The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating life in theaters, full of peaks and valleys. While Warner Bros. is currently surfing on the massive success of Aquaman and the early reception for Shazam!, things weren't always looking quite as hopeful. Zack Snyder's run in the DCEU was met with some backlash, as both Batman v Superman and Justice League failed to resonate with audiences. And now Ben Affleck has officially left his role as the Dark Knight, with Matt Reeves needing to do some recasting for his upcoming blockbuster The Batman.
But The Batman was originally set to star and be directed by Ben Affleck himself. Given his long tenure in filmmaking, he seemed like the perfect choice to bring the story to audiences, and provide new Batman his first solo movie in the shared universe. But Affleck left the director's chair before he got in, and eventually retired his role as well. That doesn't mean he wouldn't helm another DC blockbuster, recently saying:
I imagine it would be weird to step in and do another character. I can certainly imagine directing a movie, you know – if they [DC] would have me – if it was something I was passionate about.
While we shouldn't expect Ben Affleck onscreen in a DC blockbuster anytime soon, working behind the camera doesn't seem out of the question. As such, we should expect plenty of fan theories regarding what possible project could bring Affleck back to the fold.
Ben Affleck's comments come from his recent interview with LAD Bible, and should illicit a mixture of emotions from DC fans. To start, there will be plenty of moviegoers who would find this news hopeful, as Affleck's tenure in the DC Universe seemed to end before it could truly begin. He played Bruce Wayne in three separate DC movies, all of which failed to be a critical success. What's more, his sad Affleck meme went viral, adding salt to the wound. Eventually it all became too much, and he hung up the cape and cowl, making Justice League his final go as the character.
Regardless of his onscreen tenure as Gotham's Protector, Ben Affleck is still an accomplished filmmaker in his own right. And while he failed to produce a story he was satisfied with for The Batman, perhaps Warner Bros. will employ him behind the camera for a future DC blockbuster. The studio seems to have hit its stride, producing capsulated stories with less of a focus on serialized storytelling and crossovers. Joker will focus outside of the larger franchise, while Aquaman is being given a spinoff and sequel. Things are moving forward rapidly, so the future seems bright for a potential collaboration between Affleck and Warner Bros.
The next installment in the DC universe is Shazam! on April 5, 2019, and you can catch Ben Affleck in Netflix's Triple Frontier on March 13th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
