It appeared Warner Bros. and DC Films were going to be embarrassed. 24 hours before the Comic-Con panel for “Justice League” and the DCEU slate, a report came out revealing Ben Affleck would be slowly easing out of “The Batman” role. The news followed months of reports that said Affleck was tired of the role, tired of the exposure and tired of the Internet blowback and parsing of every single thing he said.
Today at Comic Con, things were different. Affleck sort of denied the rumors without ever saying they were flat out wrong. “Batman is the coolest fucking part in the universe,” he said, kind of evading the question of whether the character or actor would slowly phase out of the part. “I would be a fucking ape on the ground for [“The Batman” director] Matt Reeves.” His “Justice League” co-star Ezra Miller, who presumably talked to Affleck during the day said, “Don’t believe the hype.”
So that’s that. But honestly, Affleck has been watching a lot of CNN and perhaps the many crafty Trump surrogates. It’s a great non-denial denial, the same tactic he employed with EW today. After the Comic Con panel the Batman star once again reiterated that… he’s happy to play Batman.
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“My status remains what it always is,” the actor said. “I’ve done the two movies. I’ve always intended on doing a third if Warners wants to make it. Certainly, if the Batphone rings, I will answer.”
Well, that’s kind of what’s been the plan all along and not really a revelation. Affleck has a three picture Batman contract if WB wants to fulfill it (they do). But the answer doesn’t respond to the question of whether he’ll stick around after that — clearly the DCEU wants him to be a Tony Stark figure that sticks around for a decade or more (Marvel just celebrated ten years and Robert Downey Jr.‘s been there the entire time). Affleck even hinted at a future without him as Bruce Wayne.
“Eventually it’ll be somebody else [as the character], and I’m sure they’ll get somebody great,” he explained. “But while I’m doing it, I’m going to do the best job I can, and really appreciate how lucky I am.” So when is that “eventually,” after “The Batman” whenever that finally comes out?
Affleck did, however, seem to somewhat dismiss the report and blame it on him relieving himself of the duties of directing “The Batman.” “It’s such a big job, in terms of the stunts and the suit and the action and the character. Trying to do that, and direct, would probably be too much. Something would be compromised. I think it came off, optically, to the broader world, like lack of interest or enthusiasm. When in fact I love this character.”
Affleck said working with Matt Reeves, director of “War For The Planet Of The Apes” is “really exciting,” but he still hasn’t heard the filmmaker’s idea for the movie because he’s apparently been keeping under lock and key until ‘Apes’ promotion is over. “I’m looking forward to hearing what his story is.”
Is it fake news? Frankly, I’m surprised someone didn’t say the term and just totally quash the rumor flat. The fact remains he didn’t really do that. What happens after “The Batman” is over and Affleck’s contract is up? Is he indeed done with “The Batman” after that? Is this the slow “ushering out” of the role that the original report suggested? Fanboys will likely just assume all is well, but the report came from THR’s Kim Masters, one of the best reporters in the business and she writes most of the trade’s deep investigative pieces: all the Josh Trank drama from “Fantastic Four” was all her. She did some great long form reporting about “Rogue One,” and behind the scenes drama is her bread her own better. She did seem to suggest “The Batman” won’t happen with Affleck which of course sounds dead wrong right now, but overall, don’t count her out and keep an eye on how this all shakes out. She’s too good to dismiss this out of hand.