Lewis G. Wilson. Robert Lowery. Adam West. Michael Keaton. Val Kilmer. George Clooney. Christian Bale. To the list of men who have physically portrayed Batman on the big screen, we can now add Ben Affleck, who assumes the mantle of the Dark Knight for the still formally untitled Batman Vs. Superman film that Zack Snyder will direct for Warner Bros.
The superhero mash-up, announced by Snyder at this year’s Comic-Con, pointed to an older actor to take on the cowl as a counterpoint to Henry Cavill’s more youthful Superman. Several contenders including Josh Brolin were mooted, but Warners has gone for someone the studio has a strong connection with, both in front of and, more successfully following the likes of Argo and Gone Baby, Gone, behind the camera.
Affleck will only be on acting duty for the new film, but Snyder is clearly happy with his choice. “Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne,” the Man Of Steel director said in a statement picked up by Variety. “I can’t wait to work with him.”
As for the choice, it has already provoked a strong reaction online, with some raising the spectre of Daredevil and others worrying that his personality will overwhelm the role. We’re happy to wait and see what he does with the part, and how his interpretation of the Caped Crusader fits into the world Snyder has established. He’s certainly got a lot to live up to given the success of Bale’s time in the suit, but at least Affleck knows the pressure he’s under. Introducing a brand new take on the character in a film that will also have to service Kal-El is still a big task to nail, but again, no one has seen a frame of the film yet, so it’s a little early to judge.
Batman Vs. Superman, or whatever it ends up being called, is scheduled for the crowded marketplace of summer 2015, with a US release on July 17 of that year.
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