Hall, who took on the role of Maya Hansen, delivered a commendable performance.

Russell Crowe – Wolverine

Before Hugh Jackman was cast as Logan, the initial pick for the X-Men franchise’s role at Fox was Russell Crowe, a prominent Hollywood star at the time. Crowe declined the part because he had recently finished filming Gladiator, where his character bore a wolf emblem on his armor and had a wolf companion, which he thought would be more significant at that time. He rejected the role to avoid being associated with “wolfy” characters like “Mr. Wolf.” Instead, Crowe recommended Jackman for the part, who didn’t initially get it (the studio originally chose Dougray Scott, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with Mission: Impossible II). However, Jackman eventually landed the role that made him famous. Years later, Crowe joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder. To this day, Hugh Jackman remains Wolverine.

Matt Damon – Avatar’s Jake Sully

It’s likely that no actor has ever turned down a role as costly as Matt Damon did when he declined James Cameron’s offer to star in Avatar. When Cameron was casting for the film, he approached Damon, hoping he would play Jake Sully. To make the offer more appealing, Cameron offered Damon 10% of the film’s profits. However, Damon was committed to the Jason Bourne franchise at that time and had to turn down the role. Now, Damon admits this decision may have cost him around $250 million. Ouch! Imagine all the valuable resources you could purchase with that much money.

Benicio Del Toro – Darth Maul

In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Benicio Del Toro was initially given the part of Darth Maul. However, as the role underwent changes during pre-production, with George Lucas reducing his dialogue and emphasizing a more menacing, action-oriented performance, Del Toro opted to withdraw from the project. Instead, it was Ray Park who took on the character, receiving praise for his portrayal.

Leonardo DiCaprio – Boogie Nights’ Dirk Diggler

In 2008, GQ inquired about the roles Leonardo DiCaprio declined, and DiCaprio mentioned that one of his regretted choices was playing Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film “Boogie Nights.” This role catapulted Mark Wahlberg to stardom as a leading man in Hollywood. However, DiCaprio faced a tough decision between projects and opted instead for the small art-house film titled “Titanic,” which was about a romance at sea. Although DiCaprio didn’t express regret over his choice, he acknowledged that both films were excellent and wished he could have been part of both productions.

Harrison Ford – Jurassic Park’s Alan Grant

If you’ve ever noticed a resemblance between Alan Grant from Jurassic Park (portrayed by Sam Neill) and Indiana Jones due to his rugged attire, then you were spot on. Interestingly enough, Steven Spielberg initially considered Harrison Ford for the role of the courageous paleontologist, but Ford himself rejected the idea. Eventually, Neill joined the production team mere weeks before filming started, and he landed one of the most iconic roles in his career as a result.

Jon Hamm – Green Lantern

In no other actor has the resemblance to Hal Jordan from the Green Lantern comics been as striking as Jon Hamm, star of Mad Men. Consequently, it’s not shocking that Warner Bros. pursued Hamm for the role. However, Hamm declined their offer. As he later shared in an interview, “They made a strong push, but I just wasn’t keen on it.” Hamm confessed that he isn’t particularly fond of superhero films, stating, “Those aren’t the kind of movies I enjoy watching.” Interestingly, he seems to have a different view when it comes to television adaptations; Hamm has provided his voice for various comic-book shows, such as Invincible and M.O.D.O.K., where he portrayed Tony Stark in multiple episodes.

Josh Hartnett – Superman AND Batman

In the early 2000s, Josh Hartnett, a rising star in Hollywood, had the chance to play Superman in “Superman Returns,” but he declined a three-picture deal worth an estimated $100 million. Remarkably, Hartnett also turned down the opportunity to portray both members of the World’s Finest team, as he was considered for the role of young Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins.” Years later, Hartnett admitted that turning down Nolan was a mistake. As Hartnett confessed to Playboy, “I’ve certainly said no to some of the wrong people.” He declined because he was exhausted and wanted to spend more time with his friends and family, which is not typically welcomed in Hollywood.

