Ben Affleck Won’t Return to DC

By Reggie's Take on March 16, 2023

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter Ben Affleck talks about why he’s done with DC and the comic book genre.

Affleck at the age of 25 became the youngest person to win the Oscar for best original screenplay with Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting. Since then, besides acting, Affleck has directed four movies one of which, Argo a film Affleck directed, starred in and produced won best picture.

Currently Affleck and Damon are starting up a new production company and the company’s first movie is also Affleck’ latest movie he’s directing. “Air” the story of how Michael Jordan and Nike changed the business with one very historic sneaker deal.

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Affleck talked about his time playing Batman, Justice League being his worst experience ever and how he is done with the comic book movie genre and why he won’t be directing a DC movie for James Gunn.

You can read below experts below of what Affleck had to say to the Hollywood Reporter.

“The Justice League experience, the fact that those stories became somewhat repetitive to me and less interesting. Yeah, I did finally figure out how to play that character [Batman], and I nailed it in The Flash. 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].”

“Justice League … You could teach a seminar on all the reasons why this is how not to do it. 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.”

“I was going to direct a Batman, 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. There was an idea of someone [Joss 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.” 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 …” 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.”

“I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not. I have nothing against James Gunn. Nice guy, sure he’s going to do a great job. I just wouldn’t want to go in and direct in the way they’re doing that. I’m not interested in that.”

What do you think of Affleck’s remarks about Justice League, Batman and not directing a DC movie for Gunn?

On a personal note I was hoping in some small way that Affleck might have directed a DC film for James Gunn whether that had been a Batman film or some other DC property, but at the same time I can understand why he doesn’t want to.

If you want to read the full interview Ben Affleck did with the Hollywood Reporter just click on the link.