Ben Affleck, who “couldn’t crack” The Batman and walked away, is still being asked about the project and his ideas for it. There are those who remain curious in regards to his script and what his story would’ve been.
Affleck was talking with IGN in a roundtable discussion about his new ensemble Netflix film (also starring Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Oscar Isaac), Triple Frontier, when the question came up. Very frank and casual, Affleck conceded he tried but never found a hook or concept he was happy with, thus had no clue what the story was going to be. And he used that phrase again.
“We worked on the script, I was trying to figure out how to crack it [emphasis added], and I was never happy enough with it where I thought it was worth going out and making it because I just didn’t want to do a version that I wasn’t really excited by, so I still don’t know.”
His admission to IGN is consistent with his words on Kimmel. Alleged creative friction might have spilled over from the actor’s inability to resolve, or crack, the matter. The task becoming more a burden than a blessing, leaving The Batman and the responsibility behind is the best move Affleck could make for himself personally and the film.
While Affleck didn’t find a sweet spot for Batman or his script, he wished Reeves luck before officially bowing out. And though he may be out never to return, possibly considering his time under the cowl as a career setback, he will always be the number-one Bat in the eyes of one fan: Zack Snyder.
Reeves’s conception of the project will move on from Batfleck and DC’s Extended Universe under Snyder. Bruce Wayne is framed to be younger and more of a detective this time around. Names dropped who could fill the role include Armie Hammer, Jack O’Connell, Robert Pattinson, and even Jon Hamm, though none have been approached by Warner Bros.
Joey Lawrence is lobbying hard to get the role, complete with a petition by fans, despite the studio’s age preference.