Jim Henson – Yoda

When George Lucas chose to make wizened Jedi master Yoda a puppet, he initially considered Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and Kermit the Frog’s puppeteer, to animate the character. However, Henson was occupied with his own ventures at that moment, and recommended Lucas collaborate with Frank Oz, Henson’s longtime Muppet partner and the performer behind Fozzy, Miss Piggy, and Animal. Following Henson’s advice, Lucas moved forward, and as a result, history was made (or, to put it another way, the subsequent events became part of history).

Hugh Jackman – James Bond

The hunt for the actor to portray the young James Bond in the prequel ‘Casino Royale’ explored numerous options, eventually leading to Daniel Craig, who proved to be one of the greatest 007s ever. Before Craig was cast, producers initially offered the role to Hugh Jackman, who was then deep into his role as Wolverine from X-Men. Jackman declined, reportedly due to having a single franchise already and fearing it would hinder his ability to take on smaller projects. However, if you’re interested, Amazon is currently searching for a new James Bond, Hugh – perhaps you might want to reconsider?

Heath Ledger – Batman

Heath Ledger is well known for his portrayal of the Joker in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, earning widespread acclaim. Initially, however, Nolan had planned to cast Ledger as Batman instead, offering him the part of young Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins. Interestingly, during a later interview, Nolan shared that Ledger was quite polite about it but declined the offer, stating he wouldn’t be interested in a superhero film. After witnessing Nolan’s unique take on Batman in Batman Begins and seeing how it differed from the more comedic DC films of the era, Ledger agreed to join the cast for The Dark Knight.

Madonna – Catwoman

In the early 1990s, when Tim Burton was preparing to cast Batman Returns, Madonna’s film career was thriving. He proposed that she play Catwoman, a role that seemed tailor-made for her. However, Madonna declined. Years later, she expressed regret about turning down the opportunity to play Catwoman, admitting it would have been an incredibly fierce performance. Instead, Michelle Pfeiffer took on the role and delivered a powerful portrayal as Catwoman.

Matthew McConaughey – Ego

In the casting process for Star-Lord’s father in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, Marvel aimed for a well-known actor who could convincingly be the father of Chris Pratt, known for his handsome and charming persona. Given this, they considered Matthew McConaughey, despite the fact that he is only ten years older than Pratt in real life. However, when you’re dealing with immortal space gods, age becomes irrelevant. When asked about why he declined the role, McConaughey didn’t bring up the age difference as an issue. Instead, he stated that he had to make a choice between “Guardians” and “The Dark Tower”, and ultimately chose “The Dark Tower”. He felt that the filmmakers didn’t truly want him or have a clear vision for the character of Ego, but rather saw it as an opportunity to add another big-name actor to a successful franchise. (Apparently, he made a mistake there.)

Eddie Murphy – Who Framed Roger Rabbit’s Eddie Valiant

As a film critic looking back, the classic film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” stands out as a revolutionary fusion of live-action and animation. Picture yourself, a moviegoer unaware of such a concept, being pitched the idea that a 100-minute film could seamlessly combine human actors with animated characters. It sounds like an audacious gamble, right? That was exactly what Eddie Murphy thought when he declined the opportunity to portray the lead human character, Eddie Valiant. However, in his own words on “The Tonight Show,” he dismissed the idea as “bullshit.” Well, the movie proved everyone wrong and became a monumental success. Murphy admitted that every time he watches it, he feels like a fool for passing up the role.

Al Pacino – Han Solo

As a movie buff reflecting on cinematic history, it’s almost unthinkable to envision anyone other than Harrison Ford as Han Solo. Just ask Alden Ehrenreich about that! Yet, Ford wasn’t the initial pick for this iconic role. In fact, George Lucas once extended an offer to Al Pacino, a renowned star from ‘The Godfather’. However, Pacino declined the role because he felt he couldn’t grasp the script. Can you imagine the film industry landscape today if Pacino had accepted and Ford hadn’t taken on the character of Han Solo? That would have been quite a different Star Wars universe!

