In a candid interview with GQ, Ben Affleck, the star of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, shared insights into his challenging experience portraying the iconic Caped Crusader for DC. Reflecting on nearly a decade of embodying Batman, Affleck described his tenure as a central figure in the so-called Snyder-verse as "excruciating." He attributed his disillusionment with the superhero genre to a complex and strained relationship with DC, which ultimately led to his waning interest in such roles.
"There are numerous reasons why that was a really excruciating experience," Affleck explained. "It's not just about the dynamics of being in a superhero movie. I've lost interest in what initially drew me to the genre. And I certainly wouldn't want to repeat such an experience."
Affleck has discussed his struggles with the role before, but he now elaborates on the root causes, pointing to a "misalignment of agendas, understandings, and expectations." He also acknowledged his own contribution to the challenging atmosphere, admitting that he wasn't bringing much positive energy to the set. "My failings as an actor are evident in the films, but my personal shortcomings during that time were more about the unhappiness I brought to work every day," he reflected. "I did my job and left, but you need to bring more than that."
Affleck's journey with DC began with his role in Zack Snyder's Batman v. Superman alongside Henry Cavill. This led to numerous cameo appearances and involvement in team-up projects like Justice League (both the 2017 version and the 2021 Snyder Cut), as well as The Flash and a brief role in Suicide Squad in 2016. However, a standalone Batman film he was set to direct was ultimately canceled.
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While details about the canceled Batman movie remain scarce, it was rumored to cover 80 years of the Dark Knight's history, possibly including a focus on Arkham Asylum and featuring Joe Manganiello's Deathstroke.
Affleck credits longtime collaborator Matt Damon for helping him decide to step away from the role, but he also mentioned that his own son played a significant role in his decision. "It started to skew too old for a large part of the audience," he noted. "My son was too scared to watch Batman v. Superman. That's when I realized we had a problem. It was a clash between a filmmaker wanting to continue in that direction and a studio aiming to attract a younger audience, resulting in a recipe for disaster."
As DC moves forward, it is branching its narratives into grittier and more lighthearted paths. The former will continue with The Batman 2 set for release in 2027, while the latter will be spearheaded by James Gunn's DCU, starting with Superman this July. Affleck has made it clear that he has no plans to return to DC to direct a film in Gunn's new universe.
