As James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s new take on the DCEU moves forward, fans can’t help but wonder who will star and help helm the future films of “Gods and Monsters.” Ben Affleck makes it clear in a new THR interview that he won’t return to direct any new movies for DC Studios. Maybe that’s due to his experience as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Zack Snyder‘s “Justice League” and elsewhere?
You betcha. Affleck didn’t hold back in his comments about his time as the Caped Crusader in the new THR interview, saying the experience of shooting “Justice League” left the actor with “the most monstrous taste in my mouth.” But before that, he does promise DC fans that he nails his take on Batman in “The Flash” …for the whole five minutes he’s in it. Here’s the scoop:
“Yeah, I did finally figure out how to play that character [Batman], and I nailed it in “The Flash,” Affleck told THR. “For the five minutes I’m there, it’s really great. A lot of it’s just tone. You’ve got to figure out, what’s your version of the person? Who is the guy that fits what you can do? I tried to fit myself into a Batman. And by the way, I like a lot of the stuff we did, especially the first one [“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice“].
But Affleck’s take on his time in the DCEU sours once he talks about making “Justice League.” “”Justice League”…you could teach a seminar on all the reasons why this is how not to do it,” continued the actor. “Ranging from production to bad decisions to horrible personal tragedy, and just ending with the most monstrous taste in my mouth. The genius, and the silver lining, is that Zack Snyder eventually went to AT&T and was like, ‘Look, I can get you four hours of content.’ And it’s principally just all the slow motion that he shot in black-and-white. And one day of shooting with me and him. He was like, “Do you want to come shoot in my backyard?” I was like, “I think there are unions, Zack. I think we have to make a deal.” But I went and did it. And now [“Zack Snyder’s Justice League“] is my highest-rated movie on IMDb.”
And Affleck has mixed feelings about the how quickly fans flipped on the film after Snyder released his version. “Say what you want, it is my highest-rated career movie,” said Affleck. “I’ve never had one that went from nadir to pinnacle. Retroactively, it’s a hit. All of a sudden I was getting congratulated for the bomb I’m in.” However, the success of Snyder’s take didn’t help with Affleck’s unease about superhero movies in general. “But I was going to direct a “Batman” [film], and [“Justice League”] made me go, ‘I’m out. I never want to do any of this again. I’m not suited.’ That was the worst experience I’ve ever seen in a business which is full of some shitty experiences. It broke my heart.”
A lot of that heartbreak for Affleck stemmed from Joss Whedon coming into finish “Justice League” after Snyder had to leave the blockbuster. “There was an idea of someone [Whedon] coming in, like, ‘I’ll rescue you and we’ll do 60 days of shooting and I’ll write a whole thing around what you have. I’ve got the secret.’ And it wasn’t the secret. That was hard. And I started to drink too much. I was back at the hotel in London, it was either that or jump out the window. And I just thought, ‘This isn’t the life I want. My kids aren’t here. I’m miserable.'” That’s surprisingly candid talk from Affleck, but also explains his aversion to joining in on Gunn and Safran’s new take on the DCEU.
After that experience, superhero movies are clearly not for Affleck fanymore. “You want to go to work and find something interesting to hang onto, rather than just wearing a rubber suit, and most of it you’re just standing against the computer screen going, ‘If this nuclear waste gets loose, we’ll…,” said Affleck. “That’s fine. I don’t condescend to that or put it down, but I got to a point where I found it creatively not satisfying. Also just, you’re sweaty and exhausted. And I thought, ‘I don’t want to participate in this in any way. And I don’t want to squander any more of my life, of which I have a limited amount.’
After those comments, it’s safe to say “The Flash” may very well be Affleck’s last time donning the cape and cowl as Batman, and his final superhero project altogether. No worries there, as “Air,” ready for its world premiere at SXSW in Austin this weekend, is the first film from Artists Equity, Affleck’s new production banner with long-time friend Matt Damon. AE should keep Affleck busy with more creatively fulfilling projects both in front and behind the camera for a long time. As for “The Flash,” which looks like Affleck’s final foray as Bruce Wayne/Batman, it hits theaters everywhere on June 16.