Joaquin Phoenix – Doctor Strange

The journey to find Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme was lengthy, with actors such as Ethan Hawke, Oscar Isaac, and Keanu Reeves being potential candidates at different stages. Joaquin Phoenix even came very close to securing the role, having reported discussions in June 2014 to portray Doctor Strange under director Scott Derrickson’s supervision. However, by October, the deal fell apart, and eventually, Benedict Cumberbatch took on the magical Marvel character. Phoenix later expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating “I think everyone was pleased with how things turned out; all parties were content.” Interestingly, Phoenix subsequently played the Joker for Warner Bros, even winning an Oscar for his performance. Indeed, everyone seemed content – at least until the Joker sequel.

Julia Roberts – Sleepless in Seattle’s Annie

The classic film “Sleepless in Seattle,” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, is widely recognized for its long-distance love story. However, the narrative might have been altered significantly if Julia Roberts, another popular romantic comedy actress, had accepted the offer to play the female lead instead of Meg Ryan. Years later, Roberts admitted that she was content with her decision, stating that she declined the film because it seemed too similar to “Pretty Woman,” a role she played a few years prior.

Kurt Russell – Luke Skywalker

In the mid-1970s, numerous promising actors tried out for the role in “Star Wars”, including Kurt Russell, a former child star who was among the top contenders for the character of Luke Skywalker, the intergalactic farmboy. The casting process took a long time, and during this period, Russell had other opportunities to consider. Ultimately, he presented George Lucas with an ultimatum: Either give him the role or he would move on to something else. Since Lucas couldn’t make a firm decision at that moment, Russell decided to take a Western role instead, saying in later interviews, “I’m going to go take this Western, and there will be one less guy to worry about.” One can only wonder how many baskets of fruit Mark Hamill has sent Kurt Russell over the years as a token of gratitude for his decision.

Will Smith – Neo

Prior to Keanu Reeves embodying the epitome of cyberpunk charm in “The Matrix”, the Wachowskis initially sought Will Smith for the role of Neo, the hacker protagonist. After listening to their pitch, Smith chose to star in “Wild Wild West” instead. Looking back, Smith admitted that he was hesitant because at the time, the Wachowskis had only directed one film. He later acknowledged that they were indeed geniuses, but there was a thin line between brilliance and what he encountered during the meeting.

John Travolta – Forrest Gump

As a devoted film enthusiast, when John Travolta agreed to star in “Pulp Fiction,” he turned down another movie directed by Robert Zemeckis, titled “Forrest Gump,” that was slated for release around the same period. Both movies ended up as Academy Award nominees for Best Picture, with “Gump” eventually taking the prize, thanks to Tom Hanks’ outstanding portrayal of the title character. Despite missing out on the opportunity to be part of “Forrest Gump,” Travolta’s career flourished by playing the role of Vincent Vega in “Pulp Fiction.” Reflecting on his decision years later, he expressed no regrets. (If given a choice between being in “Pulp Fiction” or “Forrest Gump,” which film would you prefer to be a part of?)

Paul Walker – Superman

Well, there’s your answer.” This is why Paul Walker did not star in “Superman Returns.

Denzel Washington – Michael Clayton

In 2012, when asked about career regrets by GQ, Denzel Washington expressed that he had been hesitant about a first-time director for the material titled “[Michael Clayton]” which he found to be exceptional. However, the role eventually went to George Clooney, who turned it into one of his iconic performances as an actor. It didn’t take long for Washington to acknowledge his error, stating to GQ: “I was mistaken. Such things happen.

Bruce Willis – Ghost’s Sam

Initially, Bruce Willis was skeptical about the script for the movie “Ghost”, which tells the story of a man who dies and tries to communicate with his wife from the afterlife. However, he turned out to be mistaken as “Ghost” went on to become the highest-grossing film of 1990 and the most popular VHS rental title of 1991. Upon realizing his error in turning down the role of the central ghost, Willis labeled himself a “knucklehead”. When presented with the opportunity to star in “The Sixth Sense”, Willis learned from his past mistake.

2025-04-18 19:26