Ben Affleck Reveals the Moment He Knew He Was Done Playing Batman: 'I Was Like, Oh S***, We Have a Problem'

Ben Affleck, renowned for his portrayal of Batman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, has candidly shared his "excruciating" experience with the role during a recent GQ interview. Reflecting on his decade-long journey as the Caped Crusader within the Snyder-verse, Affleck expressed a deep disillusionment with the superhero genre, attributing it to a complex interplay of factors beyond the typical challenges of such films.

"There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience," Affleck remarked. He clarified that his reluctance to revisit the genre stems not solely from his negative experiences but from a broader loss of interest in what once captivated him about superhero films. "But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that," he added, emphasizing his desire to move on.

Affleck has previously touched on these sentiments, but in this interview, he delves deeper into the root of his dissatisfaction. He pointed to a "misalignment of agendas, understandings, and expectations" between himself and DC, acknowledging his own role in the equation. "I wasn’t bringing anything particularly wonderful to that equation at the time, either," he admitted, reflecting on his own contributions to the challenges faced.

Elaborating further, Affleck said, "My failings as an actor, you can watch the various movies and judge. But more of my failings, in terms of why I had a bad experience, part of it is that what I was bringing to work every day was a lot of unhappiness." He recognized that while he didn't cause overt problems, his lack of enthusiasm didn't help the situation. "But you’ve got to do a little bit better than that," he concluded.

Affleck's journey with DC began when he joined forces with Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman. This led to numerous appearances across various projects, including the original 2017 Justice League and its 2021 Snyder Cut, as well as The Flash and a cameo in Suicide Squad. However, his planned standalone Batman film was ultimately canceled, leaving fans to speculate on what could have been a deep dive into the Dark Knight's 80-year history, possibly involving Arkham Asylum and Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.

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Affleck credits his decision to step away from the role to conversations with longtime collaborator Matt Damon, as well as feedback from his own son. He realized that Batman v. Superman was too intense for younger audiences, including his son, which highlighted a misalignment between the film's direction and the studio's goals. "Then I think that’s when you had a filmmaker that wanted to continue down that road and a studio that wanted to recapture all the younger audience at cross purposes," he explained, illustrating the conflicting visions at play.

As DC moves forward, it is carving out distinct paths for its grittier and more lighthearted narratives. The darker tone will continue with The Batman 2 slated for 2027, while the lighter side will be spearheaded by James Gunn’s DCU, starting with Superman this July. As for Affleck, he has firmly closed the door on returning to DC to direct within Gunn’s new universe, signaling a definitive end to his chapter with the franchise.