Wow. Just wow. Ben Affleck is back as Batman. Let that sink in for a second. In other news, Hell is most definitely frozen over and we should all prepare to meet our maker, as 2020 is quite possibly the end of the world.
According to a Vanity Fair interview with “The Flash” filmmaker Andy Muschietti, the director of the upcoming superhero film has confirmed that Ben Affleck will reprise his role as Batman in the film. And in doing so, Affleck will be the second Batman in the film, as it’s also confirmed that Michael Keaton will appear as the Caped Crusader, as well.
Why is Affleck returning? Why, after all this talk about how the role almost ruined his life and drove him to face his demons, would the actor take on another role as Bruce Wayne in a DC film? Apparently, Muschietti thinks he’s cracked the code and will give the actor a place to truly shine as Batman.
“His Batman has a dichotomy that is very strong which is his masculinity—because of the way he looks, and the imposing figure that he has, and his jawline —but he’s also very vulnerable,” Muschietti said. “He knows how to deliver from the inside out, that vulnerability. He just needs a story that allows him to bring that contrast, that balance.”
He added, “He’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck’s Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before. It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in.”
“The Flash” film is said to be inspired by the “Flashpoint” storyline from the comics. In that story, Barry Allen (played by Ezra Miller in the films) uses his powers to go back in time and save his mother from being murdered. However, in doing so, he sets off a “Back to the Future”-style ripple effect that greatly changes his current reality. This allows for Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton to play the same character in two different versions of reality.
Again, it’s worth mentioning just how shocking this all is. Affleck had previously said, more than once, that he had no plans to ever return to the role as Batman or superhero films, in general. And now, to do so in the DCEU and in a role that he seemingly has no future in (remember, Robert Pattinson is the new Batman in the solo series), is just nothing short of astonishing.
You can’t help but feel a bit like Robin and say, “Holy cow, Batman!” at this news. But hey, this is the film industry and to try to predict it is silly.