# Ben Affleck to play Batman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935 "2013-08-23T01:48:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/1 "2013-08-23T01:48:07Z")
> **[Ben Affleck Is the New Batman](https://variety.com/2013/film/news/ben-affleck-is-the-new-batman-1200586881/)** > > Ben Affleck is Batman. The actor will replace Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne in the upcoming untitled Batman-Superman feature for Warner Bros., the studio announced Thursday. Affleck becomes the eig… Oh dear, this is such a bad idea… ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/2 "2013-08-23T01:48:43Z")
Agreed. He may surprise but I just don’t know… ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/3 "2013-08-23T01:56:01Z")
Eh, I’ve never really understood the Affleck hate. Besides, it’s not like it’s a role that demands Brando-level acting. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/4 "2013-08-23T01:59:50Z")
_I’m Batman_. Yeah, it could work. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/5 "2013-08-23T02:08:10Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Eh, I’ve never really understood the Affleck hate. Besides, it’s not like it’s a role that demands Brando-level acting. I don’t hate him, _per se_. However, he is such a bad actor tht it drives me to distraction. I don’t know what it is…, his constant blinking, his permanent smirk, his inability to deliver a line convincingly. But this does sound like a bad idea, because he overacts and tries too hard when the part is beyond his grasp. With that said, I HAVE enjoyed a couple of his performances, including Good Will Hunting, Hollywoodland, and Dogma (Dogma required little skill and was therefore right in his wheelhouse). This list is infinitely longer than Nicolas Cage’s list, as I have enjoyed him in nothing. I don’t see it working. But I’m willing to wait and hopefully be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/6 "2013-08-23T02:13:28Z")
Everyone remember what Michael Keaton was known for before _he_ wore the cowl? I’m not dissing this until I see a clip. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/7 "2013-08-23T02:13:49Z")
Right. 'Cause he did such a great job as Daredevil. Excuse me a moment… Nooooooooooooooo! ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/8 "2013-08-23T02:15:40Z")
Wow, that is shocking. I hope he called George Clooney first to make sure it’s a good idea. Clooney: “Yeah, do it. It’s great.” Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/9 "2013-08-23T02:16:05Z")
He was the bomb in Phantoms. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/10 "2013-08-23T02:17:21Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Right. 'Cause he did such a great job as Daredevil. Excuse me a moment… > Nooooooooooooooo! I thought he was pretty good as Matt Murdock. The movie sucked in general, sure, but I’m not sure how much of that can be laid at his feet. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/11 "2013-08-23T02:19:47Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Right. 'Cause he did such a great job as Daredevil. Excuse me a moment… > Nooooooooooooooo! I don’t think you can really blame that whole movie on just him though. As I’m typing, I realize that Bruce Wayne is kind of smug and fake and distracted. It could actually work. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/12 "2013-08-23T02:21:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He was the bomb in Phantoms. Heh. He was good in Mall Rats, though. And I do like Daredevil(which in no way makes him the choice for Batman, actually). I have no idea why they cast a known actor, though. Just get some talented guy and put him in the suit. My mind is blown. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/13 "2013-08-23T02:24:12Z")
Ben Affleck is a fine actor, groupthink to the contrary notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/14 "2013-08-23T02:28:26Z")
I thought he was just fine in **Daredevil** , and don’t understand the hatred (other than people sneering at the Bennifer thing). He was very good in movies like **Bounce, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love, Argo** and **Hollywoodland**. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/15 "2013-08-23T02:39:55Z")
I can see it. I bet he does it justice. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/16 "2013-08-23T03:16:47Z")
Oddly enough, I now fine myself cheering for this movie. You cast Affleck in the role? Fuck it, go ahead and make me believe. It’s a stupid idea(the movie, I mean); I guess go ahead and make it super crazy nuts if you want. Good on 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/17 "2013-08-23T03:42:44Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I thought he was just fine in **Daredevil** , and don’t understand the hatred (other than people sneering at the Bennifer thing). He was very good in movies like **Bounce, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love, Argo** and **Hollywoodland**. Ditto to all of that. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/18 "2013-08-23T03:51:52Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I thought he was pretty good as Matt Murdock. The movie sucked in general, sure, but I’m not sure how much of that can be laid at his feet. The director’s cut was quite good, actually. One of the issues is that the theater version cut a significant plot element that was exceptionally important in spacing out the action and furthering character development. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/19 "2013-08-23T03:57:19Z")
My problem is not that Afleck is a bad actor. It’s that I can’t see him portraying Batman in any way other than a farce. And unlike Nolan, they don’t have a history of casting odd choices that wind up working. Their history is the fucked up character of Superman that was in _Man of Steel_. The way they are going, I half expect the Superman to be all serious and Batman to be the funloving guy. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935/20 "2013-08-23T03:57:34Z")
Eh, I thought Cavill’s acting was pretty terrible in the last Superman, so I doubt Affleck will be the worst thing in the new movie, anyways. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-affleck-to-play-batman/666935.md?page=2)