Originally published October 4, 2017. Updated December 18, 2019.
The “Sad Affleck” meme has come to be known as the definitive reaction to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Here we have an actor who is a huge Batman fan, and gets the opportunity to play his hero. He survived almost two years of outrage over his casting, and eventually won many of those fans over once they saw him in pictures, and trailers. The meme shows Affleck’s face directly following the critical backlash, and it’s a face of crushed dreams.
18 months later, and Affleck is signed on for a Batman solo movie directed by Matt Reeves, and is a major part of the upcoming Justice League film. Now that wounds have had time to heal, where does he stand now with Batman v Superman? Speaking to Empire, the actor shared his thoughts:
“I can understand people saying [Batman v Superman] was too dark, or this was outside the tone of what I’m used to seeing with a Batman story, and I think that’s a fair criticism.”
If Batman v Superman wasn’t your cup of tea, Affleck has recently promised that Justice League will feature a much more “hopeful” Batman. For those who didn’t mind a darker take on The Dark Knight, Matt Reeves promises a noir-like approach for The Batman.
Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.
Justice League will reunite Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice stars Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Amy Adams as Lois Lane, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta and Robin Wright as General Antiope alongside J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) as Commissioner Gordon, Amber Heard (The Danish Girl) as Mera, Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man) as Vulko, Kiersey Clemons (Dope) as Iris West, Ciaran Hinds (Game of Thrones) as Steppenwolf, and Julian Lewis Jones (Stella) and Michael McElhatton (Game of Thrones) in as-yet-unrevealed roles.
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