No comic book character has received the same level of cinematic attention as Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman. From Adam West’s campy version from the 1960s, to Christian Bale’s more realistic take on the character, we've seen the comic book icon undergo a metamorphosis over the years. Ben Affleck represents the latest addition to the Batman mythos, and his performance in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice has been widely praised by audiences and critics. However, despite receiving so much acclaim, Affleck remains hesitant to jump into a solo Batman movie because the memory of The Dark Knight trilogy hasn't faded yet.
During a recent interview with Yahoo! Movies, Ben Affleck admitted that he feels The Dark Knight trilogy is too fresh in memory for a brand new Batman solo film to hit theaters:
[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice] isn’t, to me, a stand-alone Batman movie. Batman’s in it, and I think that’s okay. But I wouldn’t do another just Batman movie right on top of Chris and Christian’s movies. I would just want a little more distance.
So while Ben Affleck most certainly has an interest in taking on a Batman solo adventure, as long as the script and story have been refined, he wants to wait until Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale’s take on the character has faded from our collective memory. Affleck's comments make a certain degree of sense; while Batman plays a prominent role in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, he shares the stage with numerous DC heavy hitters such as Superman and Wonder Woman. It’s a DC story, but it’s ultimately not an exclusively Batman story.
That being said, Ben Affleck’s Batman really does represent the best aspect of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film has received mediocre reviews from critics, but pretty much everyone has heaped universal praise on Ben Affleck for his gritty, visceral portrayal of The Dark Knight. It’s a very different type of Batman compared to Christian Bale’s; one that seems to have leaped straight out of the comic books and come to life. Considering all of the positive reviews regarding his performance, it remains entirely possible that Affleck could soon be convinced to don the cape and cowl again for a solo outing.
As fans of Ben Affleck’s performance as Batman, we will keep our fingers firmly crossed that he changes his mind and returns to the role as quickly as possible. His take on the character is incredibly different from Christian Bale’s, and we think it has enough merit to easily stand on its own.
We will keep you posted regarding any and all details related to the DCEU and the future of Ben Affleck’s Batman. Be sure to catch Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice when it hits theaters on March 25. Stay tuned!
