The DC universe that Zack Snyder started ten years ago with his divisive yet memorable Superman filmMan of Steelis now coming to a close. The announcement of a new DCU, as it has been officially called, and the arrival of James Gunn in the creative chair means that Snyder’s universe will no longer be active. There was a lot of hope for Snyder’s world just a few years ago, particularly with the casting choices for his core Justice League team. Fans immediately took to Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, and Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Perhaps no casting choice was as popular as Ben Affleck as Batman, however.
The Academy Award-winning actor-writer-director was beloved from his first appearance in the role, yet not everything went according to plan. Affleck had an announced solo film that never came to fruition, and he eventually ushered out of the role as Robert Pattinson came in with a new iteration of the character. Despite that, Affleck will get a chance to say goodbye to the character inThe Flash, which will premiere this month in theaters, and this gives him an opportunity to bring his version of Bruce Wayne/Batman full circle with a satisfying ending to his character arc.
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The Flash can conclude Ben Affleck’s time as Batman
Not too long ago, it seemed that Ben Affleck would leave his role as Batman without much of a sendoff,but the multiverse plot ofThe Flashmeans that he can appear in the same film as Michael Keaton, and whoever will take over the role in the new DCU. For a while, but before the arrival of James Gunn at Warner Bros. and DC, Keaton was planned as the universe’s Batmanin a new-look worldthat would be reset following the events of the Flashpoint plot line. Gunn had some different ideas, though, and says that a new actor will be cast in the role, and that his Bat-family will also feature heavily.
The idea of Batman fighting alongside Robin was something that was always teased for Ben Affleck’s Batman, but he never got around to it as the universe changed so quickly around him. Again, everything was so up in the air that it, at one point, seemed like a probability that he wouldn’t be able to say goodbyes or have a final performance as Batman, but nowThe Flashwill offer Affleck that chance.A proper conclusionis something that some of his DC costars might not again, including Henry Cavill, who appeared inBlack Adamlast year and teasing a return as Superman only for the change of regime at the studio to officially cut his time short as the Man of Steel. Fans who once had so much hope for Ben Affleck in the role as Batman should at least take comfort in the fact that this franchise has gone through so much change in the last few years alone that many of the actors and filmmakers have been left in the dust, which will at least not exactly be the case for Affleck.
Affleck’s Batman will have a satisfying ending
When Ben Affleck first appeared as Batman inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he was ahardened and darker versionof the character. His Batman had lost much of his hope as a result of the death of his Robin at the hands of Jared Leto’s Joker and became even more angry at the invasion of Zod and his Kryptonian army, and the presence of Superman on Earth. His arc in that film was coming to accept Superman and, not only that, to understand that he is a valuable member of the planet who is just as human as everyone else.
Fast forward to his appearance inThe Flashand 2023, and his arc will seemingly come full circle. He’s worked with a team to save the world in Justice League, and now he is continuing to mentor the younger generation as he looks after Barry Allen and advises him against changing the past (as the trailers show). This certainly wasn’t the ending that the creators or even Ben Affleck himselfhad in mind when he first joined the franchise, but it does give him a complete character arc that allows him to exit the DC universe in a satisfying fashion. Again, not all of the Snyderverse actors have had that luxury of a goodbye like this, but it feels right that Affleck will receive a moment such as this.
Ben Affleck’s exit will pave the way for the next Batman, who will reportedly debut inThe Brave and the Bold. Rumors suggest that the director ofThe Flash, Andy Muschetti,will helm that project, and the positive reviews and initial reaction from fans and critics to his first DC film make that even more of a possibility.
