Well, it’s official…and I don’t think many people saw this one coming.
Warner Bros. shocked Hollywood, DC Comics fans and basically everybody with a pulse Thursday, tabbing Ben Affleck to don the cape and cowl as Batman and square off against Henry Cavill’s Superman in the forthcoming Man of Steel sequel.
“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular superheroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some,” Warner president of creative development and worldwide production Greg Silverman said in a written statement. “His outstanding career is a testament to his talent, and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”
Man of Steel director Zack Snyder, who was officially trumpeted as returning to the director’s chair when the Superman vs. Batman project was announced at Comic-Con last month, also gushed about the selection.
“Ben provides an interesting counterbalance to Henry’s Superman. He has the acting chops to create a layered portrayal of a man who is older and wiser than Clark Kent and bears the scars of a seasoned crime fighter, but retain the charm that the world sees in billionaire Bruce Wayne. I can’t wait to work with him,” Snyder said.
Even before the Comic-Con reveal, a sequel to Man of Steel was a foregone conclusion following the blockbuster’s worldwide gross of $650 million. But the surprise announcement of the first official big-screen pairing of DC’s two biggest super-powered draws set off a firestorm of speculation about who would take on the role of Bruce Wayne and his somber alter-ego.
Christian Bale, who played the role throughout Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, had repeated stated he would not return for another run as the Caped Crusader.
That opened the door to a flurry of suggestions about who should play Batman in the next Man of Steel. That speculation included expected names like The Dark Knight Rises co-star (and apparently Batman heir apparent) Joseph Gordon Levitt to other Hollywood headliners like Ryan Gosling, Josh Brolin and Armie Hammer (who was cast as Batman in George Miller’s aborted Justice League project 6 years ago).
Few, however, would have bet on Affleck to take up residence in Wayne Manor. Despite his box office status, Affleck, 41, seemed to be shifting toward a Hollywood life centered behind the camera as a director, especially following his Oscar-winning turn as producer-director of last year’s Best Picture Argo.
Of course, the new project will also mark Affleck’s second stint in tights, following his 2003 spin as Marvel’s Daredevil.
The officially untitled Man of Steel sequel is slated to open worldwide on July 17, 2015.
