Yesterday afternoon, the Internet once again went nuts with news regarding the new DC Cinematic Universe. This time, it was all about everyone’s favorite new Batman, Ben Affleck. According to the latest rumors, first published over at Latino Review, Warner Bros. is interested in having Affleck not only star in a new solo batman film, but direct it as well!
For those of us who were on board with his casting from the start (Like me!), this is awesome!
This could be a dream come true for fans of the character. The first teaser trailer for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice has already revealed an actor that by all appearances is incredibly serious about surpassing expectations.
Every version of the caped crusader that has come to the big screen has been watered down in some way. Affleck seems serious about delivering a Batman as close to the source material as possible.
Batman isn’t your friendly neighborhood superhero. His whole reason for being is to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. He’s a horrific nightmare brought to life whose suit is designed for intimidation as much as it is for protection. It’s not a stretch to say that we’re finally getting a big screen Batman that is a genius detective, a master strategist, and a world-class martial artist all wrapped up into one.
From where I’m sitting today, there are three reasons why Ben Affleck is the perfect choice to direct as well as star in a solo Batman movie in the new DC movie universe.
He’s Become a Great Leading Man
Affleck has grown tremendously as an actor over the past decade. Since 2006, he has starred in a slew of critically acclaimed movies, each time delivering a better performance than the last. Watch him in Hollywoodland, The Town, Argo, or Gone Girl, and you’ll see a leading man capable of portraying real emotional depth. Not only does he have the look and physique of Frank Miller’s Bruce Wayne from The Dark Knight Returns, but he also has the acting chops necessary to fully express the tortured nature of Mr. Wayne.
Characters don’t get any more complex than Bruce Wayne, which is why I was an early cheerleader after hearing that Affleck had landed the role. I’ll also admit that it was pretty cool to a number of people who were critical of his casting eat their words after seeing him in that first trailer back in April.
He’s a Fantastic Director
Of the three feature films that Ben Affleck has directed, the one with the lowest rating on Rotten Tomatoes is The Town, which comes in at 93%. While his film Argo won the Academy Award for Best Picture, many agree was highway robbery that he was snubbed for Best Director.
His directing style favors substance over flash, and doesn’t constrict characters with shoddy plots. He also knows how to give other actors room to breathe, as he did in Argo and Gone Baby Gone. Affleck would be perfect to tell a more personal, smaller-scale story that would either focus solely on Batman, or show him working with another Justice League characters as well. The combined powers of Affleck and Batman v Superman and Justice League writer Chris Terrio could easily adapt classic graphic novels such as Hush, The Dark Knight Returns, or The Hiketia for the big screen.
He’s a Mega Batman-Fan
If The Batman is going to exist in this new cinematic universe, then it’s important that whoever is sitting in the directors chair has more than just a passing familiarity with the character. Affleck has a lot of respect both for Batman and the vision of Warner Bros., a point he brought up while defending himself after the initial backlash against his casting. He’s not just a fan, he’s a mega-fan! Anyone who insists on having the panic room in their house look like The Batcave is okay in my book!
He believed in it enough to take the chance, and wouldn’t have done so he he believed it was going to be another Daredevil, especially after working so hard to get his career back on track. The odds are fairly good that his bet is going to pay off. He may not stay in character 24/7 like Leto, but he is certainly capable of bringing The Dark Knight that we know and love from the comics to the big screen.
By the time 2018 rolls around, Ben Affleck will have already appeared in four DCCU movies. If he does indeed end up being the star and director of The Batman in 2018, it will secure his place as the linchpin for this entire new shared universe that Warner Bros. and DC are cooking up. Hopefully, the massive Hall H Panel that Warner Bros. is putting on this year at San Diego Comic Con will confirm this and other awesome rumors!
‘The Batman’ is rumored to be scheduled for November 2018. Now shut up and take my money, Warner Bros.
