Ben Affleck is Batman

[ElCuervoMuerto]

I'm pretty stoked about this actually. The fact that Oscar winner Afleck has decided that to do this means there must be something special in the script. And we may just have also gotten our solo Batman movies director...

[johnnygobbs]

I shouldn't really link it but I trust the people on this site have more sense than to sign this utter joke:

http://www.change.org/petitions/warner-brothers-remove-ben-affleck-as-batman-bruce-wayne-in-the-superman-batman-movie?share_id=sULaHufwNf

'change.org' has been used to highlight child poverty and anti-gay discrimination...what the hell is it being used by some saddo fanboys to affect casting on a Batman movie?    These people need to get a grip.

[johnnygobbs]

I'm pretty stoked about this actually. The fact that Oscar winner Afleck has decided that to do this means there must be something special in the script. And we may just have also gotten our solo Batman movies director...

Interesting thought ElCuervo.  Affleck is one of the most reliable and impressive mainstream filmmakers around at the moment.  I'd also be pretty stoked if he ended up helming a solo-Batman movie/franchise.

Val Kilmer: https://twitter.com/ValEKilmer/status/371045024168833024

Give Ben a chance!

Good on Kilmer.    He's not my favourite Batman but I'm really starting to change my opinion about him.  He's clearly not the prima donna he once was and his self-mocking performance in "Life is Short" was hysterical and proves what a good sport he is these days.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

I'm pleased to see that the reaction to the casting news has been pretty measured as far as this site goes.  Even the detractors don't seem to be emitting steam from their ears.  Contrast that with some of the nonsense on Twitter and other forums where 'fans' are already starting petitions...

Those people deserve a massive kick in the ass. Especially those hacks on Twitter; I never thought those celebrities would show their true colours by posting their pathetic comments. From what I've seen so far, a lot of these people hating on the Affleck casting happen to like Bale's laughably bad, self parody portrayal...
 

Like I said before, if Affleck even performs at bare minimum, I'd say that alone would be an improvement from Bale.

Having said that, I'll judge Affleck's performance when the movie comes out. Until then, I won't be making any knee-jerk reactions or predictions.

Even Tom Hardy (Bane) I believe stuck a knife into Affleck on twitter. Not sure if there's history between them? I thought it was a slightly sh*tty and stupid thing to do myself. Celebrities should really stay away from twitter so as to prevent themselves looking like assholes.

Where'd you hear this?  I could be wrong, but from what I've found, Tom Hardy does not have twitter.

Just checked it our for you. Total mistake. Somebody wrote this up on another forum and misquoted it all. Turns out it's nothing more than a spoof twitter account. Thank goodness, almost lost my respect for Tom Hardy. Y'see though? People jump into conclusions without thinking matters through first.

[johnnygobbs]

Never thought Tom Hardy would do something as dickish as that.  He seems a decent guy.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

I shouldn't really link it but I trust the people on this site have more sense than to sign this utter joke:

http://www.change.org/petitions/warner-brothers-remove-ben-affleck-as-batman-bruce-wayne-in-the-superman-batman-movie?share_id=sULaHufwNf

'change.org' has been used to highlight child poverty and anti-gay discrimination...what the hell is it being used by some saddo fanboys to affect casting on a Batman movie?    These people need to get a grip.

Quite pathetic. I think it's amusing how the Doctor Who fan base recently all but accepted the casting of Peter Capaldi and kindly welcomed him into it all and yet the Batman fan base seem inclined to bay for Affleck's blood like immature children. The guy needs a little respect and support and he has mine in bucket loads now after reading all this irritating bullsh*t. He certainly has balls to step into the part at all.

I remember when Matt Smith was first cast as Doctor Who. The forums went into depressing meltdown with a wave of negativity I've not seen since Affleck was announced frankly. Those people who moaned and verbally insulted him are now kissing his butt and begging him not to be leaving Doctor Who. Affleck has a long way to go to pull off such a feat but I sincerely hope he does prove the world wrong and succeeds now.

History repeats itself eh? It's all kinda ironic in a sense. I've always wanted to experience the negativity that Michael Keaton dealt with in 1988. Now it seems with have the modern version unfortunately ten times worse because of the bloody internet lol

[The Dark Knight]

Good on Kilmer.    He's not my favourite Batman but I'm really starting to change my opinion about him.  He's clearly not the prima donna he once was and his self-mocking performance in "Life is Short" was hysterical and proves what a good sport he is these days.

I've found Kilmer to be a pretty cool guy. He made a very funny comment recently about how playing Batman is like being an old man. Look it up. Good stuff. He isn't scared or embarrassed to talk about Batman, unlike some people in famous roles. He seems quite content with his place in history. Good on him.

[The Joker]

Kilmer often comes across as quite level-headed. Shame that same trait hasn't established itself into the overtly vocal fanboy community. 

[BatmAngelus]

I think it's time to discuss what type of Batman/Bruce Wayne we're in for, characterization-wise.  The press release said the following:

"Ben 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. I can't wait to work with him."

I think it's guaranteed that Affleck's Batman will be:
a) different from Bale
b) a contrast from Cavill's Superman

This also confirms that Bruce has been Batman for longer than Clark has been Superman.  One thing that could be explored is that Clark, at the end of MoS, just took on his secret identity as a reporter.  It's believable that he may have some trouble figuring out how to juggle the two lives.  If Affleck's Bruce has been doing this for a while, he could have a better balance between his dual identities.

Clark could learn from Bruce.  Vice versa, the "scars of a seasoned crimefighter" bit as well as the inspiration from Dark Knight Returns could mean that this older Bruce is rather cynical too and it's Clark's Superman who changes his viewpoint and provides him hope. 

I think it's important for Batman not to overshadow Superman in the sequel (while also not making Batman a peripheral character either), so they'd be on equal ground if they both develop as characters, through their interactions.  I'm more interested in that than, say, Batman just being a mentor figure to Superman.

[johnnygobbs]

Also, in terms of a 'wiser' Batman, I hope we don't see a too-fully formed character but one who still has plenty of scope for character-'growth' especially if the 'MOS' sequel is intended to segue into a raft of 'JLA' movies or even another solo-Batman franchise.