Ben Affleck Talks 'Batman', 'Daredevil', and a Possible Marvel Return

Ben Affleck explained why he gave up directing a solo Batman film and commented on the possibility of returning to Marvel as Daredevil. In an interview with journalist Josh Horowitz, the actor revealed that his experience in Justice League (2017) played a significant role in his decision to abandon the project, which would have starred him as Bruce Wayne.

“I was considering directing a solo Batman film at the time, but ultimately I didn’t feel like I wanted to do it,” Affleck stated. The actor also clarified that he did not meet with Warner Bros. to discuss directing Man of Steel, despite rumors that he had been considered for the project.

In explaining his decision to leave the Batman film, Affleck highlighted the problems he faced during the production of Justice League, marked by creative changes and Zack Snyder's departure after a family tragedy. "The Justice League experience was very, very negative for me, for several reasons," he stated. According to him, one of the main problems was the conflict between the studio and the filmmaker responsible for the film.

The actor also described the reshoots as "the lowest point of his career" and said he was pleased when Snyder was able to release his own version of the film in 2021.

Possible return as Daredevil

Besides Batman, Affleck also spoke about the possibility of reprising his role as Matt Murdock, a character he played in the film Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (2003). When asked if Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, had contacted him to discuss a possible return, the actor confirmed that he had not received any offer.

“He hasn’t reached out. I wish he would,” Affleck stated. Despite being open to a conversation, he considered that perhaps he has already concluded his journey in superhero films. “I feel like I’ve done my superhero movies and I don’t know if there’s anything particularly interesting for me in that universe anymore,” he added.

Even without indicating concrete plans for a return, Affleck made a point of praising Feige, stating that he is the only producer he would trust when it comes to understanding the audience's desires. To date, there is no confirmation that the actor will return to play Daredevil in the MCU.

Disney's invitation to The Force Awakens

Another project Affleck turned down was Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The star revealed that he received an offer to direct the film, but concluded that he wasn't the right person to take on the production. "I'm not the right person to direct this movie," he stated.

He explained that he didn't consider the refusal a great sacrifice, but acknowledged the difficulty of reinventing such a popular franchise. "It's not a great act of self-sacrifice, because I didn't think I could make a great version of Star Wars or reinvent it ," he stated.

Affleck also highlighted the challenges of renewing the saga in light of fan expectations: “It wasn’t easy for them to reinvent this franchise. Some did very well, but you have this whole fanbase with very strong opinions.”