He is vengeance, he is the night, he is…Ben Affleck? On August 22nd Warner Bros. and DC went on the record, announcing that award winning director of Ben Affleck (Argo, The Town) would don the cape and cowl of legendary crusader Batman.
This news came just a month after Zack Snyder’s San Diego Comic Con panel revealed the Dark Knight would play a major role in the Man of Steel follow up.
It had polarizing effects. Weeks before, a hell storm of rumors had flooded the internet about what actor would play Superman’s foil. Big names like Josh Brolin, Jon Hamm and even pretty boys Ryan Gosling and Orlando Bloom were tossed up in the air.
Most likely, now, it seems that they were just a beard to cover up the real choice that had presumably already been put into place well before the title was announced.
That was then, and as of now, the dust and the petitions that were initially raised have settled considerably.
The memes, the Daredevil and Gigli quips, the #BetterBatmanThanBenAffleck tropes are all last month’s news.
Finally, everyone has realized that the little people just don’t have the power to change corporate decisions. Because it is completely reasonable for a studio to terminate an actor’s million dollar contract just because Joe Nobody objectively believes said actor sucked in a movie that happened a decade ago.
Way to go America—hold to your belief that second chances aren’t honored. Admittedly, he’s not a terrible actor; there just has not been a role that has lent itself to some serious development.This could be that for him. As soon as someone helps him to disguise the Boston accent, he could be the bomb as Batman, yo.
While many critics and naysayers have tried to argue the merits of going with a different actor, supporters have arisen, their defense being the “Michael Keaton, Heath Ledger” internet debacle.
Both men, ironically, have ended up becoming iconic players in Batman live action canon. It has been ten long years since his deemed failed endeavor to bring a superhero to life on the big screen, since then Affleck has proven that he is a decent actor if anything, and more than capable navigating himself behind the camera.
It was not by default or accident that he won those awards. There was no “Oh hey, you’ve been in the business a while? Here, take this award and pat yourself on the back.” If that was the case, Leonardo DiCaprio would be rolling in Academy Awards.
The casting directors saw something in him that was essential to Bruce Wayne/Batman’s character in relation to Snyder and credited writer David S. Goyer’s vision.
With all that Affleck has accomplished in the last few years, hopefully he will be a blessing on Snyde,r who has tunnel vision in regards to action sequences and visual aspects, and more importantly Goyer’s storytelling—which, as per Man of Steel, could definitely use some work.
Since the dawn of comic book movies, DC has been over reaching itself and ignoring its respective properties. It completely disregarded the idea of linking titles within its universe.
But one thing it did, and still does have rein over is animated movies—mentionable titles include Justice League: Doom, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and The Flashpoint Paradox—its TV series (think CW’s Smallville, Arrow and its upcoming Flash spin-off with Glee’s Grant Gustin at its head) and most importantly it’s videogames.
If any fan could dream, they would want Snyder to take his cues from the successful Batman: Arkham installment. In any case, Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsuhijara has confirmed that Snyder’s Batman will be “tired, weary and seasoned.”
It is a shame really that Henry Cavill has been relatively left behind in the wake of the “Batfleck” storm.
Hopefully fans will do well to remember that this is a Superman movie that just happens to feature Batman.
If Batman wants his own movie he’s going to have to wait his turn patiently.The prematurely titled Superman vs. Batman film is set to open July of 2015—a year that could definitely be for movies what Woodstock was for music.
Zhana Johnson
Features Correspondent