Ben Affleck has been in the entertainment news lately not just because of the upcoming movie “Justice League” but for a more important question, how long will he don the Cape Crusader mask? However, even the 44-year old actor doesn’t have a clue, or, is he in the loop of what’s supposed to happen next?
Last week, a rumor broke out that Affleck is on his way out as Batman. According to a weekender post from The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is drawing up plans to gracefully usher Ben Affleck out as Batman over time for upcoming DC films. But while this rumor has yet to be confirmed, the supposed exit of Affleck somehow reflects Bruce Wayne’s retirement as Batman as well.
The Last of Ben Affleck as Batman
Early this year, news broke out that multi-awarded actor has stepped down as director of the next Batman movie, citing unmanageable workload as reasons. He was replaced by Matt Reeves, the man behind “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014) and “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017). Two weeks ago, Reeves reportedly dropped the script Affleck and Geoff Johns wrote so he can infuse his directorial style.
Then these rumors that Affleck may not even don the Cape Crusader costume in “The Batman” floated. His message during last Saturday’s San Diego Comic-Con has hidden message all over, “My status remains what it always is,” wrote Entertainment Weekly. “I’ve done the two movies.
I’ve always intended on doing a third if Warner's wants to make it. Certainly, if the Batphone rings, I will answer.”
Affleck has signed to play three Batman films with “Batman v Superman” and “Justice League” being the first two films. He described Suicide Squad as a “walk-on”, thus, it is not counted. “The Batman” is supposedly his third film.
But will he as Bruce Wayne in “The Batman”?
Let’s get a cue from Warner Bros. film studio chief Toby Emmerich, “Ben is our Batman. We love him as Batman. We want to keep him in the cowl as long as we can.”
Dick Grayson replaces Bruce Wayne as the new Batman
If Warner Bros. and DC Comics decides to stick with the original Batman story, then Ben Affleck should remain onboard.
In this way, we will see the “first retirement of Batman”, to be replaced temporarily by vigilante Azrael who will go rogue and will be stopped by the Bruce Wayne.
On his “second retirement”, Bruce Wayne gives the Cape Crusader title to Dick Grayson who was originally the first Robin and who later took the name Nightwing. This could be a twist for the upcoming “The Batman” film.
In fact, should the filmmaker decide to go this direction, it would look like a continuation to Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises”, the third of Nolan’s Batman trilogy. And then we go back to Emmerich’s message which could be interpreted as the 55-year old Bruce Wayne coming out of retirement based on the limited Batman series, “The Dark Knight Returns”.
