Batman v Superman: Reaction To Affleck's Batman Debut

While critical reaction has been mixed, everyone seems to agree that Ben Affleck’s Batman is a high point of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Just hours away from the official opening of Warner Bros. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, one of the most intriguing questions that’s as mysterious as the masked hero of the film is if Ben Affleck delivers in the role of Batman in this latest movie incarnation of the DC Comics Dark Knight.

If the advance movie screening reaction is any indication, the answer appears to be a resounding “yes!”

So far, early reception of the actor’s cinematic portrayal of the Caped Crusader is being overwhelmingly embraced as a breakout performance. That may be essential to ushering in the new dawn of the much anticipated beginning phase of the DC Extended Universe. BvS is spearheading a slate of movies that will hopefully rival Marvel Studios’ box office dominance of superhero movies, (now entering it’s Phase Three of twelve comic book hero driven movies released since 2008).

Batman readers and fans, as well as Warner Bros. movie studio heads are relying on this inaugural film to be the cornerstone of the franchise, starring DC Comics’ “Trinity” of iconic characters, Superman (played by Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (played by Gal Gadot) along with Ben Affleck’s Batman, who many consider to be the pivotal centerpiece role in this adaption of the inception of the legendary superhero team, the Justice League.

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Initially when the studio announced the Affleck casting in August, 2013 many detractors expressed a gamut of emotions ranging from anger and frustration to outrage and dismay online. There were preconceived notions by many fans about him being too old and questions about what he could bring to the BvS role after his first stint playing a superhero in the critically panned 2003 movie Daredevil.

Many comic book devotees questioned the commitment he would bring to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, due to him focusing more on work behind the camera. The core readership of the comics and graphic novels also had embraced a revamped, real world approach to the characterization of the Dark Knight by actor Christian Bale in director Christopher Nolan’s successful and profitable trilogy of movies, Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), which all resonated with the majority of movie ticket buyers who flocked to the big screen to see the series.

Ben Affleck was not without his supporters however. Many had cautioned those quick to decry the Batman casting decision to focus on the actor’s ability and range while also embracing his versatility as a actor. Director Kevin Smith, who worked with Affleck early in his career and is a comic book writer and hardcore Batman fan himself, was quoted in Vanity Fair saying,”The hardest thing to nail about Batman is Bruce Wayne, because that’s where you’ve got to be a human being. But that dude is Bruce Wayne, so he’s born to play that role.”

Apparently Smith was dead on as preview moviegoers and critics raved about the compelling new take that Affleck brings to the complexities and the duality of being a hero and a human being.

Any doubts of commitment to the role seemed dispelled when reports from the set that Affleck did rewrites on the script while still in his Batman costume were revealed, pleasing several skeptical fans.

So, with intial reaction to “Batfleck” seemingly positive and anticipation of this next transformative turn for hero upon us, the only thing left to do now is sit back and see how this new Batman begins.

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Batman v Superman: Reaction To Affleck’s Batman Debut

By Gary Roberts | Mar 25, 2016

While critical reaction has been mixed, everyone seems to agree that Ben Affleck’s Batman is a high point of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.