While everyone seems to have an opinion on Ben Affleck being the latest actor to play Batman, for the moment, it’s only fellow cast members that are seeing him suited up or swanning about as Bruce Wayne. And while we’re sure nerds are already preparing their notes for the great Who Is The Best Batman? debate coming in 2016 when "Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice" drops, one actor is putting an idea out there that should inspire some interesting discussion before that time.
In a recent interview on the Vintage Sound 93.1 FM radio show out of Iowa (Batman News via Comic Book Movie), Harry Lennix (who plays General Swanwick in "Man Of Steel" and the upcoming sequel), offered his opinion as to why Affleck may have the edge over Christian Bale.
"I’m especially excited that we’ve got an American actor here, that’s increasingly rare," he said. "The last guy, who did a great job, Christian Bale— is British. I think that when you’ve got somebody that doesn’t have to act like an American and embodies that ethos, if you will, then that gives him a head start. And knowing how intelligent and how artful that he is as a filmmaker and actor, I think he’s going to do a terrific job."
Not that it actually matters, but we’d think playing Superman would require having been born on U.S. soil than Batman. (So, sorry, Henry Cavill?) But in any event, nationality pretty much makes no difference, as it’s only good acting that matters, so you can probably just take this as an example of the line of reasoning you shouldn’t take if you find yourself in the middle of an Affleck vs. Bale argument. But wait a minute, what about Michael Keaton? What does Tim Burton‘s Batman think of all this? Frankly, he kinda doesn’t give a damn.
“Chris Nolan is great, but I’ve never seen any of the Batman movies all the way through," he told EW. "I know they’re good. I just have zero interest in those kinds of movies. I mean, people are asking me, ‘Is Ben Affleck going to be any good?’ And my attitude is, first of all, why would you ask me? Second, he’s probably going to be very good, and third, frankly, it’s all set up now so that you’re weirdly kind of safe. Once you get in those suits, they really know what to do with you. It was hard then; it ain’t that hard now.”
Boom! Debate over, Keaton wins.