Ben Affleck might not direct 'The Batman' if it doesn't all come together

This is not how I wanted to start 2017! In a new interview with The Guardian, just published today, Ben Affleck had a disappointing update on The Batman, which is he expected to star in, write, and direct.

“That’s the idea," Affleck said about the Batman project. "But it’s not a set thing and there’s no script. If it doesn’t come together in a way I think is really great I’m not going to do it.”

Affleck has continuously said in previous interviews that he's not going to make the movie until he feels the script is perfect, but I believe this is the first time he's said that he may not do it at all!

My hope is that this interview was conducted a while ago and isn't current. Just two weeks ago, Affleck told Variety that everything was on track to get started in the spring.

SOURCE: The Guardian

141 comments

residentgrigo

January 1, 2017

Cue the WB money truck
http://shop.johnforceracest...
In all seriousness though. Kevin Smith has been talking about Geoff´s Batman script for about 1,5 years.
It had enough time to be in a workable state, the film is activity being cast too. He probably needs to finish up his JLA related duties + the Live By Night press tour. He became an executive (a hollow word but still) for JLA film to set up his Batman better, his words. So let´s just wait.

Greg Gorham

January 1, 2017

I'm glad he's being stubborn. I doubt WB will proceed without him - it guarantees bad press and a ton of speculation all the way through production - so it'll happen, but not until everything is right. Which means we get a better movie.

OptimistPrime99

January 1, 2017

LOL This... AGAIN?! https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

cetrata

January 1, 2017

He had no problem directing live by night which, though I haven't seen yet, many critics consider it a disappointment at best.

And he had no problem appearing in bad movies like BVS, daredevil, Gigli, and more.

FUN
January 1, 2017
The same critics who praised Civil War? Movie critics are phoneys nowadays...

Josh Morgan

January 1, 2017

So this is basically the exact same thing he has been saying for the past few months. What annoys me though is how he keeps back tracking. "There is no script". Wtf do you mean there is "no" script?he said there was "a" script MONTHS ago. Like wasn't that before BvS came out when he said that? Come on man. Give us something solid to go on.

razorstar90

January 1, 2017

Affleck is two movies away from becoming a punchline again. Let's take a look at Affleck's history for a moment. When he was in his twenties he won an Oscar, then he starred in a ton of movies. Some made a lot of money but were critical flops, some were box office flops, and then there was Gigli.

He clawed his way back to respectability with his directorial efforts. He then won an Oscar. What happened after? He stared in Gone Girl which was great. But then He started starring in a slew of critically panned movies in 2016. BvS panned, Accountant panned, Live By Night panned. JL is DOA that's going to get panned.

If the Batman plays like his recent movie Live By Night, then Affleck will be a joke once again. I think he understands that and is having trepidation.

Seb
January 1, 2017
Accountant received mixed reviews and was by no means a career stopper. Live By Night has a low approval rating yes, but it still has a 5.9/10 score on RT. Hardly "panned" if you ask me.
I agree he's not starring in hits, but the only movie you've mentioned that can truly be considered critically panned, is BvS. I also think JL will get panned though..

MORTON JUDD

January 1, 2017

He's getting ready to jump - it's what he does when things don't work out, like Daredevil: that film actually made enough money so the studio was moving forward with more Elektra and DD films but Affleck didn't like the personal criticism and basically sank the possibility of more films by talking shít in the press about "not wanting to do superheroes". He's using the same modus operandi here.

Things are still not going well in the DCEU. The same people are still in charge.

Sergio

January 1, 2017

or maybe he's just saying that making a great batman film is his top priority and that we can rest assured that when his movie is officially headed into production, it's because we're going to get a top notch batman movie, which is really uplifting. stop being so damn negative and whiny, Chris.

TØM

January 1, 2017

I can't take it any more 😭 https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Black Adam

January 1, 2017

A new year - same old shit.
Honestly, I'm not even worried for DCEU anymore. Nor angry at WB, or critics or whatever.
Nor am I happy or excited for what's gonna come. From both companies.

Everywhere I turn to I feel fatigue.
Even comics... DC sucked for everyone while in New 52 state - for me it was awesome.
Now I have to put up with adolescent Harley Quinn, teenage Batgirl and in new Rebirth Supergirl issue I have read about Supergirls adventures of popping her pimples???
That's what fandom wants to read? Okay, that's fine, I guess... People can relate to popping their pimples more than being angry 'cause you're an alien sole survivor on a different planet...
After Harley Quinn and Batgirl now I have to drop Supergirl, too...
Luckily, I own those Red Lantern/Supergirl issues, I can always re-read them, amirit?

Kerk Lastnameless
January 2, 2017
Supergirl was a hidden gem in the New 52. People focused so much on her crotch shield, not noticing the real character that she was given for the first time in her entire life.

