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

In a candid interview with GQ, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice star Ben Affleck opened up about his challenging journey portraying the Caped Crusader within the DC universe. Reflecting on nearly a decade of playing Batman, Affleck described his experience as "excruciating," citing a complex relationship with DC that ultimately extinguished his passion for the superhero genre.

"There are a number of reasons why that was a really excruciating experience," Affleck explained, emphasizing that it wasn't solely due to the nature of superhero films. He admitted to losing interest in aspects of the genre that once captivated him and expressed no desire to revisit similar experiences. "But I certainly wouldn’t want to replicate an experience like that," he added.

Affleck elaborated on the reasons behind his negative experience, attributing it to a "misalignment of agendas, understandings, and expectations." He took personal responsibility, acknowledging that his own unhappiness at the time contributed to the situation. "I wasn’t bringing a lot of positive energy to the equation. I didn’t cause problems, but I came in and I did my job and I went home. But you’ve got to do a little bit better than that," he reflected.

Affleck's journey with DC began when he co-starred with Henry Cavill in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman. This role led to multiple appearances, including in the original 2017 and the 2021 Snyder Cut of Justice League, The Flash, and a cameo in Suicide Squad in 2016. However, his planned standalone Batman movie was ultimately canceled.

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While details about the canceled Batman film remain scarce, rumors suggest it would have delved into 80 years of the Dark Knight's history, possibly exploring Arkham Asylum and featuring Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke.

Affleck credited his decision to step away from the role to longtime collaborator Matt Damon, and in the recent GQ interview, he also mentioned his son's reaction to Batman v. Superman as a pivotal factor. "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,'" he said. He noted the conflicting visions between the filmmaker and the studio, aiming to appeal to different audiences, which created significant challenges.

As DC navigates its future, the studio is separating its darker and lighter narratives. The darker path will continue with The Batman 2 in 2027, while the more lighthearted approach will be spearheaded by James Gunn’s DCU, starting with Superman in July. However, fans should not expect Affleck to return to direct within Gunn's new universe.