Justice League is on its way to cinemas this Friday and the early word from US outlets is that it's a mixed bag of tricks, but a definite improvement on Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad.
As Ben Affleck has been doing the press rounds on the lead up to the film's release, the question of whether or not he's staying on as Batman came up with USA Today, and the status of Matt Reeves' The Batman - which he was previously supposed to direct. As for to second part, Affleck said it was "something (he's) contemplating," which sounds like he's unsure if he's even going to be in it.
The first part, however, is pretty damning. "You don't do it forever, so I want to find a graceful and cool way to segue out of it."
Affleck turned 45 in August, and playing Batman takes a physical toll on any actor who plays him. Bale bowed out with The Dark Knight Rises when he was 38, and that film was basically about how clapped out Batman / Bruce Wayne was. It's the same bit in Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice and Justice League; we're seeing a Batman that is aged and more experienced than ever before, so it made sense that Affleck - in his mid-forties - played him.
So, what now for Batman and the DCEU? It really is anybody's guess at this stage, and Justice League's box office success will likely play a determining factor in it. Although Aquaman and Wonder Woman 2 are locked in, the likes of Gotham City Sirens, the Harley Quinn spinoff, and Suicide Squad 2 seem a bit more off in the distance and could potentially be shuttered if Justice League doesn't come through for Warner Bros.
Either way, don't expect to see Ben Affleck in the cape and cowl for much longer.
Via USA Today
