Ben Affleck as the Dark Knight

 Hollywood’s face of hardcore manliness and ultimate macho, Ben Affleck, has recently been cast to play Bruce Wayne, and subsequently Batman, in the upcoming Superman and Batman film. Yes. Ben Affleck. Amongst many other prominent roles to fill the cape and cowl, such as Josh Brolin, Ben Affleck has risen from the ashes of 2003’s Daredevil to perform in another superhero movie. Disregarding the fact that he’s obviously intimidating enough to play a man like Batman, many fans raised the question, “Why?” Why Ben Affleck?

Zack Snyder, who will be directing the Superman and Batman film, answered with, “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.”

Now what does this mean for the caped crusader? The physical aspects and characteristics of Batman aren’t easy. Christian Bale depicted what a modern Batman would look like fantastically and had the voice and imposing demeanor to go with it. Ben Affleck, on the other hand, does not look intimidating at all. For example, Affleck starred in the 2003 film, Daredevil, and it didn’t receive great feedback at all. His performance as a superhero was atrocious to many of the fans. Affleck just isn’t an intimidating man.

However, some fans think Affleck will do a great job as Batman. Christian Bale certainly looked nothing like Batman when he acted in The Machinist. Actors like Bale sometimes have to go under rigorous and varying body changes to work their role. I personally just can’t see a beefed up Affleck demanding where the trigger is. Let’s not forget the winner of the Oscar for Best Picture, Argo, was directed by Ben Affleck himself. I’m also sure most of us remember Heath Leger as the Joker. So many people doubted that anyone other than Jack Nicholson or Mark Hamill could pull off the role of the Joker, but Leger re-envisioned the role entirely and proved to everyone that he was more than capable of that character. The thing with Leger is that he wasn’t really well known before playing the Joker. Ben Affleck, though, is really well known. Even if you’re a casual movie goer, you have probably seen Affleck’s face on the big screen. The movies Ben himself has directed were amazing movies. He directed and starred in Argo and Good Will Hunting, which both received well-deserved awards and praising. He may be deemed by many a great actor, but just because he directed several award winning films, does not mean he can pull off Batman.

Some also say Affleck being casted could just be another George Clooney acting as Batman in the 1997 film. It’s George Clooney, what could go wrong? Well, everything, and I mean everything, was wrong with George Clooney as Batman. Just because an actor can be outstandingly amazing in one movie, does not mean they will be great in every other movie they act in, superhero movies especially. Batman fights crime dressed as a bat, using fear against his enemies, in which they turn out as comical as the idea of superheroes go. But Nolan did a great job of realistically displaying the modern Batman, and Snyder did great at directing Man of Steel. Ben Affleck, though, just shouldn’t be happening. There was even a petition put up on change.org to remove Affleck from starring as Batman. Don’t get it wrong though, Ben Affleck is a fantastic actor, who has put time into his roles and movies, and has done an outstanding service to the movie industry. But he is not an action hero actor.