In what is something of a surprising choice, Ben Affleck has been revealed as the man who will play Batman in an upcoming mash-up with Superman due for release in 2015.
The star of Good Will Hunting, The Town, Argo and eh, Gigli was last night revealed as the man who will fill the large and rather angry shoes vacated by Christian Bale, who played the caped crusader in the last three Batman films directed by Christopher Nolan.
Affleck will team up with Superman Henry Cavill in a Batman/Superman DC Comics mash-up set for release in 2015, a project that was confirmed by Man of Steel director Zack Snyder at a comic convention in San Diego last month.
Commenting on the choice of Affleck for the role, Warner Brothers President Greg Silverman said:
“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular super heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill and then some.
“(Affleck) 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 added.
“I can’t wait to work with him.”
While there was some surprise about Affleck’s selection as Batman in social media circles last night, a man who was once best known as Matt Damon’s sidekick has come into his own as an actor and a director in recent years, during which he was involved in top notch flicks such as Argo, The Town and Gone Baby Gone.
That said, some of the reaction was pretty funny indeed, a sample of which you can see below.
To the Bat Cave Ben!
Thor is not impressed with Ben Affleck as #Batman pic.twitter.com/WQz9Gwp62u
— Mike Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) August 23, 2013
Ben Affleck as Batman. Does that mean Matt Damon will play Robin? #ThingsToPonderAtNight pic.twitter.com/CjNnTqnRwq
— Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) August 23, 2013
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