There has been plenty of conjecture since the news first broke that Ben Affleck would be portraying Batman in Zack Snyder's upcoming superhero movie sequel Batman vs. Superman. Countless online petitions and Internet debates later, Affleck has opened up to Playboy magazine (via Latino-Review) on playing the popular character as well as his thoughts on the sequel's script and fan backlash.
"I expected that reaction. Warner Bros. told me, 'You should know what you're getting into.' They showed me the reactions to other folks who had been cast in these roles. They said this is how it tends to play out initially," Affleck said.
When asked what convinced him to take the role, Affleck said, "When they asked if I would be Batman, I told them I don't see myself in the role and I was going to have to beg off. They said I'd fit well into how they were going to approach the character and asked me to look at what the writer-director, Zack Snyder, was doing. The stuff was incredible."
What exactly was incredible about Snyder's approach? Affleck wouldn't go into specific details, but he said, "It was a unique take on Batman that was still consistent with the mythology. It made me excited. All of a sudden I had a reading of the character. When people see it, it will make more sense than it does now or even than it did to me initially."
Then Affleck was posed the biggest question. How would his Batman differ from fan favorite Christian Bale's performance?
"I don't want to give away too much, but the idea for the new Batman is to redefine him in a way that doesn't compete with the Bale and Chris Nolan Batman but still exists within the Batman canon," Affleck said. "It will be an older and wiser version, particularly as he relates to Henry Cavill's Superman character."
(http://www.hobolunchbox.com/post/59170130899/just-say-no)
In terms of the Internet backlash that he faced, Affleck said, "I understand I'm at a disadvantage with the Internet. If I thought the result would be another Daredevil, I'd be out there picketing myself. Why would I make the movie if I didn't think if was going to be good and that I can be good in it?"
Since the casting of Affleck as Batman, has your position on him playing the Caped Crusader changed at all? Are you still pro/anti-Affleck?
Batman vs. Superman is slated to hit theaters July 17, 2015.
