Yesterday (August 21st) brought great news for fans of the Caped Crusader – Ben Affleck will return to the role of Batman in the upcoming The Flash movie, slated for a 2022 release.
Affleck – affectionally dubbed ‘Batfleck’ by fans – has portrayed Batman (aka Bruce Wayne) three times in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU): substantially in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and 2017’s Justice League, and in a briefer role in 2016’s Suicide Squad.
Originally writing, directing and starring in his own solo Batman film, Affleck eventually stepped away from the role and the project – with Matt Reeves ultimately taking over directing duties, and Robert Pattinson picking up the cowl.
The Flash movie will adapt the Flashpoint comic book story, which saw the Flash – aka Barry Allen – accidentally change his universe’s timeline. The film is expected to be an introduction of sorts to the ‘multiverse’, where multiple versions of DC characters exist at the same time in their own separate universes. We’ll also be seeing Michael Keaton reprise his role of Batman in the movie.
Director Andy Muschietti explained that Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen needs Affleck’s Batman as a starting point in the movie: ‘He’s the baseline. He’s part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry’s adventure’.
He also went into more detail on Affleck’s role in the movie: he’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck’s Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before. It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in’.
Muschietti also described Keaton’s role as ‘substantial’.
Affleck will return as Batman in next year’s ‘Snyder Cut’ of Justice League, though this won’t involve any re-shoots. Until then, you can check out our guide to tomorrow’s DC FanDome event here, and stream DCEU movies on a Hulu plan that includes HBO Max with a 7 day free trial.
Hulu also have their own expansive content library packed with hit movies and TV shows, from The Handmaid’s Tale to this year’s Best Picture winner Parasite – and it’s all available to enjoy with a 30 day free trial.
