Skip to main content

Forget Zack Snyder: Ben Affleck has finished his own Batman script

The pairing of Batman and Superman has proven to be super at the box office in the days since Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice opened on March 25. Naturally, the DC Comics film’s success sparked questions over the franchise’s future, including how long we can expect to see Ben Affleck (Batman) remain involved. Instead of having to guess, we can rely on a new THR interview in which WME-IMG’s co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell revealed the actor’s current plans.

Fans can rest assured that Affleck isn’t set to retire his cape anytime soon. “He’s contracted to do at least Justice League One and Two, so at least three times wearing the cape,” said Whitesell. (On top of the Justice League films, he’ll appear in Suicide Squad when it’s released this August.) Beyond that, though, there’s still the potential for him to stick with the franchise for even more movies.

Recommended Videos

“There’s a script that he’s written that is a really cool [Batman] idea,” added Whitesell, “so that’s out there as an option.”

Whitesell’s intel builds on previous reports that Affleck would co-write and direct a standalone Batman flick. The news came out of San Diego Comic-Con 2015 in July, and at the time, DC Entertainment chief creative officer Geoff Johns was said to be teaming up with the actor on the script. Affleck was also reportedly planning to star in the project. The script was expected to be ready by the end of summer 2016, so it appears that Affleck is on track.

Unfortunately, no details about this “cool [Batman] idea” have been revealed yet, so it’s hard to say what it could mean for Bruce Wayne and his superhero alter ego. In the meantime, though, Batman v Superman is lighting up the box office, having already brought in over $538.17 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo data (at the time of publishing).

Stephanie Topacio Long
Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…
Forget The Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is still the best Batman movie adaptation
Batman spreading his cape in the Mask of the Phantasm poster.

Matt Reeves' The Batman finally brought to the live-action theatrical space an iteration of DC Comics' beloved, brooding superhero that honed in on the crime-noir detective aspect of the character, but Mask of the Phantasm still reigns supreme as being the truest to the character.

It's the first time a live-action adaptation made his "World's Greatest Detective" epithet just as important as being the "Dark Knight," even if Robert Pattinson's grimy and grounded take is still learning what his symbol should mean. However, Mask of the Phantasm -- and the animated universe Paul Dini and Bruce Timm co-created that paved the way for it -- remains the deepest dive into what makes Batman tick while honoring his swathes of comic book mythos.
The Batman brand of "dark deco"

Read more
Robert Pattinson will return for The Batman sequel
Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

When in doubt, always bet on Batman. Gotham City's Dark Knight is one of the most popular superheroes ever, and it's no coincidence that The Batman is 2022's biggest box office hit to date. It was only a matter of time before Warner Bros. Pictures gave the green light for a sequel. Via Deadline, WB made its official announcement at CinemaCon: Robert Pattinson will be back as Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Batman sequel.

The Batman writer and director Matt Reeves was welcomed on stage, where he revealed that he is already writing the sequel. Reeves also took a few moments to thank theater exhibitors for supporting his film.

Read more
Keanu Reeves is Batman in DC League of Super-Pets trailer
Ace and Batman in DC League of Super-Pets.

This weekend, movie theaters belonged to The Batman as Robert Pattinson stepped into the title role to make it his own. However, he's not the only Batman in the multiverse, or even the only Batman that will make his debut this year. Ahead of the film, Warner Bros. Pictures premiered a new trailer for the kid-friendly stand-alone animated film DC League of Super-Pets. And in this footage, the Dark Knight was voiced by none other than Keanu Reeves.

Reeves is best known for his leading roles in The Matrix and John Wick films. He might be a little too old to pull off a live-action Batman, but in animation, Reeves gets to embrace the two sides of the Caped Crusader. He's the grim avenger of the night, as well as a softer hero with a heart who can't resist the charms of his new pet, Ace the Bat-Hound.

Read more