Ben Affleck says that the troubled Justice League production forced him to quit Batman role and protect his health.
Ben Affleck’s time as Batman wasn’t the smoothest. While many enjoyed him in the role, the poor reception of both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League took its toll, as did the latter’s troubled production.
Affleck ultimately quit the role of Batman after he had already written a script for The Batman – a film which he was going to direct and star in before Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson took over.
Affleck has now revealed the real reason why he quit the role and it’s not because he couldn’t crack the screenplay as previously thought.
Speaking to the NYT, he explained how the behind the scenes problems on Justice League “sapped his interest” and were too much for him to handle alongside the breakup of his marriage and his troubles with alcohol:
“I showed somebody The Batman script. They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.'”
Justice League clearly took its toll on Affleck and with all we have learned about its production, perhaps it’s not all that surprising, especially if his sobriety was on the line. Hopefully, Robert Pattinson has an easier go of things when his turn comes.
Justice League was directed by Zack Snyder and featured 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, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta and Robin Wright as General Antiope, J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, Amber Heard as Mera and Ciaran Hinds as Steppenwolf.
Originally published February 19, 2020. Updated December 9, 2022.
