Ben Affleck Explains How His Batman Is Different

Ben Affleck’s Batman in Batman v Superman won’t be a carbon copy of previous takes on the role

For better or worse every movie incarnation of Batman has been different. With different actors and directors over the years, that’s hardly a surprise. Though with the Dark Knight Trilogy being such a massive success, you think there might be at least some pressure to keep Batman roughly the same as he was in those films.

But Ben Affleck, who of course is playing the latest version of Batman in the upcoming Batman v Superman, insists that his Batman is one that stands apart from others, specifically the one created by both Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale in the Dark Knight Trilogy.

"I don’t want to compete with other incarnations, nor do I want to emulate them.Those versions belong in another universe. Christopher Nolan used his Batman to tell a finite story. My version is different, but remains faithful to the Batman mythology and all the themes associated with it. The other difference is that Nolan’s Batman isn’t part of a universe where other superheroes exist as well. Here – because we’re working towards the Justice League – there’s Superman, and it’s a world populated with super beings. This situation generates an altogether new reality.”"

Ben Affleck also talked about how Bruce Wayne’s playboy persona is played up more in this version of Batman, and why:

"We also play a bit more with the billionaire playboy side of the character. He lives that life at full tilt. He courts many women, owns many cars, and parties a lot. He does that as a way to fill the void in his soul. Moreover, past incarnations dealt with a straightforward search for justice. This time, Batman’s reasoning is clouded by frustration, bitterness and anger."

In the latest trailer for Batman v Superman there was definitely some criticism over Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Lex Luthor, with some even likening it to Jim Carrey’s Riddler in Batman Forever. But Ben Affleck had nothing but praise for his co-star:

"Luthor is, for me, the most interesting character in the film. He’s radically different from what we’ve seen so far. He’s grounded in reality, and he’s extraordinary. This type of film is only as good as its villain. That’s why The Dark Knight was so brilliant, because of Heath Ledger’s Joker. Jesse improves the film with each scene he’s in. He’s not your usual one-dimensional villain, there’s a whole psychology behind him."

Next: Lex Luthor Thinks Batman Is Painfully Outmoded

There’s that “grounded in reality” again. We won’t really know if Ben Affleck’s words about Eisenberg’s performance are true or not until we actually see Batman v Superman. But honestly a guy who says lines like ” Son of Krypton versus Bat of Gotham!” doesn’t sound horribly grounded in reality to me…

h/t Comicbook.com