Arts & Entertainment

What Do You Think of Ben Affleck as Batman?

Good casting choice or bad casting choice for the dark knight?

By City News Service

Ben Affleck has already been a superhero—and he said he wouldn't be another one. But that has changed for the man wore the Daredevil costume.

Fresh off the brilliance of Argo, Affleck has committed to portraying perhaps the greatest superhero of all, Batman, in the untitled film co-starring Henry Cavill as Superman, Warner Bros. announced Thursday.

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Director Zack Snyder, who directed "Man of Steel," which starred Cavill, said Affleck "provides an interesting counter-balance 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," Snyder said.

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Greg Silverman, Warner Bros. president of creative development and worldwide production, said "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," said

"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," Silverman said.

Production is expected to begin in 2014.  The film is set to be released July 17, 2015.

Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane will also return from "Man of Steel," reprising their roles of Lois Lane, Perry White and Martha Kent.

Affleck will become the fifth actor to portray Batman in the occasional series of films that began in 1989 with "Batman," which starred Michael Keaton. Keaton reprised the role in 1992's "Batman Returns." He was succeeded by Val Kilmer for "Batman Returns" in 1995. George Clooney took over the role for "Batman & Robin" in 1997.

Christian Bale played Batman in what has become known as "The Dark Knight" trilogy -- "Batman Begins" in 2005, "The Dark Knight" in 2008 and "The Dark Knight Rises" in 2012.   

TELL US IN THE COMMENTS: What do you think of Ben Affleck taking on the role of Batman? 


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