Ben Affleck gets real about his departure from The Batman
By Erik Swann
Ben Affleck opens up about his decision to leave The Batman.
Ben Affleck has given his reason for not returning to the role of Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. In a lengthy interview with The New York Times, Affleck revealed that his experiences with Justice League‘s production prompted him to leave. And while he had completed after draft of The Batman‘s script, someone suggested that it may not be healthy for him to return:
"“I showed somebody ‘The Batman’ script. They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.’”"
In the past, Affleck has been candid about his struggles with alcohol and how his addiction has affected his career and personal life. He previously celebrated a year of sobriety in 2019, before experiencing a short relapse last fall.
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The actor’s tenure in the DC Extended Universe served as a tumultuous period in his life. From the moment he was announced to be playing Batman in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice back in 2013, Affleck was faced with a sea of mixed reactions from critics and fans. Despite the mostly positive reactions to Affleck’s performance, Dawn of Justice ultimately opened to a lukewarm reception at the box office in 2016. 2017’s Justice League — which went through various creative changes after Zack Snyder’s departure — only added to the strain of playing the character.
Affleck originally intended to write, produce, direct and star in a Batman solo film. However, plans changed when Planet of the Apes filmmaker Matt Reeves was tapped to write and direct a new film centered on a younger Dark Knight. Robert Pattinson was later cast to play the lead role. After the project was first announced, Affleck voiced his support for Reeves and expressed his excitement for the movie.
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These new comments from Affleck provide a clearer reason for his decision to leave the DCEU and shed more light on his state of mind after finishing Justice League. Although he won’t be donning the cape and cowl, fans can still look forward to Matt Reeves’ take on the hero.