Danny Neiba

January 1, 2017

Also how bad would WB look if Ben Affleck pulls out from the directing role. This movie has yet to begin production and their is so much hype surrounding it. WB would suffer a huge "L" if Ben does not get to direct this film. SMH

MixedFeelings

January 1, 2017

The more he mentions this project, the more ambivalent he seems. Oh well, still looking forward to "Wonder Woman and "Justice League" this year :-)

Seb

January 1, 2017

At this point, I'm just expecting Affleck to leave the DCCU... Why wouldn't he? It's only gotten him into trouble.

MegasXLR
January 2, 2017
him quitting is a bit of a stretch, he likes to work in general both as an actor and a director combine with the fact that he likes batman, he might be disappointed in the universe critical state and it doesn't trouble him but he still likes doing the work
1. Seb
  January 2, 2017
  Umm, I think Ben is probably the only one concerned with critical praise here. Remember when he said he'd never make another comic book movie? Yeah, he broke his promise to play Batman, as he truly believed in the creative team. He truly believed the movie was going to be great.... until the reviews came in. Until BvS got WORSE reviews than Daredevil. BvS was trashed so fucking bad, it would be hilarious if it weren't so damn pathetic. And you really think that didn't bother him? Or at least, that didn't affect his commitment to this franchise? I have NO doubt whatsoever he already regrets taking the part of Batman. (Just look at all the mental and physical preparation he did for BvS, and compare that to JL. He hasn't worked out ONE BIT). I have no doubt he doesn't care anywhere near as much as he did pre-BvS release.
  But I do believe he thinks it might be redeemable. And that will probably largely depend on the success (critically) of JL and in turn his Batman film. If JL fails (which will probably happen, let's be real), that will obviously affect him, and I think at that point, he won't want to make a Batman movie directed by HIM if he knows the script isn't all that good. Because if that movie fails... No one will blame Snyder, or DC, or WB. They will blame Affleck. And he knows that. And he doesn't want that. And it seems he's trying to avoid that.
  1. MegasXLR
    January 2, 2017
    i'm not saying it does not affect his commitment, I'm saying that is may not to the extent that you are making it out to be and I will be dammed if he quits and dceu ends because I don't want to be stuck only With only the MCU as the only source for superhero movies left with them doing this for the next 4 years and he is the one who wrote the script and he is the one that has to make sure enough before he sits on the director's chair
    1. Seb
      January 2, 2017
      The reason why I wouldn't be surprised is because he hasn't shown the same enthusiasm for Jl as he did for BvS. He didn't even work out this time around, when he should've done the same, if not more (like Chris Evans). This to me, shows an extreme lack of interest, as though he doesn't really care anymore. Before BvS, he said how "audiences expect a certain physique for superheroes, and guys like Chris Evans and Hemsworth really are perfect examples of that" - but now it seems he doesn't give a shit.
    2. MegasXLR
      January 3, 2017
      Dude he did work out just not to the same extent that he did on bvs because he has to spend time doing promotions for his other movies, he also got fatter for live by night too and that will affect him too and also it took over one year to get into that shape while here he got about 2 months after BVS released
    3. Seb
      January 3, 2017
      We've seen nothing to suggest he has worked out. Even during interviews when he was still shooting the movie, he didn't look any different or more muscular than his normal self.
      He doesn't look anywhere remotely in shape... So what if he "had other priorities"? The same was true back when he did BvS. He had tons of projects back then. I'll guarantee you, there won't be a single shirtless scene in JL, nor will he ever wear a skin tight shirt. He hasn't worked out. And that to me, shows an extreme lack of interest and motivation.
    4. MegasXLR
      January 3, 2017
      just look at the dakota access video, his arms are big as when he was doing the accountant
    5. Seb
      January 3, 2017
      His chest looks fatter. His arms in Accountant - while not "thin" - were no where near as big as they're meant to be (meaning, far less than in BvS)
    6. MegasXLR
      January 4, 2017
      It still means he worked out, he only got about 5 months getting to shape after getting fat in live by night, he did what he could, there is nothing wrong with that, also the hardest part of the workout is the diet which varies from trainer to trainer, so the result could be adding mass like he did for the accountant or getting ripped like BVS
    7. MegasXLR
      January 3, 2017
      also don't expect him to be shirtless to be honest, i hope they don't redo the whole shirtless and it would be redundant with aquaman being shirtless in most of the scenes (with a chance of superman shirtless from the bts) and why tight clothes? (why would batman of all people want to wear tight clothes), and he wasn't inbetwen project as much as this year as he was in 2014-2015 with only gone girl being shot in early 2014 and the accountant production comes after BVS
    8. Seb
      January 3, 2017
      He could wear something similar to what Cap is wearing in Avengers 2 or Cap 3. But what you've said here, basically proves that he's no where near as big.

