Ben Affleck: 'Oh S***, We Have a Problem' - The Moment He Knew He Was Done as Batman

Ben Affleck, known for his role as Batman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, has recently shared the challenges he faced while portraying the Caped Crusader for DC. In an insightful interview with GQ, Affleck reflected on his decade-long journey with the character, labeling his experience as "excruciating." He candidly discussed how the complexities and misalignments with DC's creative direction led him to lose interest in the superhero genre.

"There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience," Affleck explained. He highlighted that the issues went beyond just the nature of superhero films. "I am not interested in going down that particular genre again, not because of that bad experience, but just: I’ve lost interest in what was of interest about it to me. But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that."

Affleck has previously touched on his struggles with the role, but this time he delved deeper into the root causes. He attributed his difficulties to a "misalignment of agendas, understandings, and expectations," while also acknowledging his own contributions to the negative experience. "I mean, my failings as an actor, you can watch the various movies and judge. But more of my failings of, in terms of why I had a bad experience, part of it is that what I was bringing to work every day was a lot of unhappiness," he admitted. He further elaborated that he wasn't bringing positive energy to the set, although he fulfilled his professional duties.

Affleck's association with DC began with his role in Zack Snyder's Batman v. Superman alongside Henry Cavill. This led to numerous appearances in other DC projects, including the original and Snyder Cut versions of Justice League, The Flash, and a cameo in Suicide Squad. However, a planned standalone Batman film was ultimately canceled.

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Details about the canceled Batman movie remain scarce, but rumors suggest it would have explored themes around Arkham Asylum and possibly featured Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.

Affleck credited his decision to step away from the role to advice from longtime collaborator Matt Damon. Additionally, he revealed that his son played a role in his decision, expressing concerns about the film's suitability for younger audiences. "But what happened was it started to skew too old for a big part of the audience. Like even my own son at the time was too scared to watch (Batman v. Superman). And so when I saw that I was like, 'Oh shit, we have a problem,'" Affleck said. He noted the conflicting visions between the filmmaker and the studio, which aimed to appeal to a younger demographic, as a significant issue.

As DC navigates its future, the studio is branching out with distinct storytelling approaches. The darker narratives will continue with The Batman 2 set for release in 2027, while more lighthearted stories will be explored in James Gunn’s DCU, starting with Superman this July. However, fans should not anticipate Affleck returning to direct within Gunn's new universe.