Ben Affleck talks giving up the cape and cowl as DC’s Batman

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Not long ago, but after waffling more than a truck stop waitress, Ben Affleck officially retired as Batman for the DCEU. For a time, Affleck was expected to write and direct a solo Batman film, though that torch has since been passed to WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES helmer Matt Reeves. With the search for a new Dark Knight now underway, some Batfleck fans have remained perplexed as to why the JUSTICE LEAGUE actor finally called it quits.

According to a special live round table interview for TRIPLE FRONTIER with IGN's Max Scoville, Affleck admits that much of his decision to leave was based on his not being satisfied with the film's script. He told Scoville as much when he said, "That was part of the problem," Affleck confessed. "We worked on the script, I was trying to figure out how to crack it, and I was never happy enough with it where I thought it was worth going out and making it because I just didn't want to do a version that I wasn't really excited by, so I still don't know."

To be honest, I don't know a single person who would want Affleck to contribute to a project that he isn't 100% excited for, so perhaps him retiring as the World's Greatest Detective is for the best? After all, Affleck's indecision about continuing on as the character had been going on for quite sometime. In fact, he'd been sketchy about the whole thing all the way back to June of last year when he'd said, "I don’t have a script that’s ready yet. My timetable is I’m not going to make a movie until there’s a script that I think is good because I’ve been on the end of the things when you make movies when you have a script that’s not good yet and it doesn’t pan out." He then continued, "I have a script, we’re still working on it, and I’m not happy enough with it yet to actually go out there and make a Batman movie, for which I have the highest of standards, I would say. That’s something that would have to pass a very high bar for me. It’s not just like, 'Yeah, that might be fun, let’s go try this out.'"

I for one am looking forward to a new actor emerging as DC's Big Bad Bat, though I understand that not everyone shares my enthusiasm. Reports have indicated that Reeves is still on the hunt for his Bruce Wayne/Batman, with the goal of welcoming a younger actor into the role. For a hot minute, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME actor Armie Hammer was reportedly cast for the part, though in time that rumor turned out to be nothing more than a steaming pile of bat guano.

Meanwhile, Affleck is set to star alongside Oscar Isaac, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund and Charlie Hunnam in director J.C. Chandor's TRIPLE FRONTIER. The upcoming film revolves around five former Special Forces operatives who reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers these unsung heroes undertake this dangerous mission for self instead of country. But when events take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival. The film will make its Netflix premiere on March 13th.

Who do you think should don the cape and cowl in Reeves' THE BATMAN? Are you still upset that Affleck is retiring the role? Let us know in the comments section below.