Ben Affleck Denies Warner Bros. Drops Him from Batman Franchise
Ben Affleck has denied rumors he is quitting as Batman after his upcoming role in Justice League.
The actor had been due to star in and direct another standalone movie – The Batman – but pulled out of directing duties in January.
After Ben Affleck’s script was also ditched by incoming director Matt Reeves, it looked like he was going to jump ship.
However, the actor denied he was leaving the franchise, saying: “Batman is the coolest part in any universe.”
Photo PBS
“Let me very clear – I am the luckiest guy in the world. I’m so thrilled to do it,” Ben Affleck told fans at Comic-Con on July 22.
“There’s a misconception that because I wasn’t directing it, I wasn’t enthusiastic about it, but it’s amazing.”
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Ben Affleck also addressed reports that Warner Bros was working on plans to “usher out” his Batman gracefully as he is getting too old.
“I still can’t believe that after two films [Warner Bros bosses] Kevin Tsujihara, Sue Kroll and Toby Emmerich have said, <We want you to be our Batman> – and I believe them.”
Regarding War for the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves taking over his directing role and starting afresh with scripting, Ben Affleck said: “I would be an ape on the ground for Matt Reeves, never mind Batman.
“It’s a great time in the DC universe, so you can see why I am so excited to be Batman.”
The Warner Bros panel also featured a new Justice League trailer and confirmed that Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman would be getting a sequel.
It’s unsurprising as Patty Jenkins’ movie is the biggest of the summer, taking $386 million so far in the US and $771 million around the world.
It is also the third highest-grossing Warner Bros movie ever, behind The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises – and the highest-grossing live action movie by a female director.
Warner Bros also confirmed it intends to make a standalone Batgirl movie and a new Green Lantern movie.