After much long conjecture over who would wear the cape and cowl, Zack Snyder officially has his Batman; Ben Affleck. Names like Josh Brolin and Ryan Gosling were bandied about, and there was a rumor about Christian Bale being offered a hefty sum to reprise the role for Synder's films. So much for all of that, because for better or worse we now have our Batman and it will be an interesting journey watching the Argo star make the transformation. Some ten years ago, when the actor put on the avenging crusader mantle of Marvel's Daredevil, there were fanboy shrieks of disdain and one shudders to imagine what a mention of Batman would have done. Mercifully, times and people change, and the Ben Affleck of 2013 is a much different beast than the 2003 model. With three terrific directing gigs under his belt and an Academy Award for Best Picture to show for it, Affleck has also proven himself a strong and charismatic actor, plenty capable of embodying both Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego. There's a time when this would have sounded dreadful, but if anything, Affleck in the mix gives the project an air of credibility, something one never used to associate with the star of Gigli. Adding Affleck also means there's now someone on set who has a strong eye for drama and poignant emotional beats. Snyder is full of confidence in his new star, and he's looking forward to the dynamic between Affleck and Cavill, stating "Ben provides an interesting counter-balance to Henry's Superman." "He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter" Snyder said, adding that he "retains the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can't wait to work with him."
In this writer's opinion, Affleck is a great choice, and it's easy to imagine him walking that line between hero and antagonist that Snyder and company have hinted at in the past. Of all the choices, he's the one that seems to be the best possible foil for the Superman that Henry Cavill played in the first film, and clearly he's neither the old, weary bruiser of The Dark Knight Returns, nor a fresh-faced pup starting up. Casting of this caliber also ensures that Batman really will be the co-star of the picture, regardless of whether his screen time is ultimately less than Supes. Let's not forget that in addition to Daredevil, Affleck also played Superman actor George Reeves in Hollywoodland, so he's no stranger to the ideals and icon of the Man of the Steel. More than anything else, I can't wait to see how Affleck approaches the gravely "I'm Batman!" delivery. Will he too be in need of a lozenge? Readers, what do you think? Is Affleck worthy of the mantle? Let's hear from you below. Production on the Superman/Batman movie begins early 2014 for a release on July 17th, 2015.