“This is the next act of my career”: Ben Affleck Might Not Return as Batman Under James Gunn’s DCU as Argo Star Focuses on New Production Company With Matt Damon

Ben Affleck Might Not Return as Batman Under James Gunn
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Ben Affleck is an American actor and filmmaker, who is well known for his portrayal of Batman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The actor and filmmaker’s future as the Caped Crusader, however, is uncertain as the actor has started a production company with Matt Damon. The role of playing Batman lately has been taken by Robert Pattinson in the 2022 movie The Batman.

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Affleck, however, would still appear in The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom reprising his role as Batman. These films could possibly mark the end of Batfleck in the DC Universe.

Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck

Also Read: ‘If you play Batman, you’re never gonna play anything else again’: Christian Bale Was Warned Playing Batman Was Career Suicide, His Badass Reaction: “BRING IT ON”

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Ben Affleck is reportedly done with his role as Batman

Ben Affleck, who played Batman in the DC Universe movies between the years 2016-2019 may soon retire from the Bruce Wayne persona after starting a production company with a close friend Matt Damon. Affleck appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League as the Caped Crusader also made a cameo appearance in Suicide Squad.

Despite acting in several films, the actor never got a standalone film as Batman. While Batfleck had much more potential than we got to see, we never got the best version of his portrayal because of poor writing, directing, and overall messy delivery in many of the movies he appeared in.

Ben Affleck as Batman in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
Ben Affleck as Batman in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).

While Affleck enjoyed his experience playing the character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, however, it was Justice League that convinced the Gone Girl actor to decide to quit playing the character.

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“It was really Justice League that was the nadir for me,” recalled Affleck, who retired as Batman in 2019.

“That was a bad experience because of a confluence of things: my own life, my divorce, being away too much, the competing agendas, and then Zack’s personal tragedy and the reshooting. It just was the worst experience. It was awful. It was everything that I didn’t like about this.”

He further added,

“That became the moment where I said, ‘I’m not doing this anymore.’ It’s not even about, like, Justice League was so bad. Because it could have been anything.”

Also Read: “He’s on the edge of moral bankruptcy”: Ben Affleck Was Convinced Zack Snyder Made the Best Decision By Choosing Him to Play Batman

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Robert Pattinson was signed as the new Batman who recently appeared in his film, The Batman with two sequels to be released after.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon launch a production company

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, who have been the closest of friends for a long time, have started a production company together. They announced recently in an interview about the formation of Artists Equity, a production company aimed at giving artists a larger share of streaming profits.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

The reason to start this company was the lack of opportunities for artists and artisans to share profit from the box office. Affleck revealed how working in a production company has opened his eyes to the hardships of the business side of Hollywood. However, it does not make him regret the decision, rather wishes he took it sooner.

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“As streamers have proliferated, they have really ended back-end participation, and so this is partly an effort to try to recapture some of that value and share it in a way that’s more equitable. Not just writers and directors and stars. But also cinematographers, editors, costume designers, and other crucial artists who, in my view, are very underpaid.”

Also Read: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Reunite For Nike Movie, Jason Bateman and Viola Davis to Join

Artists Equity has already raised $100 million in the financing, primarily from the investment firm RedBird Capital Partners. The company’s position of CEO would be taken by Ben Affleck, while Matt Damon would be the company’s chief creative officer.

“There was part of me, I have to admit, that was like — come on, these studio guys sit behind desks and make phone calls. The artists are the ones who have to go off and actually make the movie and do all the work. I have already been humbled,” Affleck said. “But my only regret is that I didn’t have the sense of self to try this earlier. Now I feel very ready to do it. I’m right at that period of life where you have enough experience and confidence and self-assuredness.”

Artists Equity already anticipates releasing three projects in 2023, with plans to scale and release a minimum of five projects per year in the future.

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Source: The Direct

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Written by Saif Madre

Articles Published: 55