RoadOfMajor

January 2, 2017

so would you rather have him continue with the movie even if he doesn't feel good about it, and just half-ass its way through a la Zack Snyder style?

Kerk Lastnameless
January 2, 2017
What's going to happen otherwise? What's going to happen if he says "No" to WB? He may stay Batman, but they'll find some C-list director to halfass that movie for him, further ruining his image. Or he may quit altogether, which will pretty much spell death of the DCEU because he is one of its cornerstones. The exec reshuffling that AT&T is going to bring to WB can't come soon enough. So long as current cunts are in charge, there won't be any justice.
1. RoadOfMajor
  January 2, 2017
  In my opinion, Zack Snyder already cast the death spell on the DCEU ever since he directed Man of Steel, then chose the ex-Dare Devil as Batman. In the most ideal scenario, Ben would quit altogether, AT&T will reshuffle WB, and then reboot the entire franchise from scratch.
  In its current state, NOTHING will save the current DCEU to put it even remotely on par with Marvel's universe. Wonder Woman is going to suck, and Justice League is going to suck. The Batman movie might have a saving grace because it is not directed by Zack, but what's the point, every other movie in the DCEU already sucks (including Suicide Squad).. might as well reboot. Flame on, but mark my words.
  1. MegasXLR
    January 2, 2017
    yeah there are plenty of the same words as yours that other people has said that the fanbase has marked on and oh man it can't be helped that you are beating our heads over and over with the same negativity that we have known and you also said that the AT&T deal if as it's a sure a thing because time warner had a deal similar in the past even with a bigger price that didn't happen in the end because it didn't make through the legal processes and if it does it doesn't even mean it will result in a reshuffle in warner bros pictures
  2. Schuyler Finley
    January 2, 2017
    https://uploads.disquscdn.c...
  3. RoadOfMajor
    January 2, 2017
    Nothing about Affleck's acting in BvS was close to resembling the cool, composed, and intellectual world-class detective that we have watched in the Batman comics and in the cartoon. In the movie, Affleck seemed like an idiot with a temper tantrum that goes on murder rages. Of course, this was largely in part of the crappy script thanks to Snyder. Even Alfred appeared smarter than Batman.
    I agree that MoS was better than the past Superman films, but it just didn't set the tone or a solid foundation for the DCEU. Can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was the plot holes, or too much sci-fi.
    With the same director who brought us the Knightmare scene directing Justice League, we know it's going to suck.
2. MegasXLR
  January 2, 2017
  okay dude, the point is not that he doesn't want to direct it, the point that there is only one script for the dceu slated batman and it is not ready yet, even if they find a c-list director, a batman script won't magically appear out of nowhere and if he is finally satisfied with his script there will be no one but him who want to do it the most

Alan Conn

January 2, 2017

Oh PLEASE dont let this not happen!!!

BROWN_KNIGHT 4 Trump

January 2, 2017

Ben has to be trolling..I hope ::_((

Happy new year everyone!! https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

TØM

January 2, 2017

I can't wait for the collective sigh of relief when someone uploads the first set photo, after the first day of shooting wraps.

Adam

January 2, 2017

I'd rather not have him make the Batman movie. He is perfect as Batman but both Argo and the town were mediocre movies and after Nolan it will be even harder to please the crowd.

MegasXLR
January 2, 2017
yea in your eyes man, even if you see it as mediocre, there is no denying that they are very well directed films while they are not everyone cup of tea, it is generally well made with how he handles the shots, the order and the dialogues

Meg

January 2, 2017

To me it just sounded like he didn't want to be rushed and determined to make a great movie. Stop panicking already.

tO.omieee!

January 2, 2017

I found the quote you are talking about:

Director reveals he has turned down several projects because of the ‘non-reality of the situation of the superhero’ and says ‘cinema mainly is pretty bad’. Speaking to Digital Spy, Scott, 79, said the genre is “not my kind of thing”.

“Blade Runner really is a comic strip when you think about it,” he said. “It’s a dark story told in an unreal world. You could almost put Batman or Superman in that world, that atmosphere, except I’d have a fucking good story, as opposed to no story!”

I think you might be interpreting it wrong.

tO.omieee!

January 2, 2017

So they still don't have a script?!

This is so wonderful.

Frank

January 2, 2017

Stop talking about The Batman untill a official position. It makes us nervous.

Ravager

January 2, 2017

I believe in Harvey Dent...and Ben Affleck.

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Potterbat

January 2, 2017

Calm down. The movie is going to happen regardless. Will he direct it? Maybe not. Will he star in it? Definitely. Will he at least co write it? Most likely. If he doesn't direct it, it's not a deal breaker. There's plenty of good directors out there.

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