In a candid interview with GQ, Ben Affleck, who starred as Batman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, shared his challenging experience playing the iconic Caped Crusader for DC over the past decade. He described his journey as a central figure in the so-called Snyder-verse as "excruciating," citing a complex relationship with DC that ultimately led to his disinterest in the superhero genre.
"There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience," Affleck revealed. "And they don’t all have to do with the simple dynamic of being in a superhero movie. I am not interested in revisiting that genre, not just because of the negative experience, but because I've lost what once drew me to it. I certainly wouldn't want to repeat that experience."
Affleck has previously touched on these struggles, but this interview sheds light on the root causes. He attributed his difficult time to a "misalignment of agendas, understandings, and expectations" and acknowledged his own role in the situation. Reflecting on his tenure with DC, he admitted, "I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either."
Elaborating on his shortcomings, Affleck confessed, "My failings as an actor, you can judge for yourself by watching the movies. But my failures in terms of why I had a bad experience were partly due to the unhappiness I brought to work every day."
"I didn’t cause problems, but I came in, did my job, and went home. But you’ve got to do a little bit better than that," he added, emphasizing the need for more positive energy on set.
Affleck's journey with DC began when he signed on to co-star with Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman. This led to numerous cameos and a canceled standalone Batman project. Fans will recall his roles in various team-up films, including the original Justice League in 2017, the 2021 Snyder Cut, and The Flash, as well as a brief appearance in Suicide Squad in 2016.
The 10 Best DCEU Movie Heroes
11 Images
Details about the canceled Batman movie remain sparse, but rumors suggest it might have explored 80 years of the Dark Knight, including a deep dive into Arkham Asylum and potentially featuring Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.
Affleck credited longtime collaborator Matt Damon for helping him decide to hang up the iconic cowl, but he also revealed that his son played a significant role in his decision to leave. "It started to skew too old for a big part of the audience. My own son was too scared to watch Batman v. Superman. When I saw that, I realized we had a problem," he explained.
"Then you had a filmmaker wanting to continue down that road and a studio aiming to recapture a younger audience. When two entities want to do something different, it's a recipe for disaster," Affleck concluded.
DC is now navigating a new direction by splitting its grittier and more lighthearted stories into separate paths. The darker tone will continue with The Batman 2 slated for 2027, while the lighter side will kick off with James Gunn’s DCU, starting with Superman this July. As for Affleck, he has no plans to return to DC to direct a film in Gunn’s new universe.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
