The DC Extended Universe is a funny place. While still very much in its infancy, Geoff Johns and the folks at DC Studios are ramping up announcements and development for a variety of new projects. But while Wonder Woman was a step in the right direction, it's going to take a lot to get the fandom back on board after Zack Snyder's divisive Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The blockbuster was criticized for being overly dark and devoid of levity, and now Affleck has responded honestly to this feedback. He said,
I can understand people saying [Batman v Superman] was too dark, or this was outside the tone of what I'm used to seeing with a Batman story, and I think that's a fair criticism.
Although the sad Affleck meme will forever live on the internet, it seems that Ben Affleck is actually quite cognizant and receptive to the shortcomings of Batman v Superman. And this is probably a good thing, because the film got a ton of flack after its release in 2016.
Ben Affleck's comments regarding Dawn of Justice feedback comes from his recent interview with Empire, ahead of the release of Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon's Justice League. But in the same piece, Affleck explained that the darkness from Batman v Superman helped to inform the newer, more friendly Batman that we'll see when the team-up film arrives in theaters next month.
Indeed, everyone from DC has been teasing a lighter tone for Justice League than Zack Snyder's previous two DC films. Inspired by Superman's sacrifice, Batman will reportedly turn away from killing criminals, and will be tasked with uniting the titular team of heroes against Steppenwolf's impending attack. And with young heroes like The Flash (Ezra Miller) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) providing comedic beats and a sense of wonder to the blockbuster, Justice League certainly looks like its on the right track to be a game changer for the shared universe.
While Batman v Superman was a divisive film that disappointed many comic book fans, Ben Affleck's performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman is universally considered the saving grace of the film. He delivered an experienced Batman that has grown jaded and isolated due to his years of crime fighting. And while Zack Snyder made the controversial decision to introduce a Batman willing to kill his enemies, Affleck's performance was strong enough to rival Christian Bale's portrayal from the Dark Knight trilogy.
Ben Affleck's Batman will once again return to the silver screen when Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon's Justice League arrives in theaters November 17th, 2017. In the meantime, check out our 2017 release list to plan your final trips to the movies before the New Year.
