Summary:
- Ben Affleck hated playing Batman, especially in Justice League, saying it made acting joyless for him.
- With encouragement from his friend Matt Damon, he decided to quit the role.
- Nowadays, Affleck prefers playing interesting supporting roles rather than traditional lead characters.
Ben Affleck’s portrayal of Batman hasn’t been widely regarded as the best, but he’s not entirely to blame for how it turned out.
Affleck revealed his dissatisfaction with the roles, admitting to hating every minute on set for these films.
While he doesn’t fault DC or WB, he credits Matt Damon for influencing his decision to step away from the unsatisfying Batman role.
Affleck first appeared as Batman in Zack Snyder‘s divisive film Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, followed by a cameo in Suicide Squad, and then leading the troubled theatrical version of Justice League. Interestingly, a solo Batman film within the DCEU never materialized.
Ben Affleck Was Unhappy with His Batman Role in the DCEU
In James Gunn’s DC Universe, there’s still no new Batman actor cast for The Brave and the Bold. Gunn needs to ensure his Batman actor doesn’t face the same struggles as Ben Affleck did.
Affleck openly discussed his dissatisfaction while filming Justice League with his friend Matt Damon during an EW cover story.
Affleck admitted that filming Justice League took a toll on him, draining his joy. Although he didn’t pinpoint specific reasons, fans are aware of the behind-the-scenes drama.
Despite this, Affleck didn’t blame anyone and acknowledged the challenges during production.
Ultimately, Affleck decided to step down from the Batman role. He revealed to Damon that Damon’s support played a significant role in this decision during their conversation. Affleck shared this insight in an interview with EW:
“I had a really nadir experience around Justice League for a lot of different reasons. Not blaming anybody, there are a lot of things that happened. But really what it was that I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like being there. I didn’t think it was interesting.”
“And then some really shitty things, awful things happened. But, that’s when I was like, I’m not going to do that anymore. In fact, I talked to you [Matt Damon] about it, and you were a principal influence on that decision.”
Affleck also shared how working with Damon and Ridley Scott on The Last Duel reignited his passion for acting.
Although his character in the historical film wasn’t necessarily likable, he found the experience of filming it to be wonderful. This was something he had struggled to find while portraying Batman.
Ben Affleck May Prefer Supporting Roles Over Lead Roles
In a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ben Affleck admitted that he no longer found playing lead characters enjoyable.
He explained that lead roles often required characters to adhere to specific virtues, which restricted his ability to portray diverse and complex roles.
Affleck, known for his role in The Accountant, expressed concern that the success of big-budget films depended heavily on the audience’s connection with the lead character.
This limitation in character portrayal had a significant impact on his approach to acting.
