Something is amiss in Gotham City, Mr. Wayne as Ben Affleck’s excuse why he left The Batman movie doesn’t exactly hold up.
Affleck recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel where it was mentioned he won’t be playing Batman. In an awkward response – which didn’t see the audience react, yet Affleck tried to make a joke of it – the actor said, “I tried to direct a version of it and worked with a really good screenwriter but just couldn’t come up with a version — I couldn’t crack it and so I thought it’s time for someone else to take a shot at it. They got some really good people so I’m excited.”
Regarding why Affleck having to say that he wasn’t able to crack The Batman doesn’t hold up is because it has been said his script was the “best ever.” DC animated film director and movies storyboard artist Jay Oliva tweeted out a while back, “The original Affleck script was the best Batman script I’ve ever read. Ben had a kick a– story and I believe that the audience and fans would have loved it.”
Oliva continued hinting that the real reason Ben Affleck left Batman had nothing to do with the script, “There was a lot happening that is above you and my paycheck. I wish it was as easy as just making it. It had some of the best Batman/ Deathstroke stuff I’d ever done!”
While Oliva’s comments could be simply his own opinion, Joe Manganiello, who was set to star in the movie as Deathstroke, happened to agree.
Basically what is happening is that Warner Bros. and Affleck aren’t going to reveal any dirty laundry so as to keep the Batman brand untarnished, so Affleck is stating the reason for leaving is due to not being able to get things right with the script. Convenient.
The Batman is now being directed by Planet of the Apes‘ Matt Reeves with the search for a younger actor now underway, which is set to get released June 25, 2021 (more details here).
Watch more from Ben Affleck on Jimmy Kimmel:
