Surprising Twist: Ben Affleck's Last Batman Appearance Takes an Unexpected Turn, Reveals Aquaman 2 Director
Ben Affleck's anticipated return as Batman in Aquaman 2 is uncertain, leaving fans disappointed The absence of another DCEU crossover, however, might bring a fresh and unique approach to the highly anticipated sequel
Ben Affleck's last portrayal of Batman might have been in The Flash, as the movie's director shares disappointing news about his role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Affleck initially played Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 and appeared as the Dark Knight in various films. However, his own standalone Batman movie never materialized due to various reasons. Despite previous expectations of Affleck's return in The Flash and an appearance in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, it now seems unlikely to happen.
In an interview with Comicbook.com, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan seemingly confirms that Affleck will not be featured as Batman in the movie. Wan emphasizes that the Aquaman sequel is taking a self-contained approach, similar to the first film, and exists within its own distinct world. This contradicts Aquaman star Jason Momoa stating that he filmed scenes with both Affleck and Michael Keaton as part of the DCEU's restructuring, suggesting that both versions of Batman are no longer part of the project. Read Wan's complete statement below.
Why It's Good Aquaman 2 Won't Be Another DCEU Crossover
: From its inception, the Aquaman franchise, including the initial installment, has consistently established itself as an independent and self-contained cinematic experience. This distinctive approach persists in our treatment of The Lost Kingdom, ensuring that it maintains its own unique universe.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was originally scheduled for release on December 16, 2022. However, due to pandemic-related issues, the film's premiere was postponed to March 17, 2023. Nevertheless, the delays did not end there. The movie experienced another setback and was pushed back to a Christmas Day premiere in 2023. Yet, even this date could not hold, as the film was rescheduled once again, this time five days earlier, to finally debut on December 20, 2023. These multiple changes in release dates necessitated behind-the-scenes reworking of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to align with the direction of the DCEU.
Momoa's comments on Batman are understandable. He reveals that he filmed scenes with both Keaton and Affleck, indicating that Keaton was initially set to take over Affleck's role as the main Batman in the DCEU and become a mentor to younger heroes. However, plans changed with the news of James Gunn and Peter Safran rebooting the DCEU with their DC Universe. This likely resulted in both Batman actors being cut from the film, as hinted by Wan.
It is a positive development that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will not be another DCEU crossover movie. The Flash movie attempted to include multiple DCEU heroes, but it failed, becoming one of the biggest box office failures in the superhero genre, potentially losing over $200 million. Considering The Flash's disappointing performance, it is crucial for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom to remain as standalone as possible. Including DCEU connections for the sake of continuity, especially when the universe is already dead, will only harm the movie and divert attention away from what could be Momoa's final portrayal as Aquaman.
Source: Comicbook.com
