Ben Affleck Returning As Batman For Aquaman 2
It seems Ben Affleck just can't get away from the DCEU and his version of Batman will be showing up very soon.
This article is more than 2 years old
The secret is out! Ben Affleck will be reprising his role as Batman in Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. Jason Momoa revealed the news on social media after the pair was spotted by fans on a Warner Bros bus tour. “Well, it’s not a f**king secret anymore, is it?” the 42-year-old said as he filmed the excited fans. He quickly apologized for cursing in front of the kids before adding “That’s what happens when you walk out of your set and there are our fans. Well, we tried to keep it a secret.”
The Aquaman star also shared some photos of him and Ben Affleck goofing around behind the scenes. In the images, the newly married DC alum appeared to be decked out in Bruce Wayne’s finest suit. It’s probably not the way Warner Bros would’ve liked to drop the news, but the reveal certainly got fans excited for the upcoming movie which wrapped filming in December. The stars are currently in the middle of reshoots for the blockbuster that’s set to premiere in March 2023.
Ben Affleck portrayed the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and Justice League, before retiring his cowl in 2019. He later admitted that the role had caused him professional and personal strife. Then two years ago, he surprised fans when his upcoming appearance as the Caped Crusader in The Flash made headlines. Speaking with Vanity Fair, at the time director Andy Muschietti praised Affleck’s take on the character.
He went on to explain the importance of Ben Affleck’s role in The Flash movie, describing him as a substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Bruce Wayne will bring an emotional level that fans haven’t seen before. And while it’s still Barry’s story, these characters are more related than we think. “They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in,” he told the publication.
Interestingly, Ben Affleck had originally been slated to star in and direct 2022’s The Batman. But following criticism, he stepped away from the project completely. “I showed somebody the Batman script,” Affleck told The New York Times in 2020. “They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.’” British actor Robert Pattinson went on to take the part, with the film directed by Matt Reeves. Fortunately, Batfleck fans get to see the actor in the role one more time in Aquaman and The Lost Kindom.
James Wan is set to resume directing duties for the film with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick returning to pen the script. Wan is also producing alongside Peter Safran. The movie will see Jason Momoa reprising his role as Aquaman alongside Patrick Wilson as Orm. Other returning cast members include Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta as well as Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, and Dolph Lundgren. Amber Heard, who recently lost a defamation trial against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, is also expected to re-join the cast as Meera. It will be interesting to see how Ben Affleck’s Batman fits into the story.
