With the rumour that Ben Affleck might not be directing the Batman standalone movie circling the Internet, here’s why I think the Oscar winning director should both star in and direct the DC Comics project.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ben Affleck was asked whether he’d really be directing the next Batman movie. “That’s the idea. But it’s not a set thing and there’s no script,” he said. Affleck then went on to add, “If it doesn’t come together in a way I think is really great I’m not going to do it.” This slightly offhand comment started a chain reaction of news outlets claiming that Ben Affleck might not be directing the Batman film.
Now, if you take a closer look at what he said, you’ll realise that his words were twisted somewhat. He simply said that if they can’t get the script right, then he won’t do it, which should put us at ease since he wants to ensure that his film ends up being the high quality movie we’re all so desperate for it to be.
Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman
So putting all the rumours aside, let’s discuss why Ben Affleck is the right man for the job. It’s safe to say that the current run of DC Comics movies haven’t been the resounding successes we’ve all wanted them to be. They have their fans, but most people are in agreement that they’ve been missing the mark slightly. Some of the blame has to be placed at director Zack Snyder’s feet (hopefully he can rectify things with Justice League), but the bigger problem lies with Warner Bros. and DC themselves. They haven’t quite achieved the perfect balance that say Marvel and Disney have done. Warner Bros. and DC seem to be all over the place and they currently lack the leadership of a Kevin Feige or a Kathleen Kennedy. Hopefully things will change with Geoff John’s promotion to President of DC Entertainment.
However, what DC’s films really need is an injection of some new blood. It’s time for Snyder to let someone else take the reins, and Ben Affleck could be that man. He’s already proven himself to be a very talented director. Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Argo all received critical praise and the latter won him the Oscar for best film. It sounds like his next film, Live By Night, will also be a hit. Affleck is someone who chooses his next projects to direct very carefully, and Argo aside, he only directs movies that he’s had a hand in writing.
Ben Affleck on the set of Argo
Affleck’s comments may worry some, but what we really should be saying is, “Thank God somebody wants to take their time with a comic book movie!” It’s important that they get this film right, not only because of the poor reception to DC and Warner Bros.’ last movies, but also because of the mark that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy left on the franchise.
Batman is not something to be taken lightly, and most certainly cannot be rushed. Warner Bros. and DC need to let Affleck take his time to ensure that the script is absolutely perfect, otherwise you’ll end up with a bloated, incoherent mess of a movie, which might be full of good ideas and promise, but it won’t be the film we want it to be.
Heath Ledger as Joker in The Dark Knight
The execs at Warner Bros. seem to be determined to have Ben Affleck at the helm of the Batman standalone project, and they’re going to have to just let him get on with, as are we. There seems to be a trend of directors leaving DC’s projects, which is worrying. Seth Grahame-Smith left The Flash solo movie, only to be followed by his replacement, Rick Famuyiwa. There have also been rumours suggesting that James Wan might be set to leave the production of the Aquaman movie, but he’s since rebuffed those whispers. Let’s hope the same doesn’t happen with Ben Affleck’s Batman standalone picture.
So in conclusion, to paraphrase Michael Caine’s Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight, some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to make a good Batman movie. I believe this to be the case with Ben Affleck.
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