Over two and a half years after the casting was originally announced, Ben Affleck finally debuted as Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman, last March in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Although the Caped Crusader will return later this year in Suicide Squad (and rumored to appear in Wonder Woman next year), Affleck is currently in the middle of shooting Justice League: Part One. However, on top of playing one of the movie’s main heroes on screen, now it’s been revealed he’ll be contributing off camera as well as executive producer.
According to Deadline, Affleck’s new position will see him working with director Zack Snyder and writer Chris Terrio to "make the film the best it can be." The report also notes that Affleck is also doing this to be supportive of Snyder, who also helmed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which, although earning quite a lot at the box office, wasn’t received well critically among many critics and fans. So while Batman helps keep the world safe in Justice League: Part One, Affleck will help make sure everything is running smoothly during production and afterwards. The movie’s other producers include Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder and Mad Max Max: Fury Road’s George Miller.
Ben Affleck has been acting for over two decades, but over the last 10 years, he’s proven his skills as a director with Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Argo and next year’s Live by Night. Combined with his passion for Batman and the DC universe, it makes sense that he would get this promotion and contribute to making sure Justice League: Part One tells a compelling story. Perhaps he’ll retain that position for 2019’s Justice League: Part Two as well. It was also confirmed last month that a standalone Batman movie is in the works that Affleck will direct and also co-write with DC’s Chief Creative Officer, Geoff Johns. After years of being a comic book fan, Affleck not only gets to play his favorite superhero, but also gets to be one of the main voices helping to make the DC Extended Universe the best it can be.
Following the shocking conclusion of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck’s Batman will be traveling around the world in Justice League: Part One to recruit metahumans and other mighty beings who can keep humanity safe. As of now, all we know for certain about the blockbuster is that it will feature the Dark Knight, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash and Cyborg joining forces to battle the mysterious villain threatening Earth. The movie will also include J.K. Simmons as Commissioner James Gordon, Amber Heard as Mera, Jeremy Irons reprising Alfred Pennyworth and Willem Dafoe as an unidentified character.
Justice League: Part One hits theaters on November 17, 2017.
