From incredulity to incredibility, Ben Affleck overturned popular disbelief into the most accurate live-action portrayal of Batman, sans the murderous rage, in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Affleck’s hulking physique paired with his imposing screen presence made him an instant fan-favorite in the widely polarized movie. If his Batman was not scary enough, Affleck cranked up his suaveness as Bruce Wayne to prove his mettle.
The actor/director was first announced as Batman back in 2013, just months after the release of Man of Steel. Despite winning an Academy Award for Argo the previous year, Ben Affleck had yet to prove his acting prowess as the Dark Knight. His last outing as a superhero in Daredevil (2003) made his casting a dubious choice for obvious reasons. However, the rest is history once Affleck donned the cape in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
After the polarized Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck confirmed that he would be directing a solo Batman movie in the near future. In 2017, Affleck reprised his role as the Dark Knight in Joss Whedon’s Justice League. A critical and commercial failure, Whedon’s wisecracking Batman was a sharp contrast to Zack Snyder’s gritty and violent depiction. With the future of the DCEU becoming murkier, Ben Affleck hung up his cowl to the dismay of fans.
Also see: The Flash: Why Did Ben Affleck Return As The Batman?
Later, Ben Affleck cited personal reasons for his decision to step down as the Dark Knight. His mental depression, divorce, ties with the disgraced Harvey Weinstein, and a history of alcoholism forced the actor to retire from the role, leading to Robert Pattinson stepping up to fill the role of Batman.
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But recently, fans of Ben Affleck were in for a treat when the prolific director/actor confirmed to return as Batman in the upcoming Andy Muschietti’s The Flash. Like his comic book counterpart, Ben Affleck returned back in style when everyone had lost hope of witnessing the actor donning the cape once again.
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Andy Muschietti’s The Flash is reportedly loosely based on the acclaimed Flashpoint storyline. In the recently held DC FanDome event, the DC Extended Universe officially acknowledged the existence of the multiverse, making every DC property as canon. As a result, Matt Reeves’ The Batman is set in a different universe and yet connected to the larger DC Extended Universe.
Also see: Batman: Ego and other stories that will define Matt Reeves’ The Batman
As one of the first heroes to have interacted with Barry Allen/The Flash, Ben Affleck’s Batman returning in Andy Muschietti’s The Flash would be a fitting tribute to the prolific actor. As Ben Affleck has earlier said that he would probably drink himself to death if he returned as Batman, it is safe to assume that the actor would be present in a minor role.
However, recent reports have surfaced that Ben Affleck might be continuing his role of Batman beyond The Flash. According to @BlackMajikMan90 of Geeks Worldwide, HBO Max is interested in hiring Ben Affleck to reprise his role as Batman for an undisclosed project.
Though the veracity of the report is yet to be confirmed, the onus still lies on Ben Affleck whether he wishes to return as the Dark Knight. As Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Snyder Cut will release next year, the success of the movie will also play a vital role in reviving a ‘Batfleck’ continuity on the small screen.
The Flash‘s director Andy Muschietti’s cryptic statement has also riled up fans which hint at restarting the DC Extended Universe due to the Scarlet Speedster’s emotional instability and super-speed in the second day of the DC FanDome event held on 12th September 2020.
“But what I will tell you is that it’s a ride. It’s going to be fun and exciting and there are a lot of DC characters in it. Flash is the superhero of this film because he is the bridge between all of these characters and timelines. And in a way, it restarts everything and doesn’t forget anything.”
If Ben Affleck does agree to continue his role as Batman, The Flash can easily set up an isolated universe for the original Batman of the DCEU to fight crime without affecting the events of the main continuity. The Flash has also reportedly roped in Michael Keaton to reprise his role of the Dark Knight from Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), making the Batman conundrum even more confusing for the DCEU.
Also see: Batman – All Three DCEU Versions Explained!
As more details will shed light on the future plans of DCEU and three Dark Knights operating in the current timeline, Ben Affleck’s future as Batman will also be revealed in the coming months.
Also see: The Flash: What Does Ben Affleck’s Return Mean For The DCEU?
Fans of Ben Affleck will have to wait for a few more months before witnessing him donning the cape and the cowl in the upcoming Zack Snyder’s Snyder Cut. Set to release somewhere in 2021, no confirmed date has yet been revealed.
