A new report reiterates that Ben Affleck’s future as the DCEU Batman remains undecided, as it seems that the actor isn’t prepared to commit longterm, nor is he ready to move on entirely. The 45-year-old’s time in the cape and cowl has been tumultuous, and his ambiguous future in the role is emblematic of the DCEU as a whole: completely uncertain, but bursting with potential.
Questions surrounding Affleck’s commitment to the part have floated around Hollywood nonstop in recent months. Rumors that he was looking to step away from the DCEU first picked up steam early last year when he vacated the director’s chair on the upcoming solo movie, The Batman, and they reached a fever pitch in the aftermath of Justice League’s mediocre critical and commercial performance. New reports offering their own takes on Affleck’s involvement seem to be rolling in on a weekly basis at this point, but the latest scoop from Revenge of the Fans looks to set the record straight.
According to the site’s sources, Affleck’s gotten far more than he bargained for with the Batman and the DCEU, which “is not what he thought it would be.” Between Warner Bros. reportedly trying to rush him into production on The Batman before he felt the script was ready, forcing delays on other projects like Live By Night, and the overall poor reception of the DCEU as a whole, the scoop indicates that Affleck is not a happy camper. That said, RotF’s sources assert that he’s still on the fence regarding his future, leaving the role very much in limbo for the time being.
The present Batman is still Affleck. A change in cowl will not happen publicly until Ben is officially gone, and he is currently The Batman. But like we have said, it’s a negotiation thing right now. Not money, but appearances and creative. Ben isn’t wanting to vacate, but not wanting to commit fully.
Affleck’s hesitation to commit is understandable, of course, given how the last four and a half years have gone. But perhaps the most interesting part of the report lies on the Warner Bros. side of things. Revenge of the Fans’ sources also state that the studio is disappointed that Affleck “didn’t RDJ this thing”, a reference to Robert Downey Jr.’s above and beyond presence as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s face of the franchise. It seems that they’re as uneasy with the situation as Affleck is.
Virtually nothing has gone to plan in the DCEU thus far, and it’s definitely had an impact on Affleck’s career outside of the Batcave. His performances have continued to be a bright spot in a largely underwhelming cinematic universe, however, so if he is convinced to stay on as the Caped Crusader for the foreseeable future, we imagine that the decision will go over well with the vast majority of the fanbase.
So where do you land on the Batfleck situation? Is the actor right to hold off on committing until he has a better idea of what he’s committing to, or do you want to see him step aside for someone like Jake Gyllenhaal or Jon Hamm? Sound off in the comments.
Next: Batman’s Uncertain Future In The DCEU
Source: Revenge of the Fans
